Welcome to the Boomtown

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove with the Zoo Crew as we spin "Welcome to the Boomtown" by David & David from their iconic album Boomtown! This track, a gritty anthem of 1986 Los Angeles, paints a vivid picture of characters like Miss Cristina, a wealthy cocaine addict, and Handsome Kevin, a college dropout dealing drugs out of a Denny’s. The song’s cinematic lyrics, described as a sonic version of Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks” painting, capture the dark underbelly of L.A.’s fringe dwellers. One juicy piece of trivia: the song’s e-bow guitar solo by David Ricketts, likened to J. Mascis playing a Big Country riff, was meant as a tongue-in-cheek jab at the era’s excess, mocking the “succulent sound” of money. Fans on Reddit have called it a quintessential ‘80s track, with one user noting its vibes are perfect for “tooling around Miami or L.A. at 3 a.m.” while another lamented the lack of a third verse, though the album version stretches to 5:31 compared to the 3:55 music video.

Another tidbit comes from a Songfacts comment by a fan named Don from San Antonio, who shared that David Ricketts grew frustrated during touring because the song’s Randy Rhoads-style guitar solos attracted hard rock metalheads, not the folk-leaning audience the duo expected. This clash of vibes reportedly turned Ricketts off from the road. The song’s narrative heft also drew comparisons to Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side” and David Bowie’s “Teenage Wasteland” in a Reddit thread, with fans praising its storytelling. Interestingly, the song’s bleak ending—Miss Cristina’s overdose death—wasn’t always clear in shorter versions, but the full album cut reveals the ambulance arrived “too late,” a detail that hit hard for listeners. The track peaked at #37 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #8 on the Mainstream Rock chart, cementing its cult status.

Now, let’s dive into how David & David got their start. The duo, David Baerwald and David Ricketts, were Los Angeles-based studio musicians who met at a nightclub, a classic “meet-cute” that sparked their one-album wonder. Baerwald, a former roadie for punk band The Weirdos and guitarist for The Spastics, brought a raw, lyrical edge, while Ricketts, a former house painter with matinee-idol looks, added polished musicianship. Before Boomtown, they were grinding it out—Baerwald worked at a doughnut shop, and Ricketts painted houses. Their 1986 debut, produced by Davitt Sigerson, was a critical darling, with AllMusic calling it an “artful record, full of poetry and convincing stories.” Despite their promise, the duo split after Boomtown, with Baerwald pursuing a solo career and Ricketts working with artists like Toni Childs. They later collaborated with Sheryl Crow on her debut album Tuesday Night Music Club, though their loose collective was famously fired by Crow post-release, a sore point Baerwald discussed in interviews.

For Zoo Freaks wanting to connect with David & David’s legacy, official channels are scarce since the duo disbanded, but you can explore their work through related artist pages. David Baerwald’s Facebook offers occasional updates on his solo projects, and his Instagram shares glimpses of his creative process. David Ricketts keeps a lower profile, but his contributions are documented on sites like Discogs. For fan communities, check out the r/80smusic subreddit, where threads like those from 2023 and 2024 buzz with love for Boomtown. The Steve Hoffman Music Forums also host discussions, with fans reminiscing about the album’s impact. Sadly, no official X accounts or dedicated fan websites exist for David & David, but the Los Angeles Magazine article from 2014 offers a deep dive into their noirish L.A. sound. Keep spinning those records, Zoo Freaks!