The Bomboras
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Surf rock music, albums, EPs |
| Website | https://myspace.com/thebomboras |
The Bomboras are an instrumental surf ensemble originating from Los Angeles, known for their American surf sound.
History
Established in the summer of 1994, the group took cues from 1960s surf and garage legends such as The Ventures, Booker T, and The Sonics.
Distinguished by their performances in Day of the Dead costumes, this five-member band combined vintage surf rock with elements inspired by The Ramones, The Pandoras, and Nuggets compilations. Their dynamic live shows incorporated Go Go dancers, fire-breathing acts, stage diving, and destruction of gear, which helped them amass a loyal following despite apprehensions voiced by local officials.
Their name pays homage to the iconic surf track by the Original Surfaris. Between 1995 and 1997, The Bomboras released multiple albums through Dionysus Records, an independent label based in Burbank. In 1997, they were signed by musician and filmmaker Rob Zombie to his newly launched label Zombie a Go-Go, which was distributed via Geffen Records. The band dissolved in 2000, with some members going on to create acts like the Lords of Altamont and The Legendary Invisible Men. Drummer Dave Klein currently manages a recording studio in Los Angeles.
The Bomboras reunited for a New Year’s Eve performance in 2006 at Hollywood’s Vine Street Lounge. They also appeared at The Wild'O Fest in Mexico City in 2018 and participated in the 2020 "Tiki-Au-Go-Go" event held in Marina Del Rey.
More recently connected with MuSick Recordings, the band issued the comeback EP The Return Of The Up Up Sound in 2021, followed by their first full-length album since 1998 titled Songs From The Beyond! released in 2023.
Line up
- Action Andy – bass/vocals
- Von Franco – guitar
- Dave Klein – drums
- Shane "The Showman" Van Dyke – bass/vocals
- Johnny DeVilla – guitar/vocals
- Gregg Lord Hunt – guitar/vocals
- Jake Cavaliere – keys/vocals
Selected discography
- Savage Island, 1995 – Their debut album on Dionysus, produced on a $200 budget and recorded within two days.
- Swingin' Singles!, 1996
- Organ Grinder, 1995/1997
- Starship Troopers, 1997
- It Came from Pier 13!, 1997 – Recognized by AllMusic as "as good as neo-surf instrumental albums get."
- Board Headz Movie, 1998
- Head Shrinkin' Fun, 1998
- The Return Of The Up Up Sound, 2021
- Songs From Beyond!, 2023