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Bates Motel — Live in LA 1980
(Think Like a Key TLAK1245, 1980/2026, CD)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2026-09-29

Live in LA 1980 Cover art

There are albums that disappoint because the music falls short, and there are albums that disappoint because the packaging promises something the music never delivers. Bates Motel's Live in LA 1980 belongs firmly in the latter category. The stark black-and-white cover, with its punk-flyer aesthetic and vaguely sinister imagery, suggests something dangerous, confrontational, perhaps even Patti Smith-inspired. Combined with a name borrowed from Hitchcock's Psycho, expectations naturally lean toward dark, edgy art-punk. What emerges from these recordings is something far different: a moderately competent Los Angeles new-wave band whose reach often exceeds its grasp. Bates Motel was a fixture of the late-1970s Los Angeles club circuit, playing venues such as the Whisky a Go Go, Starwood, Madame Wong's, and Hong Kong Café while building a loyal local following. Despite industry interest and connections that eventually led key members into Sparks, the band never secured the breakthrough enjoyed by many contemporaries. The first ten tracks were recorded at the Starwood on June 4, 1980, with the remainder drawn from a January 1980 appearance at the Whisky a Go Go. Given the band's local reputation, these recordings should explain what all the excitement was about. Instead, they raise more questions than answers. The primary obstacle is the sound quality. These audience recordings are consistently murky, with vocals frequently buried to the point where lyrics become difficult to decipher. Much of the Starwood set dissolves into an indistinct sludge that causes songs to blur together, making it nearly impossible to fairly evaluate either the songwriting or musicianship. A few tracks rise above the limitations. "My Time" opens with an appealing blend of punk energy and new-wave angularity, while the Whisky recordings "I Wake Up Screaming" and "I Want More" inject some welcome urgency. The closing rendition of the Supremes' "Stop! In the Name of Love" proves surprisingly effective, recasting the Motown classic with a mellow punk attitude. Unfortunately, much of the remaining material sounds like second-tier Elvis Costello-inspired new wave without the hooks, lyrical wit, or personality needed to leave a lasting impression. The real mystery is not why Bates Motel failed to become stars. Listening to these tapes, that outcome seems understandable enough. The mystery is why they were so popular locally. The enthusiastic audience response suggests a band whose appeal depended on live presence, audience rapport, and the atmosphere of the Los Angeles club scene, qualities these recordings fail to capture. As a historical footnote, Live in LA 1980 has some interest. As an album, it makes only a marginal case for its release. 

Filed under: New releases, 2026 releases, 1980 recordings

Related artist(s): Bates Motel

More info
http://thinklikeakey.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-la-1980

 

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