Friday, September 15, 2006

The Bongos

While I don't consider Hoboken, NJ's The Bongos a "Lost Band" a rare upcoming concert and special edition release of "Drums Along the Hudson" compels me to write about them.

I was first alerted to The Bongos reuniting to play a couple of shows by extrawack a few months ago. The band will be performing the LP "Drums Along The Hudson" in it's entirety during two shows at Joe's Pub on October 14th. You can find out more about the show and get tickets here.

The Bongos & MobyAccording to the band's Richard Barone, the new CD version of "Drums Along the Hudson" may include a recording of the band's first live performance in 1980 (from a restored cassette), two live tracks from the Rainbow in London in 1981, the original video for "The Bulrushes," as well as a new version of "The Bulrushes" produced by Moby. ("The Bulrushes" was one of the first songs Moby ever performed in public.)

My thanks to Richard Barone for his emails, valuable info and allowing me to post the band's music.

The BongosA very, very brief history: In 1980 The Bongos were playing in Hoboken at Maxwell's when Rod Pearce from Fetish Records ask them for a demo. During the next five years the band would release three albums and an E.P., the last two on RCA records.

The Bongos were:
Richard Barone - vocals, guitars
Rob Norris - bass, vocals
Frank Giannini - drums, percussion, vocals
James Mastro - guitars, vocals

Visit The Bongos mySpace site.
Visit Richard Barone's mySpace site.
Visit Richard Barone's web site.
Purchase tickets to see The Bongos at Joe's Pub.

Buy "Drums Along the Hudson" original CD issue here if you can't wait a month or two for the special edition.

Go to the download page to get The Bongos - "Glow In The Dark" (live from Columbia University)

9 Comments:

Blogger Pretzer said...

Thanks for the updates and Bongos news. Saw them a couple of times way back when in Minneapolis (opening for the B-52s with the RayBeats) and their own show at First Ave., which is still one of my favorite all-time shows, out of hundreds.

4:45 PM  
Blogger Paulo X said...

Hi Eric!

May I give a suggestion regarding the songs for download?

I don't know if you tried or not, but you could upload the tracks on servers such as www.sendspace.com, or www.rapidshare.de.

Thus you wouldn't have to worry about your bandwidth...

6:10 PM  
Blogger E-Mann said...

Hey Eric,

Cool news about the Bongos! I'm a fan from way back. Thanks for the update.

I did check out the tune you posted, but it is about 5 seconds of the guitar intro. Did you mean to post the entire tune? Is this one of the cuts from the upcoming rerelease of "Drums"? Also, what label is rereleasing this classic?

Thanks again!

'nuther Eric...

8:40 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

super band. Knew they are coming to New York for a reunion. Just come to Chicago, too, please. Thanks

11:49 PM  
Blogger Dumbek said...

Holy cow. I may have to head to New York for this one. Thanks for the tip.

10:43 AM  
Blogger JamesChanceOfficial said...

Definitely looking forward to the Joe's Pub show. They were great back in the day and I'm sure this will be a blast.

8:50 PM  
Blogger blakefraina said...

I saw the 7:30 pm show at Joe's Pub Saturday night and the band blew me away! My husband, a very talented guitarist and Beatles/Led Zepplin/NRBQ kinda guy, was always leery about my taste until Saturday when he heard these guys live. About twenty years too late, he's finally become a Bongos convert!

Fingers crossed for a full fledged reunion tour.

2:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I saw The Bongos open for The Power Station at Jones Beach, NY in the summer of 1985. It was my first concert.

11:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I was at the Jones Beach concet too! Andy Taylor's mic did not work lol

1:44 AM  

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