The Bongos Return with The Shroud of Touring

The Bongos were at the forefront of the alternative music scene in the New York area in the 1980s. Their music featured an eclectic mix of musical styles, and the Hoboken based group eventually gained national attention during the heyday of MTV, with the song “Numbers With Wings.” The band’s lineup featured Richard Barone on lead guitar and vocals, Rob Norris on bass and vocals, Frank Giannini on drums and backing vocals. Guitarist James Mastro joined the group after the release of their first full-length record, Drums Along The Hudson, which was issued in 1982. The album included the group’s alluring, dance-infused cover of “Mambo Sun,” by T. Rex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6x1gUYBFO8.

The band’s unique musical style, blending elements of rock, pop, dance rhythms and new wave, as well as their high energy concerts, garnered them a reputation as one of the best bands on the New York area scene in the 1980s. The Bongos released Numbers With Wings in 1983, and the title song, as well as the dance floor hit “Barbarella” expanded their fan base, as more fans discovered them and grooved to their exhilarating music. The Bongos toured extensively throughout the 1980s, adding percussionist Steve Scales to their lineup. They continued to release new music, including 1985’s Brazilian rhythm-inspired Beat Hotel. The group disbanded in 1987, but the band has reunited several times during the 2000s, both live and on record, and The Bongos remain a much-revered favorite among music aficionados: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdPNmHJNQpc.

The great news for fans of The Bongos is that JEM Records is about to release The Shroud of Touring: Live in 1985, a never before released live album originally recorded during the band’s heyday. This phenomenal record effectively captures the band’s unstoppable energy, and the intensity of their incendiary live performances. The Shroud of Touring is being issued to commemorate the 40th anniversary of an incredible concert which occurred at the Tradewinds club in Seabright, NJ on Memorial Day weekend in 1985. The band was at the top of their game that night, and the track list includes favorites such as “In The Congo” and “Tiger Nights,” plus terrific tunes such as “Telephoto Lens,” and “Apache Dancing.”

The Shroud of Touring: Live in 1985 was produced by The Bongos and Steve Addabbo, and the disc has been lovingly remastered by Steve Rosenthal. This is an amazing record, showcasing the band at the peak of their musical powers. If you're a fan of the band (like myself) or were lucky enough to see the The Bongos back in the 1980s, this album will bring back some fond musical memories. If you’ve never seen or heard the band before, once you hear this fabulous record, you will definitely want to check out more of their fantastic, genre-defying music. To celebrate the album’s release, The Bongos original lineup of Richard Barone, Rob Norris, Frank Giannini and James Mastro will be performing several live shows in the New York/New Jersey area, including one at The Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, NJ on May 31st. The Shroud of Touring: Live in 1985 will be released May 23rd on CD by JEM Records, and is now available for pre-order on Amazon.

Black Mirror Examines A "Eulogy"

Most people can recall a romantic relationship from their younger years that, for whatever reason, didn't work out. But can you remember what actually happened to cause that relationship to end? What if you could actually step back into a memory from that time in your life? That's the intriguing premise of "Eulogy," the penultimate episode of the current season of the Netflix anthology Black Mirror. As with many of the stories in Charlie Brooker's series, the story raises questions about how advanced technology really interacts with us and ultimately affects our lives.

In "Eulogy," Paul Giamatti portrays Phillip Connarty, who's contacted by a company called Eulogy. They represents the family of Carol, a former flame of Phillip's. Her family wants him to provide a memory of her for a memorial service. Eulogy offers a unique technology that allows a person to enter a photograph, and in essence, view the moment that a photo was taken in three dimensions, in order to jog a person's memory. At first, Paul is reluctant to do this, as his relationship with Carol ended badly. When he finally agrees to view his memories, the AI "guide" from Eulogy helps him enter several photos, and he begins to recall memories of his time with Carol.

What becomes apparent is that Phillip's memories of his relationship with Carol are colored by his own frailties, and his own perceptions of their romance. Phillip and Carol's time together may not have ended for the reasons he remembers. The truth about how things ended might be a bit more complicated than it seemed at first glance. As he digs deeper into his memories, Phillip experiences a roller coaster of emotions, and he's forced to come to terms with his real role in the end of their relationship. Giammati is excellent as Phillip, and his heart-wrenching performance carries the episode. 

 

The script by Charlie Brooker and Ella Road is terrific, and the direction by Chris Barrett and Luke Taylor is superb. The raw emotional power of this episode really hits home. While Black Mirror often deals with the inherent dangers of technology, and how it can affectsour lives, this episode deals with the emotional toll that life can take on us. "Eulogy" is one of the best entries of the current season of the series. Like "San Junipero" from Season 3 of the show, this is a very human story, touching on deep level of emotion. Black Mirror is currently available on Netflix.