The untold story of Melbourne, FL 80s New Wave/Surf Punk band, Locals Only

Episode Overview

• Members of the 1980s Melbourne, Florida punk/new wave band Locals Only recount their origins, detailing how they started as teenagers in a music scene that they had to build from the ground up.
• The discussion highlights the pivotal role of college radio station WFIT and local zines in cultivating an audience for alternative music in an area previously dominated by cover bands.
• The band reflects on their chaotic live shows, the story of their professionally recorded but unreleased 1984 album, and their eventual reunions decades later.
• The conversation explores the band's songwriting philosophy and their lasting legacy in pioneering an original music community in Central Florida.

Key Concepts

• Pioneering a Local Scene: Locals Only was one of the first punk/new wave bands in the Melbourne area, helping to "break open" opportunities for other original artists in a region dominated by cover bands.
• The Influence of College Radio: The college radio station WFIT was a crucial cultural force, championing alternative and local music and building a dedicated following for the scene through airplay and show promotion.
• Pre-Internet Music Discovery: The band relied on grassroots, pre-internet methods for promotion and music discovery, including zines like "Funk Pop N Roll," word-of-mouth, and trading tapes.
• The Unreleased Album: In 1984, the band recorded a 16-song album that was never released after they sent it to a single record label and never received a response, highlighting the challenges for independent bands of the era.
• Songwriting Philosophy: The band's musical style was defined by a creative interplay between a strong, driving rhythm section and an ethereal, melodic counterpoint that ran over the top.
• Chaotic Live Reputation: The band was known for their energetic and often destructive live performances, which included starting riots and getting banned from venues.
• Band Reunions and Legacy: The band reunited for shows in 2009 and 2012, and they view their primary legacy as having helped establish a lasting community for original music in Brevard County.

Quotes

• At 1:28 - "In terms of new wave and punk... there were no other bands in the area." - Brian Cleary emphasizes how Locals Only and Disorderly Conduct were the pioneers of the Melbourne punk/new wave scene.
• At 20:01 - "If you walked down the beach, everyone had WFIT cranked on their boomboxes." - Highlighting the station's widespread popularity and reach within the community.
• At 33:40 - "We recorded an album in 1984 at Whirly-Bird studios, 16 songs. We sent it to one label, and they never wrote back." - Explaining the story of their professionally recorded but unreleased album.
• At 43:47 - "There's always this drive part and then there was always some sort of counterpoint that ran over top of it." - Johnny Jelavski explains the band's fundamental approach to songwriting.
• At 1:02:12 - "The legacy of Locals Only has to do with breaking open opportunities for... the guys that came after us... and helping build some sort of original music community in this area." - Johnny Jelavski reflects on what he sees as the band's lasting impact.

Takeaways

• In the pre-internet era, local institutions like college radio stations and zines were essential for building and sustaining independent music scenes from the ground up.
• The DIY spirit of early punk was often driven by very young musicians who had to create their own venues, fanbases, and opportunities where none existed before.
• A band's long-term legacy is often defined less by commercial success and more by the cultural impact they have on their local community and the artists they inspire.
• Supporting local music is critical for fostering a vibrant and original artistic community.