Let's Go Bongo Fury by The Front

He didn’t play fancy and couldn’t play as effortlessly as Joe Jackson’s bass player, but the bass note was always where it should be…..the right note in the right place. Larry Hill, the drummer, wanted the rest of the band to like the Beach Boys as much as he liked them. It never happened, but they still occasionally found some of those vocal harmonies trying to sneak into their songs. Flynn Picardal was an industrial safety inspector by day and a rhythm guitar player by night. Greg McLaughlin was probably ‘the artistic one’, both in terms of temperament and the ability to write catchy pop songs. They all wrote the songs, mind you, but Greg’s songs somehow seemed more ‘poppish’ and the most likely to be heard on the radio.

When they got together in the summer of 1980, it was understood that they wouldn’t play any cover songs…….and they never did, not even in rehearsals. They picked a name, “The Front”, that had an economy of syllables and didn’t carry any baggage that would identify them with a particular musical style. Warren Tepper soon appeared as their manager and was largely responsible for them not becoming a well-kept secret. Warren’s father, Sid, had written some hits for Elvis (not the Costello-kind) in the old days so Warren had some insights into the ‘biz’.

A couple of months after they started playing together, Warren had them playing shows at the Agora Ballroom in Hallandale. They would frequently get the call as the opening act for ‘new wavish’ bands playing in the Miami area over the next few years, including U2 (during their first American tour), the Go-Go’s, Ultravox, the Vapors, the Psychedelic Furs, Missing Persons, and others. Between these shows, they would play their unique brand of aggressive rock at various Miami-area venues including 27-Birds, the Blitz, the Balkan Rock Club, the Level III Lounge, the New Wave Lounge, and Coconut Grove’s Continental American Café.

Their music was an interesting blend of musical influences that ranged from Devo and Cheap Trick to the Beach Boys. Many people characterized it as punk or new wave, but this was likely due to the aggressive intensity and speed of many of their songs. The titles and themes of their songs also made some people think of them as ‘punk’. ‘Execution by the State’ was about the renewed use of Florida’s electric chair and “Wet Things in the Darkness” was an ironic view of masturbation. One of the best descriptions was offered by another Miami-area musician who referred to their music as “de-evolutionary, heavy-metal, album-oriented rock”

In February 1981 they released their first record, “First Strike”, that contained three songs including, “Immigration Report”. This song, always a crowd favorite, presented a tongue-in-cheek view of South Florida’s immigration problem (remember Mariel?) as seen by the local immigration officers who tried their best to do the right thing. This record was followed over the next few years by another single, “Aluminum Room/Poor People”, and an LP, “Sideways”. The band was amazingly prolific and wrote over 50 songs during their almost 4-year existence.

here are some reviews and comments

perfect punk

a great drummer here and those vocal lol this is good reminds me of sham69 full of energy and power thi is the way punk should be simple powerful make you wanna jump around the room even at 40 ( wife thinks ive lost the plot) but hey this is very good vocals guitars and drums all come together for that perfect punk song

Extra Credit: Male Vocals, Guitars, Drums, Originality.

- mickyspectrum

Basildon, Essex, United Kingdom

November 24th, 2003

The Sex Pistols Reincarnated?

I really dig this song man. That’s great. Like a million people probably tell you, the vocals are reminiscent of Johnny.

The song it punk at it’s finest. It political, short and pissed. It has a message and has no qualms telling you what it is.

The intro is fantastic.

This record is a tribute to the Late Randy Rush

(lead guitarist-co-composer)

Passed away in April of 2000.

As Randy used to say a lot

"Lets Go Bongo Fury"

And for all his life he did just that .

Hope You Enjoy.

Greg Mclaughlin

Pres - WhatEverWay Productions Inc

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