FFFF Live Review: The Golden Boys

Photo by Gary Miller

The Golden Boys

The Golden Boys are the type of guys more likely to be going to bed at 11:50am than playing a concert. "This looks like Beerland at 10 in the morning," guitarist Matt Hoopengardner pointed out to the 30 people who arrived early enough to catch the veteran band's early Fun Fun Fun appearance. Someone has to be the first one to the party, so the local quintet rang in the morning with "Rock With Me Forever" and within five songs had utilized all four lead singers and demonstrated exceptional songwriting. With the sun beating down, the melted pop of "Sidewalk" seemed more appropriate than ever, and a pedal-steel-accented version of "Bongo's, Bongo's, Bongo's" struck an especially strong chord. As their half-hour set blew by, the audience quadrupled, in part due to the event staff showing up to relocate the stage barrier during the closing one-two punch of "Dirty Fingernails" and "Older Than You," creating a bizarre visual and proving that the Golden Boys are the perfect soundtrack for anything.