The Bougies

"The Bougies have garnered comparisons to the likes of The Strokes and The Pixies, with some songs leaning more toward catchy pop beats, and others grittier and grungier."

"As Jordan, who’s also lead vocalist, explains of their work: 'We just fake everything and keep smiling.' 'You know, fake it till you make it,' Kelly adds. ...it’s clear they’ve entered the “make it” portion. The band now has two EPs under its belt, along with a string of gigs around town, including as the opening act for Echosmith at The Republik last year. And in August, they went on their first tour, playing at venues up and down the West Coast."

"They didn’t have any industry contacts up there, but still they managed to land gigs. 'We did it from scratch,' Kelly says. 'It was like, we are just going to do it.' And maybe that is the real takeaway of the band’s off-the-cuff origins: It’s not that they’ve been faking it this whole time — it’s more that their origin story is indicative of the type of DIY effort that is embedded into the ethos of the band. If they don’t know how to do something, they’ll figure it out and they’ll find a way to make it happen."

"...as soon as they went on, people weaved their way up to the front, dancing — and singing along. The fact that people know their lyrics is something that still surprises Jordan..."

"...they have built up their fanbase, they have had people tell them how much they love a certain song, or how great a performance was. The band has come to realize that people truly love their music." - Christina O'Connor

"To go to a show featuring The Bougies is like taking a walk through the band’s history — at least in terms of the people who turn up to see them. When I went to their show last weekend at Downbeat, I met a man who has been following the band from its earliest days and recorded a few tracks for them, and a girl who says she’s their biggest fan and spent most of their set dancing in the front."

"The band certainly has a following — a fact that no one seems to be more surprised about than the band members themselves."

"'(We) started from the lowest expectations — we had no expectations,' Kelly says.They attribute their success to luck, and often joke that they’re still faking it. But I think it’s pretty brave. In just a few years’ time, they’ve gone from not knowing how to play their instruments to polished musicians with a lot of accomplishments as a band." - Christina O'Connor

Sonically, the band ranges from low-key crooning to heavier, seemingly angry sounds. Their debut album is a scattershot of emotions and keeps you on your toes, a non-uniform approach to their discography.
“There’s mixed feeling on that, but for us we’re super cool with it, being a band with random faces” said Jordan. “We try not to stay so formulated, because sometimes when you’re listening to other bands and their albums, their first songs sounds like their last song.” - Kevin Allen

With its dreamy, pop-punk sound and lyrics that stick to first kisses or break-ups, The Bougies evokes equal parts Best Coast and the Strokes. - Harrison Patino

The first thing that comes through The Bougies is their energy. There is something of The Pixies and punk in them - their more uptempo songs have an urgent quality - a call to the moshpit. At the same time, there's a light touch, as if The Smiths were whispering in their ears as they crafted their melody. - Mickey Weems

...there’s an undertone of 1990s indie rock that shines through – a rarity for tracks produced in Hawaii. The shadow of The Strokes and Pixies bolster the tracks from the fuzzy corners of each song.

Jordan Bongolan’s voice has just enough croon and just enough gruff edge to be engaging, and his pitch and delivery are on point.

These kids know how to put together a tune and a solo. It’s the type of songwriting that has potential in the larger marketplace. Touring would be a good idea for this crew. - Erin Smith

Indie garage pop band, The Bougies are no strangers to the local music scene in O’ahu. Since siblings Kelly and Jordan founded their band in 2011, they have been playing shows all over town and have gained quite a following. The Bougies consist of Jordan on vocals and guitar, Joy on bass, and Kelly on drums. They just finished recording their second EP, which will be released this July.

The Bougies have a very distinct and “lo-fi” sound that sets them apart from other local bands. Jordan’s raspy and melodic vocals are very unique and reminiscent of The Strokes or The Smashing Pumpkins. Undoubtedly, a common theme in their music is romance and girls. The Bougies’ songs are very catchy and tend to get stuck in your head for days.

On and off the stage, The Bougies are a tight-knit group of friends that are really fun to be around. Jordan’s awkward stage banter is both charming and endearing, especially when he gets strange looks from his older sister Kelly and also from Joy. All joking aside, The Bougies unarguably have the best hair in the Hawaii music scene. It’s hard to miss bassist Joy’s bright pink hair, who not coincidentally, does the band’s hair. - Vina Ibay

"If The Smashing Pumpkins, Pixies, and The Strokes climbed on a Vespa and crashed into the gardens of Villandry, The Bougies would walk out, prep and clean. Jordan Bongolan's gritty lock-jawed delivery keeps their lyrics, written by him and sister Kelly, from being too saccharine. - James Cave

"The siblings' and bandmates' amazing chemistry is obvious in both their cooperative songwriting process and their performances." - Joanna Yasui

“Don’t blame me, you’re the one who wanted change / You can talk to me when you’re in your lonely place,” Jordan Bongolan croons, deep tone with a sandpaper edge on “Not the Same.” It’s the opening track on The Bougies’ new EP Talk to You and, much like its predecessors, serves up a groove-heavy slice of unapologetic garage pop; the tropical riffs and candid lyricism don’t hurt, either. - Natalie Hoy

The Bougies may be nodding to the well-to-do with the band name, but Oahu’s fave fuzz-rock band has always kept it real with its lo-fi sound, earning comparisons to the Strokes, Smashing Pumpkins and Pixies in the process.

The EP kicks off with the fuzzy guitar and signature croon of Jordan Bongolan on the song “Not the Same.” What starts as a slow dirge quickly launches into a grungy pop anthem of indie rock, with all the right chord changes and drumbeat flips to keep you engaged and on the hook. The guitar chords change from the first chorus to the second, creating a dark current illustrating the song’s heartbreak.

Maybe it’s the sibling connection, but there’s a natural cohesion to the music that has persisted from the debut EP through to “Talk to You.” - Elizabeth Kieszkowksi