Oingo Boingo Halloween Dance Party
Back in the early 1980s, Monterey-based rock band The Medflys burst out of the music scene like an invasion of the pesky little fruit flies they were jokingly named after.
Mixing sunny pop, upbeat ska and crunchy New Wave rock with quirky and over-the-top theatrics, the five-piece band hit it big with regional FM-radio hits such the teen-angst rebellion of “Belfast”, the upbeat dance groove of “Compulsive,” the California love-in vibes of “State of Mine” and the clever, spaghetti western-inspired, “Don’t Mess With The Mayor,” a tribute Clint Eastwood’s 1986 mayoral campaign in Carmel.
The Medflys were regularly named “Best Local Band” by local radio stations and news publications during its heyday. They regularly sold outs shows from Monterey to San Jose and were featured often on local and regional television, did a PSA for “Rock the Vote,” and appeared in national TV commercials.
Throughout the ’80’s, The Medflys had multiple opening slots with high-profile artists such as Joan Jett, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Oingo Boingo, Huey Lewis & the News, Violent Femmes, Night Ranger, Greg Kihn and Toto.
But The Medflys most frequently opened for and toured with the wild and theatrical rock band The Tubes. Now, after more than three decades, the two bands will reunite when The Medflys open for The Tubes Feb. 25 at The Coach House.
“The first time we opened for the Tubes at the Reseda Country Club in 198??, the curtains went up and grabbed two microphone stands which came crashing down and I looked at the band and yelled, ‘We are all gonna die!’ ” says lead singer Carl Christ, one of the band's co-founders. “Well, we survived the show and went on to play dozens of more with them. The Tubes are one of the greatest rock bands ever and we are eternally grateful for having thrived in their shadow.”
Constant touring and opening slots for national bands gained them some notoriety, but they might be best remembered for the song “Don't Mess With The Mayor,” which hit the airwaves just as Clint Eastwood was becoming mayor of Carmel in 1986, The “Mayor” video, which featured the band members in Old West duds, was directed by renowned Monterey documentary directory Steve Rosen and garnered local, national and international airplay. The clever and witty song even became a popular drive-time favorite at several radio stations across the U.S.
The band headlined and wowed a crowd of more than 2,000 enthusiastic fans in August 2016 on the main stage at the West End Celebration in Sand City, California.
The West End show came on the heels of thrilling sold-out reunion shows in Monterey in 2010 and 2015, both at Planet Gemini. The latter was to raise funds and awareness for Savannah's Song for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the renowned pediatric treatment and research facility focused on children's catastrophic diseases. Savannah's Song has raised close to $1 million, all of which is donated to St. Judes Children's Research Hospital.
Savannah was the daughter of Medflys' guitarist Evans who lost her battle with cancer in 2015 at the tender age of 13.
The Coach House show will feature founding members Carl Christ of Dana Point on vocals, Robbie Evans on guitar, Dale Kurokawa, guitar/keyboards, and saxophonist/keyboardist Alex Stewart, who will be joined by veteran drummer John Brearton, long-time honorary Medfly, Tom Ayres, on keyboards and trumpet and Simon Stewart on bass.
The band will also feature the FlyGirlz dancers led by Callie Dailey, Frances Rivera and Vanessa Burkleo.
On a local note, The Medflys will rehearse for the Coach House show only four doors down from the venue at Well Rounded Heroes Academy of Martial Arts, run by band supporter Adam Zax.
For interviews with or information on bandmembers, contact Robbie Evans or Dale Kurokawa. For media inquiries, contact Mac McDonald. Photos, both current and vintage, are available on request.
BAND CONTACT: Robbie Evans, (801) 859-3612 and robbie_2383@yahoo.com; and Dale Kurokawa, (208) 891-8801 and hkurokawa@yahoo.com
MEDIA CONTACT: Mac McDonald, (831) 747-7696 and macmcdonald2@gmail.com