This year's Darker Waves Festival will hit Huntington Beach, CA on November 18 featuring tons of New Wave and Dark Wave acts from the 80s, 90s, and beyond -- and we're putting together a quick playlist of covers from favorites in the genre that will help warm your cold heart while making the trip out west.
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New Order and Tears For Fears are set to headline the inaugural Darker Waves Festival this year at Huntington Beach City Beach in Huntington Beach, CA on November 18, 2023 also featuring performances from over 30 bands across three stages including The B-52’s, Echo and the Bunnymen, Soft Cell, DEVO, OMD, The Psychedelic Furs, The Cardigans, X, Christian Death, Violent Femmes, The English Beat, She Wants Revenge, Clan Of Xymox, Kavinsky, Cold Cave, and more.
Scroll below to check out some of the genre's best takes on tracks from The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Phil Collins, Rod Stewart and more.
Orgy - "Blue Monday" (New Order)
Sure, Orgy has its special place in Industrial culture, but this cover of Darker Waves headliners New Order’s biggest hit, “Blue Monday,” should come as a nice bit of nostalgia after avoiding it for so long.
Collide - "Unholy" (Sam Smith/Kim Petras)
Here's a fresh cover from L.A. Industrial duo Statik and kaRIN of Collide who somehow take Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ 2023 collab “Unholy” to an even deeper level.
Dead When I Found Her - "In The Air Tonight" (Phil Collins)
That band name is a short story in itself... and even adds a sinister twist to the song's scorned lyrics. Either way, listen to this almost note-for-note cover of the Phil Collins classic "In the Air Tonight," obviously with a darker pair of shades on. And just wait for that drum fill.
The Sisters Of Mercy - "Gimme Shelter" (The Rolling Stones)
Pretty sure Mick and Keef of The Rolling Stones never thought their 1969 track would resonate with the goth kids. But here we are.
Frontline Assembly - "New Year's Day" (U2)
This is U2 with a little techno added, and a 90s teen singer for extra flavor. Former Skinny Puppy member Bill Leeb collaborates with... wait what? Tiffany? OK... let it rip!
Nine Inch Nails - "Physical (You're So)" (Olivia Newton-John)
MINISTRY - "Lay Lady Lay" (Bob Dylan)
Following the runaway train sound that the band had become known for on their past few releases (which were markedly different from their first few BTW), MINISTRY began to take another artistic left-turn in 1996 starting with Filth Pig. A stirring cover of Bob Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay" lands towards the end of the record, showing off the band's deep well of influence, further noted on numerous box sets featuring tons of covers of their favorite tracks.
Revolting Cocks - "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" (Rod Stewart)
Another one from Uncle Al and company, this incarnation of Industrial supergroup Revolting Cocks features MINISTRY's Al Jourgensen, Paul Barker, and the late Bill Rieflin, as well as longtime collaborator Chris Connelly (Finitribe, Pigface, MINISTRY), and co-founder Luc van Acker. Somehow, it feels like they managed to make the track even dirtier than Rod Stewart's original. Maybe it's the band's name.
Bigod 20 - "Like A Prayer" (Madonna)
This ain't your momma's Madonna, although this dark-dance version hits the same mark as her 1989 hit. German EBM/techno duo Bigod 20 formed in the late '80s and found worldwide dark dance floor fame in the '90s with their single "The Bog" featuring Front 242's Jean-Luc De Meyer.
Follow more of your favorite music on Frankie Says Dance, New Wave Mix Tape, 80s Underground, Scott Lowe on the Go's Post Modern Music Box, , Alterna 00s, 90s and Chill, 80s Guitar, Rock N’ Road, Wake Up and Rock, ALT Roots, and The Roots of Rock stations on the free Audacy app.
