Here in your bedroom...

Cha Cha Cherry
Dec 13, 2024
3 min read

I can turn my head off.

It's the mid-90s. I'm in college. I'm spending my weekends at my shore house in Belmar (16th ave REP). I'm a wannabe skater girl who sucks at skateboarding. I am determined to see live music every weekend even if it means going by myself while my roommates hit up some guido bar in Seaside. I've become a huge fan of a popular Jersey shore band back then - Fuzzy Bunny Slippers. They are different because they got a horn section. And play ska music. No one band was doing that. One day at Jenks, they play this catchy pop punk song, "Here in your Bedroom." Little Cha Cha asks WHAT BAND is that? Oh Goldfinger. Next thing you know I find myself at Vintage Vinyl scooping up every album they have in the form of CD (please don't make me explain what that is to you). Ok well there was only two - the self titled debut one and Hang Ups. These songs became my anthems (especially If Only).

Ask me to sing one of those songs from those first two albums and I can almost guarantee you I know every word. It was magical. They were magical. The songs were magical. And fun. And funny (cookie dough for Mable?).

Goldfinger has been around since 1994. 1994!!! 30 years!!! And I've been listening to them I'm pretty sure for 28 of those years because only their self debut album was out in 1996. Here I am 28 years later and still loving on this band that brought so much joy into my life for so many years. I've legit lost track of how many times I've seen them but this past weekend, I had the pleasure of seeing them again perform at Starland Balloom for the annual Skanksgiving!

But wait - it gets better - also performing with them was freaking SAVE FERRIS. This is a 90s ska punk girls dream. I mean Monique EFFING Powell. My girl crush. This girl. Comes out with her big ass signature flaming red hair and her wiggle dress. Changes into a stunning evening dress a few songs in, then does her signature strip down to her Playboy Bunny-esque outfit. But her voice - oh that voice. And stop. You know who they are. EVERYBODY knows their cover of Come On Eileen. Save Ferris is just happy music and Monique's sultry voice is just where it's at.

Then my boys came out. They came out to My Chemical Romance's Welcome to the Black Parade. After the show, lead guitarist Charlie Paulson said did you know why we came out to that and then told us. :( RIP Bob.

Sorry to be down for a moment, but I had to mention that.

Goldfinger did not disappoint (despite the fact bassist Mike Herrera broke his toe one song in! Yesss...that Mike Herrera of MxPx - another band Cha Cha adores). They still bring the energy and excitement they had 30 years ago. And in their dapper looking black suits as always. The crowd freaking loves them. They played a mix of old, new, Christmas songs and their crowd-fav covers (i.e. 99 Red Balloons and Just Like Heaven). I mean I was hoping to hear Infinite one of their newer songs with one of my favorite opening guitar riffs ever - looking at you Charlie. But overall, I was soooo in my happy place. Even Jtweets, a metal head at heart, knew some of the songs from pop culture (um hello Superman = Tony Hawk) and from growing up with friends who were fans AND she loved the show too.

It's simple. I just fucking love this band.

***Stay tuned for an INTERVIEW with lead guitarists Charlie Paulson and Phil Sneed!!!***

(In the meantime, visit our Insta page to see some reels from the night.)