BingBong formed in 2012, quickly becoming one of Madison, Wisconsin’s favorite bands. Since 2018, BingBong has been racking up Madison Area Music Association (MAMA) Awards for Song of the Year (5 wins) and Rock Performer of the Year (2 wins). In short, they can write and play a tune with verve and elan. Members of the band formed around their love for late-70s and early-80s guitar rock. Striving to revive the feel and the energetic power pop of that time, they’re heavily influenced by greats like Rockpile, The Pretenders, and The Smiths. BingBong’s raucous live shows—as witnessed by that blowout show at the storied Double Door in Chicago (2014)—speak to their ability to pack a larger venue with pure energy. Their local pub gigs yield a feeling of “Wow! I just witnessed something awesome!”
BingBong tours regionally purveying their fun-loving sound. Milwaukee, Chicago, Dubuque…large or small…BingBong brings the party. They’ve opened for National touring acts like the Figgs and the Bottle Rockets. Their 2018 appearance on Wisconsin Public Television’s 30 Minute Music Hour is one of the most watched episodes in the series.
It’s BingBong’s good fortune to have two main songwriters with complementary but diverse writing styles. Pam Barrett is steeped in the “storyteller” tradition, writing songs that are visually evocative with characters & plots that come alive. Danny Hicks, through both his hook-laden guitar riffs and hard-hitting lyrics, is intensely, energetically, mood driven. Both have a knack for creating bright, shimmery melodies. This two-pronged approach gives BingBong a broad sonic canvas on which they paint their live shows. BingBong’s rhythm section keeps the heat on with Brian Bentley on drums and Julie Kiland on bass. Their ability to lock into a solid groove is key to making live shows electrifying!
BingBong released its debut album, Pop Restoration in 2018. It is a testament to the band’s philosophy that pop can, and should, ROCK! This is no milquetoast offering. The record ranges from the Americana-esque “Many Years” to the heavy-rocking “Sugar & Spice” to the pop-tastic “It’s Complicated.” The record is meant to be played from start to finish, old school. 33 1/3 old school. Album-Oriented Rock old school. BingBong kept it so 1979-old-school that they recorded all analog, 8 tracks only, no intervening digital transfer, and released their debut album on vinyl first. They even mastered specifically for vinyl at a restored (and storied!) studio called Welcome to 1979–where vacuum tubes still rule!
Press coverage of Pop Restoration has been ravingly positive. Bob Koch of Isthmus writes, “BingBong has honed their guitar rock sound to a bright sheen.” Kiki Schueler of Kiki’s House of Righteous Music states, “…There’s a timeless quality to these songs.” and “…it’s hard to pick favorites on a record this consistently listenable.” Scott Gordon of Tone Madison writes, “…Barrett’s lead vocals achieve a similar balance of well-crafted, unforced melody and bite.”
For more info on BingBong debut release, Pop Restoration, please go to poprestoration.com
Next up was BingBong’s 180 degree turn toward their sophomore release, Live At The Dojo. This album captures the imagination of what a kick ass live performance should be like. Recorded and videoed in front of a small group of friends and fans, Live At The Dojo is a collection of some of BingBong’s most loved tunes. Check out the videos here.
BingBong continues to thrive in Madison’s garage rock oriented scene. They’re working on their next offering, a full length album that should be released in 2024. They continue dropping tuneful singles here and there with one of them nominated for this year’s Madison Area Music Awards in the Rock Song of the Year category.
