Yesterday I had to take a bit of a drive somewhere and I was just not in the mood to listen to the business and personal growth and internet marketing podcasts I normally listen to. When I drive with Brenna in her car we usually listen to Ozzy’s Boneyard featuring classic hard rock and metal from acts like Black Sabbath, Metallica, Dio, AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Scorpions, Motorhead, Van Halen, Zakk Wylde and of course Ozzy Osbourne. Yet on this particular day I needed something different. I needed some Oingo Boingo. I chose the seventh and final studio album by Oingo Boingo called “Boingo”. This album is not the pop-ish ska type music from years before but despite the often not so subtle sinister overtones, the album does indeed feature softer themes of love and remorse. It has a sort of brooding orchestral arrangement that makes the album almost dreamy while keeping my mind open to the possibility of change in a world that is not always so kind and well, pop-ish.
I first discovered Oingo Boingo back around 1981. I was working in construction at the time and while sitting in my co-workers pickup truck in a parking lot at the beach and waiting for our supplies to come he popped in a cassette of “Only a Lad” and from there I was hooked. We must have listened to the album at least three or four times that day.
I was a little late to the game as the band was founded in 1972 as The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, a performance art group. In 1979, it reshaped from a semi-theatrical music and comedy troupe into a ska-influenced new wave octet and shortened their name to Oingo Boingo. Later in their career, they shifted to a more guitar-oriented alternative rock sound, and away from the use of horns and synthesizers.
The band would do several concerts each year in Southern California where their popularity seemed to be exclusively located. They would always do a couple shows around Fourth of July and a couple shows around Halloween where the audience was encouraged to dress up. I went to at least one show each season each year until I moved to Germany in 1990. In 1995 my partner made a trip to Los Angeles and returned with the news that Oingo Boingo had broken up. I could hardly believe it.
(One of my very favorite songs by Oingo Boingo is ‘Mary‘ as it almost perfectly describes my life and why I went to Germany in the first place as well as the things I had to experience along the way and after.)
I had the privilege of hanging out a bit with drummer John “Vatos” Hernandez and bass man John Avila as well as see them backstage a couple times in the late 80’s. They all seemed like swell fellows.
Often times we hear that question- If you were stuck on a desert island and could only take a few albums with you what would they be? I can’t say for sure as I would hate to have to make that choice, and will all due respect to Ozzy, I am sure I would take an Oingo Boingo album…or two if I could. Oingo Boingo always makes me smile.
Are you familiar with Oingo Boingo? What is your favorite album or song? Did you ever go to an Oingo Boingo show? Let me know if the comments. Would love to hear from you.