The Bongos

The Shroud of Touring: Live in 1985

Jem Records

Recorded on May 24, 1985, this show sat in the vaults until now. (More of the story in my companion interview with Richard Barone).

They were great live – fun, high energy, letting it all hang out some very quirky pop that sounds like no one else, then or now. While I don’t want to go on about the good old days, I don’t hear many bands today that sound this original, even among the many, many great ones.

There’s also an innocence to this music, a coming of age type, that I also don’t hear much of now. Anyone can come of age at any age, and that’s a big reason why this band is so relevant today.

But don’t take my word for it. Get this album, put it on your media player of choice, and see what you think. You’ll have bought, at the very least, a great album, and if you do agree with me, seek them out and other bands from that scene. You’ll have blast doing so, and hear a lot of good music.

Andrea Weiss