Surf Punk Rockabilly at the HOB

March 6th, 1998

The House of Blues, Orlando

A lot of my friends were looking forward to Friday night - The Cramps were coming back to Orlando, which is something no one ever dreamed - me included. I had just driven to Atlanta a few months before to see them at the Roxy with Guitar Wolf. So I wasn't as excited about seeing the legendary psycho-billy band, magnificent as they are. I was looking forward to Friday for a whole other reason. My beloved Bomboras from Los Angeles were opening the show.

My job had sent me to live in L.A. for six months last year. During that time I saw many great garage/surf/punk bands, but nothing prepared me for the cymbal/Farfisa-torching Bomboras from Hollywood. I saw them about ten times during the six months I was there, mostly at terrific "Tigermask" shows (garage/surf/punk showcases put on by Dionysis Records), and no band has hit me quite like them since. I came back to Orlando laden with Bomboras cds, posters, 7" vinyl, t-shirts, and a heavy heart. When would I ever see this band again?

A year went by, and Sherry, their bewitching go go girl, and I exchanged heartfelt e-mails weekly. Then, one day we got a call from the HOB that the Hate Bombs couldn't open for the Cramps because a band from L.A. called "The Bamberas, or something" were touring with them. I froze. Could it be? I called Sherry - it was true. They were coming here.

For two weeks I danced around the office like an idiot. Finally the night came. Sherry had called from Miami to say we were all guest-listed. I got to the House of Blues just in time to run upstairs and hug the band - which includes Jake Cavalliere, former organist of the amazing surf/punk Untamed Youth, and guitarist Greg "Lord" Hunt - one of the great, original Finks. Sherry tried to hug me but was covered with body paint - of course. This band goes all the way. I raced downstairs just in time. The HOB was dark, black lights lined the stage, the curtain's were closed. Suddenly Jake's cheesy, eery organ began playing. The curtains slowly opened, revealing The Bomboras, painted as glow-in-the-dark skeletons with giant Sombreros. Holy shit - these brilliant knuckleheads were recreating the festival of the dead. Sherry and their new, second go go girl, Keena, stood up slowly - with matching skeleton paint on their amazing bodies (and giant 13's painted on their backs) - as the band broke into "The Bombora Stomp". The House of Blues went nuts.

Literally. My friends, who had had to endure my Bomboras ravings for the past year were jaw-dropped. Sherry and Keena gyrated and go go'd feverishly, while The Bomboras supplied the most intense instrumental surf music on the planet. I was choked up as I danced and sang along. Of course, the Mouse of Blues crowd, with it's BTO mentality, quickly let the Bomboras know they had never seen anything like this. Jake was rocking his precious tin-foil-covered Farfisa back and forth, Sherry was screeching, and the crowd danced like a bunch of crazed weasels. I was in heaven. Going beyind the average instro-surf band because of their nutty visuals and Jake's heckling, The Bomboras left their mark on the HOB forever.

No one was prepared for their finale - except me. I moved back. Jake pulled out his trusty can of lighter fluid toward the end of their last song, and the next thing we saw was the Farfisa and drum cymbals up in flames. The club was in full dance frenzy by this time, and then it was over. My friends, including my husband, turned to me in awe. So this was why I had driven them crazy. They all rushed to the merchandise table to buy copies of their cds, including "It Came from Pier 13!", "Savage island", "Organ Grinder", and my favorite, "Swingin' Singles", all on the Dionysis label. I went upstairs to hug Sherry and Jake - and rest. It had all happened so fast.

In all fairness, the show was a great 3-band bill. Next up was The Amazing Royal Crowns, who shared the same enthusiasm as the Bomboras despite very different styles. But attitude is what counts, so it was a perfect fit. They bordered on rockabilly, but with more of a punk energy - basically a great rock'n'roll band. They broke the rockabilly mold, however, when their lead singer bravely picked up moroccas. Other rockabilly bands might have thought that was too "60's", but The Crowns didn't care. They were happy, and it showed. I especially liked when they borrowed Sherry and Keena from The Bomboras to go go during one of their songs, and I wasn't alone. The guys went berserk.

Finally, The Cramps appeared, and steady as she goes, delivered a great set. They basically did their thing, with a Ramones-like mentality. Lux, still crazy after all these years, in skin-tight black, gave the crowd what they wanted, including the Trashmen's classic "Surfin' Bird", the Phantom's "Love me", "Psychotic Reaction" and cuts off their terrific new "Big Beat from Badsville" CD. Poison Ivey, who always looks like she doesn't want to be bothered, did her usual sneering and seemed put off by the stupid Mouse of Blues moshing idiots. I swear, I get embarrassed. Once again - why wasn't the HOB put downtown?

I left the show, exhausted, satisfied, and a little sad. The Bomboras were off again - leaving me with my records and tapes, and Sherry's e-mail. With great love, respect, and gratitude to the Cramps (without whom we wouldn't have bands like The Bomboras), I still think the Bomboras were the best band of this terrific three-band bill. And everyone I've talked to agreed. Thank you, Lux for seeing what I saw and inviting them to tour with you. Orlando was a lucky "downtown Disney" last Friday.

Carol Benanti
I wrote kids books for years. I'm a script coordinator for Nickelodeon, and I'm a frustrated Hate Bombs/housewife. I'm especially fond of rockabilly, surf-punk, and dancing.