JAY LUSTIG
Stephen Colbert sings “Once in a Lifetime” at the Wellmont Theater.
He may not have worn the big white suit, but Stephen Colbert mimicked David Byrne’s hand gestures (as seen in the classic concert movie “Stop Making Sense”) when he sang Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime” at a benefit for the Montclair Film Festival, Saturday night at Montclair’s Wellmont Theater. Check out a video of it below.
Colbert also snuck in a little jab at Donald Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway, saying, before he left the stage, “Obviously, tonight is for the Montclair Film Festival, but all remaining donations, if there’s anything left over, is going to go to victims of the Bowling Green Massacre.”
The event, titled “I Want My MFF: A 1980s Dance Party,” featured two sets of ’80s covers — Prince, Blondie, Lionel Richie, Modern English, The B-52’s, Katrina & the Waves and so on — by the New York-based band The Loser’s Lounge, with a few guest appearances.
Actor Patrick Wilson really committed to his roles, bringing two separate wigs and changing costumes for Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” and David Bowie’s “Modern Love.” It shouldn’t be a surprise, since he’s done musicals on Broadway, but he sang really well, too.
Warren Zanes, appearing with his two young sons (introduced as the Zanes Family Singers) as dancers, had a fun time with Cameo’s “Word Up!,” with some James Brown cape shtick at the end.
Some audience members got into the spirit by dressing in “Miami Vice” pastels or like Madonna wannabes or punks, or sporting accessories such as a Devo hat, a Springsteenesque headband or a Cabbage Patch Kid.
This year’s Montclair Film Festival takes place from April 28 to May 7. Visit montclairfilmfest.org.
Here are some videos from the show:
Stephen Colbert: “Once in a Lifetime”
Patrick Wilson: “Livin’ on a Prayer”
Warren Zanes and the Zanes Family Singers: “Word Up!”
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