1981-1982
(Ray Brandes tells the short tale of an influential San Diego band. Excerpted from Getting Nowhere Fast, Ray Brandes’ definitive account of San Diego’s music underground from 1976 to 1986. )
At the beginning of the summer of 1981, the Ideals (comprising 18-year-old Ray Brandes on lead vocals, 17-year-old Tony Paulerio on lead guitar, 20-year-old Maure Silverman on rhythm guitar, 17-year-old Paul Carsola on drums, and led by 14-year-old prodigy Carl Rusk on bass) were gearing up for a summer of Point Loma keg parties at $50 a performance.
The band, whose short career had reached a pinnacle opening for the Penetrators at Mission Bay High School’s prom, played mostly rockabilly and early rock and roll, with Eddie Cochran’s songs making up about 50 percent of our set list!
At the end of May, with Paul away on a summer vacation, Carl called up the Crawdaddys’ Ron Silva to sit in on drums. Ron knew Carl from years of Skeleton Club shows and had recently seen the Ideals play at the Zebra Club, so he was more than happy to oblige. The gig was to be a massive block party in Crown Point, but it never materialized because the set by the opening band, Stonehenge, resulted in several noise complaints.
Three weeks later, Tony’s vacation prompted another call to Ron, this time to play lead guitar. Ron joined the Ideals at a Point Loma apartment party, and after a few days deliberation asked Carl and me to start a new band with him: the Hedgehogs. I would sing, while Ron would play guitar; Carl, bass; and Paul, drums.
During the days we’d practice for hours on end at 2378 Presidio Drive, while at nights we’d drive around in Carl’s family Suburban, wander the streets of Mission Hills or hang out at Julio’s Mexican Restaurant — all the while clad in black leather vests, skinny ties and Beatle boots. Within two weeks we had mastered the Beatles’ entire Hamburg Star Club song list, and were well on our way to becoming an authentic beat group. Ron was veritable encyclopedia of Beatles trivia, and could play and sing any Beatles song Carl or I would suggest.
Playing and singing with Ron was a pleasure for me. Ron had the best ear of anyone I’d ever met. He’d listen to a song once and immediately be able to play it on guitar. I was in awe of his wealth of knowledge and overjoyed to be able to sing three-part harmonies with him and Carl. Carl, who was a mere 14 years old at the time, was wise and talented well beyond his years. He was already demonstrating the brilliance that would later blossom in the Nashville Ramblers. More than anything else, the two of them were like my brothers, and we spent some of the best months of my youth together.
Two of our biggest supporters were my sister Claudia and her best friend Kristen Schwartz, who designed us a business card, and whose brothers initially provided us with an average of three to four party gigs a month. By July, a cheap four-hour Hedgehog performance was in high demand, and for the next several months we found ourselves playing nearly every week.
In January and February of 1982, the Hedgehogs played a couple of shows at the International Blend (see flyers), but by this time Paul Carsola was growing bored with the Liverpool lifestyle.
After the February show he left the group, vowing to never again play anything but “spy music.” We’d miss Paul’s surf-style drumming immensely — he could also play a Ringo beat like no one else. (He’d go on to join the ersatz Tell-Tale Hearts, Version Two, in the late ’80s.)
Here are the Hedgehogs performing “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry Over You” from that January 20, 1982, International Blend show:
The Hedgehogs play “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry Over You”: Listen now!
To read the rest of the Hedgehogs’ story, purchase Getting Nowhere Fast, Ray Brandes’ definitive account of San Diego’s music underground from 1976 to 1986.