Oingo Boingo - Grey Matter - 4/25/1987 - Ritz

Recorded 4/25/1987 - Ritz (New York, NY)
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Copyright Bill Graham Archives

[@neuronicstatic]

I was born in the early 2000’s, so it’s obvious that I wasn’t around when this band was active. But, seeing the videos of their live performances brings me an unexplainable amount of joy. Tbh, I wish I was around in the 80’s, so I could go to a few concerts.

[@siriusylee]

dude, same here!

[@manumanubs]

same!

[@ЛизаРыбина-ф5б]

Looks like someone is very into bizzare stuff)) I understand your interests, you probably have a pretty good taste

[@siriusylee]

@John Leon that's great! Glad you got to see them! I wish I had the money and time'

[@milesjonelybonely9281]

I was there! Was a fun band!

[@georgeodajungle7082]

In 1984 or 5 or so, been awhile, I'm 65 now, I was delivering bottled water in Los Angeles and I met Danny elfman's brother and his father. His father and I rapidly discovered that he and I were both enormous fans. He might have been pushing 65 at that point and expressed even at that age, that he loved to attend Danny's shows when possible. And then, Danny Elfman's father, invited me to sit in his car with him and listen to a bootleg cassette tape of the soundtrack for Pee-wee's Big Adventure that Danny had provided him before the movie was released. And that we did. What an incredible moment in my life. Once in a lifetime.

[@Artemis224]

Wow! What a great memory to have! 😻

[@Itsjustliketheweather]

That's so sweet!! I listened to an interview last night with Danny and he mentioned how pleased he was that his dad got to see him get to the point of concerts at the Hollywood Bowl and how proud his dad was. Made me cry, so touching 😭

[@bearythebear69]

Richard Elfman has reposted my art a few times before and has sent me lots of gratitude for it lol

[@DeadMansMixtape]

Thank you for sharing!

[@suzybearheart530]

I love how damn happy Johnny Avila is pounding on that xylophone next to Danny. He seems like a man just full of joy and so talented. Plays bass, keys, guitar, sings, etc. Everyone in this band is amazing.

[@ctr289]

It seems fake to me, I can't hear anything when they hit the xylophone, I think people in the back do it because I can hear when they hit it

[@TommyWashow]

@@ctr289 its cause your speakers suck. they are low pitch and are definitely there and rather prominent in the mix too

[@treeswillturntosoil]

Love him he was so cute

[@bigmacfullerton7870]

@@ctr289it wasn’t fake. I was there. Bands didn’t fake anything back then. That’s today

[@ctr289]

@@TommyWashow From the people playing the real xylophones in the background, maybe

[@drsloanski]

This is BY FAR the best thing I've seen in 2023 so far.

[@egg_bun_]

God, it truly is

[@erinnelson434]

If there's anything I like in an 80's band better than a xylophonist, it's TWO xylophonists!

[@flippy101mph9]

They're not xylophones they're an instrument Danny invented called a rumbaphone

[@erinnelson434]

@@flippy101mph9 I did not know that all this time. Thank you for that information. I'm going to research that interesting new gem!

[@Tlpopescu]

Flippy101mph I’m going yo look that up! Thanks!

[@claysnyder7300]

One of the best concerts outdoor concerts every Side San Diego State University outside Bowl Wingo Boingo, the police, Frankenstein. Wonderful concert I just met my soon to be wife up in the stands 40 years never looked back

[@erinnelson434]

@@claysnyder7300 How awesome that you have that memory. That fact to keep. Plus the concert rocked. I wish I could have gone. I might have been a smidge young at the time for it, though depending on when it was. Prior to '84 I would have likely missed it anyhow.

[@jackziemer8538]

Imagine seeing this with your own eyes it would be magical to see the 80s through my eyes

[@erinnelson434]

Oh, it was pure magic. And was probably not much different than as it is seen from your imagination. I wish I could download some of my great 80's experiences to you.🎁😊

[@mauricio2568]

It's a wonderful 80's magic

[@erinnelson434]

@@mauricio2568 It was amazing. I was age 10 - 20 in the 80s so I got the full experience.

[@mauricio2568]

@@erinnelson434 It was really cool 📻

[@jh3755]

I did!!!

[@siriusylee]

Schneiderman dancing in the background the entire time made me so happy for no reason =] even Sluggo starts to move his head a bit near the end, lol. goodness me, I quite enjoy me some delightful oingo boingo footage

[@Is_itliving]

On god

[@mikejohnson1068]

You know it's getting crazy when Steve bartek moves his feet!

[@DeadMansMixtape]

​@@mikejohnson1068 So funny, so true. 😂

[@damowilliams204]

One of the best bands of the 80’s. No limit to Elfmans talent.

[@alexkunce2002]

This is one of the best live performances I've ever found.

[@brandontwohawks]

This is the band at the height of their powers, fucking fantastic.

[@ansonjackson6254]

Definitely one of the most underrated bands ever. True originals. And this song in particular is SO profound even today. Artistic genius on full display ❤

[@ricaurandt6713]

I was there in the beginning and I'll share with you the one thing I took away from the many shows where I was in attendance, be it Perkin's Palace in Pasadena or any one of the clubs on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, when these guys played, it was never an "Off" performance. Danny and the band were masters at their craft and they wouldn't think of letting their fans down with an "Off" night. Im sure, with the intesity level they played at and the energy they put forth, I'm sure they felt it the next day. I know I sure as fuck did!

[@queenfears1988]

I love the energy danny elfmen give during his performances❤

[@stephenleonard7121]

These are probably the most musically complex songs I've ever heard, and they are frickin perfect.😮

[@JoJo-fan-right-here]

I just love how none of their outfits go together 💀 Danny Elfman is…well he’s Danny Elfman. The guy next to him looks like he owns a record shop and then one of the guys in the back dressed like he’s about to go to divorce court 😭

[@computerfighter2000]

oh my god

[@mushedups]

Danny Elfman dressing like Danny Elfman is a pretty good explanation

[@acucarcandy]

Why is no one talking about this 0:23??? I simply refuse to believe that Danny actually played this xylophone so perfectly with not a single miss while he dances grooving FREAKLY! He also looks to have so much fun in this, I love this guy

[@shrtstaq]

So happy that I was here in LA in the eighties and got to experience the genius of Danny Elfman and Oingo Boingo on numerous occasions. Every time I saw them, it was a pulse racing roller coaster ride from start to finish, but I have to say that Gray Matter really was the highlight of their live performances. Love this!

[@mauriciofonseca2079]

I was 8 years old in 1987, remember my mom listening Oingo Boingo at the living room with me.

[@calsnoboarder]

I saw this band play over 30 times in the 80s and 90s. I just saw Danny Elfman play this song at the Hollywood Bowl on Nov 2, 2024... 29 years and 2 days since the last time I saw Oingo Boingo perform live.

[@Worthless-t8x]

Man, I wish I could teleport into my teenage body and go see these guys. Oingo Boingo would have never come to some obscure northern BC town of roughly 70K people so I never got the opportunity to see them. These live videos let me be that funny little fan boy again, vicariously.

[@theresabraddock9310]

Kooky freaky nerdy ❤ love it 😀

[@WashingtonLozado]

Oingo Boingo. Great Band with Devo and the B 52’s

[@balladofthebroken7569]

He’s such a good vocalist

[@freezerbrnt8169]

this performance scratches my brain in just the right way

[@dailydiatribes]

The spins give me so much joy. I love his little dances.

[@CristinaSantos-pw4pt]

Danny energy is pure adrenaline his voice is hypnotic in live always

[@gahloot]

The little gymnasiums, and clubs were amazing back then. And of course the larger venues like Universal Amphitheater and Irvine Meadows. I was also on American Bandstand and saw them. And danced on a show called MV3 with Richard Blade of KROQ radio. I'll never forget when Danny had to cancel his show because he blew his appendix. To make up for it Danny gave us a 3+ hour concert at the Palace in Hollywood. If you lived in the 80's? Then you know you experienced a special time in life.

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

I’ll bet he still has the removed appendix in a jar somewhere.

[@tiredextremely]

Yeah, Im not super young but I missed the 80's, seems like everybody was having a lot of fun. If I had a time machine Id go back and see some random hair metal band just for the party.

[@5red5red]

My god. What an amazing performance.

[@steve41557]

Saw them at UCSB in 1980 at the Thunderdome. I was impressed how tight they played.

[@jodyhill5624]

I was there too 🎉🎉🎉

[@michaelp7918]

The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo... the best big band from the second half of the 20th century

[@toolsgear2695]

Look how much fun he was having!! 👏👏👏

[@kirbygamerforlife2254]

I wish i was born in the 80s to see this live i love this song from oingo boingo😁

[@claysnyder7300]

1973

[@christianswain4884]

Man, that Eugene Levy was everywhere in the 80's!

[@beckymura1479]

Danny Elfman was never better than when he was with Oingo Boingo, and he never will be able to replicate the charge Oingo Boingo gave us kids. Oh how I miss their music and irreverent lyrics. Danny, please give us a second farewell tour.

[@The_Timinator]

LOL you know he killed Oingo to be a Hollywood Puppet right? ...think about his lyrics..."they'll take anything that YOU shove down their throat" seriously Democrat / left wing agenda.

[@stevephillips7884]

Greatful to have seen and heard this song live twice. One of the singular music experiences of my life. Feel bad Danny's ears were starting to suffer.

[@masiridr1198]

I've always wanted to see him (them) rip the xylophone on this song live. Thank goodness for KZbin and Alt Rock on MV for posting it.

[@stsphenphillips2952]

When the Delta Center opened, $90,000,000.00. First event, let alone concert back when billionaire Larry Miller was alive he addressed those anxiously awaiting Danny Elfman and Oingio Boingo. Last song, they left. Chants forever OINGO BOINGO OINGO BOINGO....... the encore Danny seemed a bit embarrassed at the commotion. So then they finally played 'GREY MATTER one of the greatest songs ever composed, performed, right up there with Stairway to Heaven, Hotel California November Rain....I was in Heaven.... Regretably missed the final Halloween concert.

[@honeybee2522]

Sluggo back there trying to pass for chill. 😉🎷

[@louisnagy3657]

Lived it ...loved it...............Miss it 1000%..........

[@kmjeffels]

Loved listening to these guys in high school! They were awesome in “Back To School “!

[@russburton725]

Love seeing Leon in the background getting into it! I met him and “Sluggo” to his left before a show, cool guys! Maters of their various musical crafts!

[@siriusylee]

yo really, that's sick?! also glad to know I wasn't the only one watching him "dance" if you could call it that

[@bc_usa]

Best band of the 80's!🏆

[@computerfighter2000]

so true

[@DayanaRockStar122]

They are underrated.

[@flippy101mph9]

OK I just found this out the instrument that Danny and John are playing are called balfons

[@oldwave6106]

They used to play Santa Barbara every summer. Saw them 3-4 times at least. Good times!!

[@computerfighter2000]

"spit yo shit troy" troy:

[@pelucrespins8562]

After seeing this performance, Grey matter is a fuckin masterpiece, incredible, they put all their cojones in the oven, olé Danny Elfman y compañía, con dos cojones!!!!

[@julierabbitt]

Saw OB about this time at First Avenue in Mpls, and it is still, 35 ish (yikes!) year later one of my top five concerts of all time. sooo sooo sooo GOOD!

[@johncarmichael4698]

80s ❤. When music became fun again.

[@Kellenpure]

Caught them in Cal Poly Pomona in 1987-one of the best ever.

[@claysnyder7300]

I graduated Cal Poly Pomona we listen to jan hammer Jazz Rock Fusion

[@matthewkester3677]

that was actually in 1985, and yes, I was at that concert

[@xtraspecialedward]

I was there as well. I remember that somebody from the crowd threw something at him. They finished the song perfectly. Right after the song he gave that person an earful, and challenged him to come on stage. My first of 3 Boingo concerts.

[@xtraspecialedward]

By the way, it was '85 and we were told it was 1st performance after recording Dead Man's Party.

[@Strive4OnlineSuccess]

Love the instrumentation on this song! The marimba and other parts the gel so well! Awesome! 👏 I remember when this song first came out!!

[@claramacario8894]

Que sonzeira bicho! Essa é uma das melhores músicas dele!

[@mikebeltran8974]

There will never be another electrifying band like Oingo Boingo! I was lucky to see them live in Mesa, Arizona in the mid 80's.

[@espeterson522]

You can always tell that they were having such a huge amount of fun when they played live. Wish I could've gone to a concert.

[@stevephillips7884]

When I think of the great movies music Danny composed and was so humble to bring his person live for our enjoyment, grateful beyond measure.

[@singalongwrudy8690]

Dolby, The Tubes , The Police, Kraftwerk., The Bonedaddys, The Clash and Thompson Twins...just to name a few...what a time to own a turntable...

[@bigmacfullerton7870]

Saw these guys around 1983 when I was around 15. One of my first concerts of many. They were great and so were the 80’s. Started going to punk shows and I saw so many great bands multiple times.

[@Chron_Dawg78]

Love "discovering" gems that could be in literally any 80s movie I can think of

[@PapaCowboySr]

I saw these guys in a club called the Troubadour in Calif and they were amazing. Can't remember the year. I think it was around 1982-1883

[@rudy6884]

I think it was a Bumpershoot festival in the early 80s that I got to see this fine group of musicians. Magical and manical.

[@fionastokesgilbert1696]

Saw them a few times back in the day...they were the best!

[@robsan52]

Saw them at Seattle's Bumbershoot mid-late 80's(?).They played along time and must have played every song...they were fantastic!

[@toditron]

Saw them a few times in the early 90s. They were amazing.

[@willhouse]

Like, WHOA. So sad I never got to see these guys!!!

[@davidjenkins2691]

On point.

[@holysmokes5817]

As an ordained Minister of the Church of the Sub Genius, I say, "Reverend!!" Dan Elfman, a solid citizen of the Church himself. Praise BoB!!!

[@victoriacalleja2400]

This was my favorite band, and I saw them live many times. Just the intro fires all of my nerve endings and I want to jump!!

[@user-qy3yw7ln5n]

Gorgeous Danny 🖤

[@wretchedmess]

THIS is the OB I adored and revered!!

[@carolynnorton9552]

So wonderful!

[@mauricio2568]

Phenomenal band and wonderful content listening to these songs 📻🎶🎵

[@bigtoelittlefinger6133]

New fan talking heads style bing bong

[@devarodgers4676]

brillent band

[@gilbert4369]

Saw them at the Greek theater, Hollywood palladium and Irvine amphitheater, great shows.

[@richardarmijo3806]

I was at this show. Still have the stub.

[@erich2819]

You have a clue,.At least you have clue how great this band was. Popular with the sound track song in Weird Science, it was a shame how under-rated this band turned out. A cult following it had at the time. Words can't describe the feeling you had, going to see them live. Not life changing but a part of life you won't want to change. Yep, AWESOME!

[@stevephillips7884]

Just Another Day, Heaven of music, etc.

[@Alexandersaurus]

Danny looked so excited when he started playing this song. And the little dances they all do are so silly.

[@DEREKONMAUI]

Halloween at Irvin Meadows always the best concert

[@mikegray4960]

I agree with vinegar I was born I got to live it live thank you

[@LorinTone]

These guys effing rocked the hell of out this song.

[@stevephillips7884]

Starring in his brother's movie Forbidden Zone. Who would have thought such an applicable ACRONYM.

[@CategoricalImperative]

Awesome song!

[@cherylb2008]

These guys some of the best

[@bennp144]

The nerdy guy dancing in the back on the keyboards looks like a character straight from Revenge of the Nerds

[@MrMelvinSchlock]

I can kick myself for intentionally looking the other way during the Oingo Boingo years (as well as other great bands during that time) because of what I thought that music was and represented.

[@katiasousa7939]

Sou apaixonada por esse homem, na próxima encarnação quero conviver com ele ❤❤

[@stevephillips7884]

Mystic Knights Of the Oingo Boingo and Richard Elfman. MKOBRE Macabre.

[@stevephillips7884]

Dead Man's Party.

[@IxBlind]

hes making me feel the thing again, please.. not at work

[@wescarpenter2525]

Luved their Halloween shows, Irvine meadows

[@biggtrux]

I was too stupid to appreciate this band in the 80's.

[@rosykindbunny1313]

I discovered this song from a Psychonauts animatic and now whenever I hear it I associate it with Dr. Loboto

[@computerfighter2000]

ooo cool

[@cbalaxc]

This is tremendous.

[@DayanaRockStar122]

Danny is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥!

[@annadavis8278]

I almost forgot about Oingo Boingo! I remember listening to them growing up in the '80s. They fed my cynicism, which explains why I never drank the kool aid. And, looking at the world around me today, sometimes I get the feeling I'm the only one who never did!

[@robsan52]

Yeah...I dedicate this song to the 'woke'...there's something inside your head...

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

He wrote a new song on the same topic called “Native Intelligence”

[@Geminisparkles]

​@@robsan52the woke or extreme conservatives. Both are cancer on modern politics.

[@victorsilva4165]

Danny Elfman, espetacular!!!!

[@royalnass1029]

classic

[@mattlewis6833]

That dude never makes a singing error live.

[@surf64.5overhead4]

Lived it. 80s u all. Can't all live at the same time at the same age sorry u lose.we win.

[@computerfighter2000]

THIS FUCKS SO HARD

[@stephenmorton8017]

how great is this band?