MORONGO VALLEY–For the first time in more than four decades, the original lineup of The Pandoras is back together, and they’re choosing the Morongo Valley Music Festival as the stage for their long-awaited return on October 18 at Covington Park.
It’s been 40 years since the band’s early garage-rock roar helped define Los Angeles’ Paisley Underground scene in the 1980s. Now, the pioneering all-female group behind the cult-classic album It’s About Time is reuniting to celebrate their legacy, reclaim their story, and reconnect with old fans — and a new generation of listeners discovering their raw, analog sound.
“The last time we played these songs together was in 1984 when we opened for The Ventures,” the band shared. “What brought us back together was the desire to reclaim our story on the back of decades-long erasure of our legacy.
The original sound The Pandoras were known for was rooted in the 60s-garage revival sound of the Paisley Underground. Hearing fans talk about the profound impact our music had on them is what keeps us all going. You just can’t fake that kind of history.”
That history began in the early 1980s, when The Pandoras emerged out of Los Angeles’ vibrant underground scene — a women-led garage band whose fuzzed-out guitars and retro aesthetic were both a nod to the 1960s and a rebellion against the slick, synth-heavy production of the era.
Their 1984 debut album It’s About Time became a defining document of the scene, revered by critics and rediscovered by collectors decades later. Revisiting those songs now, the band says, feels less like nostalgia and more like restoration.
“Revisiting It’s About Time is really about reclaiming our legacy. We didn’t know when we recorded the album that it would become a cult classic. Playing those songs again still feels wild and alive — like the spark never went out,” the band explained.
Their reunion lineup features original members Bambi Conway, Gwynne Kahn, and Casey Gomez, alongside new additions Liza Dean on lead vocals and Anna Vinton on harmonica, backup vocals, and auxiliary percussion. Together, they’re honoring the late Paula Pierce, the band’s original frontwoman who passed away in 1991.
The road to the Morongo Valley Music Festival began with an impromptu two-song set earlier this year at the legendary desert venue Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown.
That spark carried into their decision to reunite for the Morongo Valley Music Festival — a free, community event that celebrates the desert’s independent music culture.
“Morongo Valley has a wild and free energy; that desert-garage-rock spirit lives there in a seasoned scene of people well-versed in not just the history of music, but the process of how music was historically made. The most rock ‘n’ roll thing about this festival is that it’s free. The barriers to community and connection society faces today didn’t used to be as prevalent — or rock music might never have been born,” the band shared.
Fans attending the festival can expect a setlist that blends familiar favorites from It’s About Time with a few surprises.
“We’ll be playing songs from the original EP, the full album, and a few deep cuts that only ever showed up on old compilations. If we get a good reception, there’s a possibility of future shows featuring never-before-heard recordings from our early rehearsal days,” the group shared.
While the reunion is a celebration of the past, The Pandoras are also looking ahead. Their Instagram, @originalpandoras, hints that this performance might be more than a one-time event.
“Something clicked when we got back together,” the band teased. “We have plans brewing.”
