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Live at House of Blues Anaheim
April 2nd, 2026 Review by Amberlee Meyer
If you grew up in the ‘80s – especially in SoCal – there is no way you have never heard of Oingo Boingo. I fell in love with the first self-titled, 10-inch EP in 1980 – all very Devo-esque, with the analog synth, tight, turned-up guitar – as people were leaving punk and moving into new wave.
For many Boingo fans, the music is part of their personal soundtrack, especially those who have been following them since the beginning. I finally had a chance to catch Oingo Boingo Former Members in March at the House of Blues in Anaheim. Seeing this new wave ska, skippy, trippy, sometimes spooky, art rock mash-up was definitely worth it, especially with a packed house on Friday the 13th.
To get the night started was America’s first ska band, The Untouchables! Given Orange County is the epicenter of Third-Wave ska-punk, this band is not only a fan favorite, but there were hardcore skankers throughout the venue.
The passing of lead singer Jerry Miller was on everyone’s mind, but luckily for all of us, founding member Chuck Askerneese has taken the reins of primary vocals and he does Jerry and the band’s legacy justice.
As the emcee brought out the band, they were treated to new and classic UT’s music. Opening with “Whiplash,” Askerneese segued into “Be Alright,” then fan favorite “I Spy (For the F.B.I.).”
Needless to say, the crowd went nuts! Other songs from their kick-ass set included “Lebanon,” “Jade,” and “Tear Gate Down.”
Because they were the opener, the set was abbreviated, that was the only drawback because the UT’s were on fire.
The horn section was prominent, one could even say they were Boingo-esque. The brass section for UTs is solid, it features Jack Sneddon on trombone, Nick Ramos on trumpet, William Overholtzer on tenor sax, Ian Baritone on sax and keys. These guys delivered an amazing version of “What’s Gone Wrong,” and the crowd ate it up!
Rounding out The Untouchables with an electric and soul piercing glow are Bubba Sanchez on keytar (backing vocals), Dave Cassell on guitar, Ryan Roberts on bass, and James Robertson on the skins.
As the crowd slowly re-grouped, I overheard the chatter. Clearly, most knew OBFM contains original Boingo members.
Original core members include Johnny Vatos (drums), Sam “Sluggo” Phipps (saxophone), Carl Graves (keyboards), Steve Bartek (guitar), and John Avila (bass) although Avila was not there that night.
The Former Members were rounded out by Freddy Hernandez (bass), Brian Swartz (trumpet), Mike “The Spike” Glendinning (rhythm box), and new frontman, José Maldonado.
Opening with “Dead or Alive” the band showcased the vocals prowess of Maldonado, who many know him as the frontman from Sweet and Tender Hooligans (The Smiths, Morrissey tribute bands); many were eager to see how this first real gig on front of a large crowd would shake out for the Boingo enthusiast. The feedback was a very quick thumbs up!
Up next was the 1985 hit “War Again,” followed by “Controller,” one of the best-performed songs of the set in my opinion. Fun, on point, it got the crowd revved up for the rest of the night.
“Nothing to Fear (But Fear Itself)” is a personal favorite of mine; the intro always reminds me of what could be a James Bond theme song, before it scattered across many musical genres.
“Just Another Day” makes me think of a very cool sped-up Duran Duran tune, and it was performed with sheer reverence, and “Private Life” took the crowd to another level of insanity.
Then the crowd heard the beginning of “Weird Science,” from the ‘80s cult classic film of the same name, and the roar of the crowd was insane, as it should be; it was the band’s highest-charting single. Then, they followed with another crowd favorite, “Not My Slave.”
The talent on the stage was immeasurable. No kitschy getups, no organized dance moves, the saxophone solos, epic guitar solos (Bartek wow!), and every musician on the stage was recreating the world of Boingo that fans have come to love, and there were a ton of people onstage to facilitate it. It all just worked!
Further into the set, we heard “Gratitude,” a Danny Elfman song from his “So-Lo,” and an up-tempo ska/new wave tune with a punk rock heart, “Life is Good,” written by sax player Sam “Sluggo” Phipps. Also in the mix was “Grey Matter,” “Sweat,” “Stay” and “We Close Our Eyes.” The way Maldonado delivered those last two songs impressed the heck out of everyone!
The last four songs went off without a hitch, and the crowd was definitely feeling it! “Wild Sex (In the Working Class)” and “Only A Lad” were met with cheers and lyrics singing by the crowd, while the next song, “Dead Man’s Party,” had everyone jumping and getting their groove on! Finishing with “Goodbye Goodbye” was the perfect way to end the night.
In the end, the crowd got what they came for, a kick-ass Boingo show and the band delivered. For Maldonado, a self-professed Boingo fan, this was a dream come true. Any normal person would be nervous as hell, but I will give Maldonado much credit for not letting nerves get the best of him as his delivery wasn’t the talk of the after show; it was how great the band sounded. That is the testament of not just a great lead singer, but an accomplished band filled with accomplished musicians that made the night sound fantastic!
For Boingo fans, rest assured, this band is ready to hit the road again. Next time you see this band listed to play, do yourself a favor and go!
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
by Shane Pase Photography
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