Peanut Butter Palace Records

Genre: 1980s New Wave / Synth-Pop
Active: 1984-1987
Location: Queens, NY

Bio:
Neon Dysfunction burst onto the East Coast new wave scene in 1984 with a sound that combined quirky energy, deadpan delivery, and lyrics that made their contemporaries uncomfortable at family gatherings.

The band—whose lineup remains somewhat mysterious—specialized in songs about the dysfunction lurking beneath suburban normalcy. While other new wave acts sang about dancing and romance, Neon Dysfunction documented awkward family dinners, uncomfortable secrets, and the kind of taboo topics that made Uncle Sal nervously wipe his brow.

Their debut single “I Pegged Uncle Sal” was allegedly inspired by an actual incident at a Long Island house party, though the band has never confirmed this. What is confirmed is that the song was banned from several college radio stations and caused at least one family reunion to end in uncomfortable silence.

The band disbanded in 1987 after three years of regional success, citing “creative differences” and “too many uncomfortable Thanksgiving dinners.” Their catalog was shelved until Peanut Butter Palace Records discovered the masters in 2024.

Neon Dysfunction remains the patron saints of family dysfunction set to a synthesizer beat.

Notable Releases:
I Pegged Uncle Sal (1985)

Sound: Synth-heavy 80s new wave with drum machines, deadpan vocals, and the kind of hooks that get stuck in your head during family dinners.