New Wave Outpost Forum

This Thursday!

"Thurs. 10/22 The Bongos 8:30 p.m. $15 (2 sets!)

The Bongos make their long-awaited return to Maxwell's, boasting the 4 piece line-up that includes James Mastro. You can read all about the early days of Maxwell's in Bongo frontman Richard Barone's autobiography, "Frontman: Surviving The Rockstar Myth". This seminal Hoboken band is sure to perform favorites from "Drums Along The Hudson" and more..."

Amazing. I saw them back in the mid 80's and remember it being a fun show. My most fond memory of that show was that I was working at a grocery store. Across the street was a little bar named The Bongo, and when I told an older co-worker that I was going to see them, she immediately asked if I meant I was going to that bar. What memories.

wow, how cool.

Too bad I can't make it tonight. Last time I saw them was 1987, when they opened for The Alarm. The crowd was mostly silent during their set, but I thought they were great. Luckily I had front row seats for that concert.

OMG, the graybeards are out in force. I feel young again. 'Twas also great to belly up to the bar just as they start playing The Cars s/t album in its entirety. "Let the good times roll...."

PS. The Bongos are at the Hiro Ballroom Friday night with The Fleshtones. [:p]

So I took that trip across the Hudson to hear some drums...

<img src="http://blir.smugmug.com/Other/Misc/01/690280468_unPci-X3.jpg">

If my past gig review history is any tipoff, no one here will be surprised to hear me gush that it was incredible, fantastic, epic, blah, blah blah. It looked like the original line-up, though I really can't say for sure. Phenomenal drums and bass...

<img src="http://blir.smugmug.com/Other/Misc/03/690280415_A44oL-X3.jpg">

Great double lead guitars, not so much one lead and one rhythm it seemed. Bizarre thing with the maracas like he did at Joe's Pub as well...

<img src="http://blir.smugmug.com/Other/Misc/02/690280457_GwWaN-X3.jpg">

And the set list, holy shit, did I mention it was epic? 29 songs! Numbers was an incredible freakout. Barbarella not quite as good as on albums. Telephoto, Congo, Bulrushes...all great...

<img src="http://blir.smugmug.com/Other/Misc/04/690280398_hGYi9-X3.jpg">

The highlight though was Mambo Sun, for which I tried out some very high ISO video shooting for the first time. If you're interested in a taste of what Maxwell's was like this night, check out this Vimeo video below. It was originally shot in full 1080p HD at ISO 12,800. That's ISO twelve-thousand eight hundred! It was freaking dark in there. Here it's downsampled to 720p HD. A little grainy but not bad I think. Make sure you check it out in HD...

http://www.vimeo.com/7226505

you are Batman! Can't wait for the SXSW videos!

Thanks for that concert review, and the video-- what a treat.

A review here:

http://www.nj.com/bands/index.ssf/2009/ ... t_cmj.html

Rob from the band has also contacted me about having any other videos (only have Tiger in addition to this). They seem to have had such a good time together that night and at Hiro's, they're actively going to seek out some more gigs. An invite is promised to document the events if that is so. Who would have thought this kid from LA would be trading emails with the Bongos almost 30 years on. Funny and weird stuff.

does anyone have any pics of the guitar player with the hat? I swear that guy rides my train in the morning.

Okay, so I found a few pics of guitarist James Mastro, and I think this is the same guy who rides my train the morning. I believe he boards somewhere in Montclair or Bloomfield. I've seen him with a guitar case and reading Tape Op Magazine. [:D] Has to be him! Small world!

Ha! It turns out James Mastro (The Bongos) has a shop in Hoboken called Guitar Bar and my good friend Steve Masucci (The Lost Patrol) occasionally buys stuff from him. Very small world.

Uploaded both videos from this night to YouTube. Watch in HD for best results...

Mambo Sun:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLstog51 ... re=channel

Tiger Nights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0ht2lkF ... re=channel

Check it out shred - it has Mastro declaring "This is a song written right on 10th and Washington here..."