IN THE Silicon Valley, it seems like everything is either really big or really small. Take music venues. We have the HP Pavilion, Shoreline and others; for small, just walk downtown on a Saturday night, and you can hear bands playing at many of our intimate watering holes. These places bring in huge stars and those just starting out but not those in between. So it was nice to hear that the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds is opening a new arena venue that seats 5,500 people. In combination with the newly renovated San Jose Civic, this gives us two midsize venues for fans who like it "just right."

And even better, one of their first official events during the Santa Clara County Fair will be a live '80s concert, one of my favorite decades for music, featuring four iconic '80s bands. On Aug. 2, A Flock of Seagulls, Missing Persons, Naked Eyes and Tommy Tutone will grace the new stage, bringing back memories of crimped hair and pegged pants. Seriously, if you don't know the words to "867-5309/Jenny," then you are un-American. I was too young to hear "Always Something There to Remind Me" live, but maybe now I can rectify that hole in my past.

'80S LIVE with A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS, TOMMY TUTONE, NAKED EYES and MISSING PERSONS takes place Sunday (Aug. 2) at 5pm at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Road, San Jose. Tickets are $25–$35. (thefairgrounds.org)

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