Ashley Eyre’s musical career began early in life when she started using a vacuum cleaner as an imaginary microphone stand, singing along with iconic music artists of the 1980s.

She was so young — she was just learning how to walk. 

As an adult, Eyre now uses a real microphone to recreate the unique sound and energy of the 1980s as the lead singer of the band The Goonies. The group recreates the music of the era while also striving to embrace the vital social, political and gender-equality movements of the time period.  

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The Goonies currently consist of Patrick Searcy on guitar, Joaquin Sage on percussion and Kenny Kidd on bass.

The Goonies will be playing on Saturday at the Bud Light Rocks The Boat Free Concert from 3:30-5:00 p.m. The concert will be held at Steamboat Square at Steamboat Resort.

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Born in 1982 to a musical household, Eyre listened to artists such as Madonna and Fleetwood Mac. Though her family enjoyed music extensively, there was no one, aside from her grandfather, who actually played an instrument. 

That fact did not stop Eyre from starting her career as a musician. 

“Early on, I just knew that I wanted to sing,” Eyre said. “I played a little bit of piano as a kid but it never connected.” 

That lack of connection was due to the fact that the music she was asked to play did not resonate with her as much as the music she was listening to. As an adult, she grew to love playing the keyboard because it brought her joy while speaking to her on a visceral level.

In high school, Eyre became obsessed with Gwen Stefani and would “sing her face off” in the car. At about the same time, she was hired for a performance with a band where she sang two songs. 

That was the beginning of her professional music career.

“I just loved it,” Eyre said. “It was a burning thing inside of me. I always really wanted to sing but I didn’t know what to do in order to become a professional singer.”

In college, her music career waned, though she did join two bands and began transitioning into singing covers, particularly of bands that were popular in the 1980s. 

After graduating from college, she stepped up to a karaoke microphone one night, and felt that deep, burning desire to become a professional singer reignite. Inspired, she went to Craigslist to seek bands that needed singers. It was there she found the perfect match and her musical future.

The ad read “80s band seeking female vocalist.” Eyre jumped on the opportunity and has never looked back. 

“That was the beginning of The Goonies,” she said.

The band she joined continued until the COVID-19 pandemic began, at which point it exploded and fell apart. Eyre was left to pick up the pieces and recreate a new trio of musicians. This led to the current configuration of the group. 

The Goonies cover a broad range of music, including Cyndi Lauper, Michael Jackson, Skid Row, Iron Maiden and Guns N’ Roses. Eyre also loves to cover Whitney Houston, Pat Benatar and Blondie. 

“We take the songs and we use the original as a groundwork, but we find our own way within the song so we are not so ‘radio,'” Eyre said.

She explained that the 1980s were a “party” where people let loose with freedom, expression, joy and sexuality. She also perceives the 1990s as a “hangover” phase due to the energy and movements of the decade prior. 

“People love to revisit that freedom, magic and nostalgia,” Eyre said. “There was a lot of expression in music and I resonate with the stances musicians took on the era’s lack of creativity when it came to political issues.”

Eyre went on to explain that songs like “99 Red Balloons” and “War Pigs” have just as much relevance today as they did when they were first released.

“I believe war is the epitome of a lack of creativity, and musicians have most often been the ones to point out the fatally flawed mechanics of government to address these conflicts,” Eyre said. 

Social justice movements and freedoms are part of what Eyre and The Goonies continue to live by and bring to the stage in their performances. This includes the fact that Eyre is a female lead singer and band manager in a traditionally male-dominated industry. 

“It’s pervasive in all industries, but certain guys can’t fathom that a female is running the show,” Eyre said.

The group has played in Steamboat Springs and at Steamboat Resort many times before. One of those shows featured the largest audience they had ever played for. Eyre recalled that the crowd, combined with the people on rooftops and hotel balconies, created the high point of the band’s existence. 

“We couldn’t have felt more supported by the crowd,” Eyre said. “Steamboat just seems like they have that same love of the 80s.”

Their most recent performance in Steamboat was on New Year’s Eve at the Thunderhead Lodge. Their performances and set lists are based on the pulse of the audience. Eyre noted that often the set list develops based on the crowd’s energy and input, including songs that are requested by people shouting out what they would like to hear.

“We make adjustments as we go,” Eyre said. “We love being in a relationship with the crowd.” 

For a long time, the band refused to play any song that was not released between 1980 and 1989, as they wanted to remain true to their mantra of being an “80s cover band.” However, the Goonies have started to play some songs from the 1970s and 1990s as well. 

“It’s been good for us,” Eyre said. “It’s been good to dip our toes into different genres.” 

More information on The Goonies can be found on their website at http://www.thegoonies80s.com/.