“He’s Calling You Tonight”

Detail: Sergio of Hair Theatre (photo by Cyndie Jaynes)A beautiful example of Che Underground musical chairs in action,
“He’s Calling You Tonight” brings together the talents of Dave Fleminger (Answers co-founder and sometime Hair Theatre guitarist) and Sergio (Hair Theatre co-founder and sometime Answers vocalist).

“This is a Sergio song we recorded on the 4-track with overdubs,” Dave writes. “I played the guitars, and Sergio played the drums.

“It showcases once again what a fantastic vocalist he is, and the double- and triple-tracked voice-lines are especially effective. I don’t recall playing this song with Hair Theatre while I was with them, and I’m not sure if it was part of the band’s standard repertoire.

Read more“He’s Calling You Tonight”

Musical chairs

Playground merry-go-roundPacking so much musical talent into the confines of the San Diego scene pushed the Che Underground Mixmaster into overdrive. A couple of short years produced a dizzying melange of amputations, collaborations and creative explosions as assorted musicians formed new combinations.

Sergio of Hair Theatre sang for the Answers; guitarist David Rives from Noise 292 joined them for one performance as Painted Sun; Sam Wilson moved from the Rockin’ Dogs to the Wallflowers to Hair Theatre; Joanne Norris drummed for the Injections, Noise 292 and Everybody Violet; Crawdaddys and Gravediggers became Nashville Ramblers; half of our bands converged into the Morlocks; and Dave Anderson kept the beat for everybody else.

Read moreMusical chairs

Many familiar faces (a few missing names)

Detail: Mike Stax of the Tell-Tale Hearts plays Dave Fest 3 (photo by Cyndie Jaynes)The Cyndie Jaynes Collection continues to generate a kaleidescope of images from the early-’80s San Diego underground … This batch features a shot I overlooked from the Tell-Tale Hearts’ performance at Dave Fest 3 as well as a variety of portraits.

Here’s a selection of Cyndie’s photos, followed by a list matching names to these well-loved faces. Note the gaps in the historical record; help us out here!

Detail: Denise and Eric Bacher (photo by Cyndie Jaynes)Detail: Sergio of Hair Theatre (photo by Cyndie Jaynes)Detail: Paul Hokeness (photo by Cyndie Jaynes)Detail: At a Morlocks show in SF (photo by Cyndie Jaynes)Detail: Darrin (photo by Cyndie Jaynes)Detail: Outside of Murphy’s on Normal St. (photo by Cyndie Jaynes)
Detail: Zoe and Denise (photo by Cyndie Jaynes)Detail: Tom Ward of the Gravedigger V (photo by Cyndie Jaynes)Detail: Mystery Girl (photo by Cyndie Jaynes)Detail: Maia Guest (photo by Cyndie Jaynes)Detail: Karen Shelver (photo by Cyndie Jaynes)Detail: Joel (photo by Cyndie Jaynes)

Read moreMany familiar faces (a few missing names)

Hair Theatre: “Nightfall”

Detail: Sergio of Hair TheatreHere’s a keystone number in Hair Theatre’s brilliant repertoire: “Nightfall” is one of my clearest memories of this unforgettable band.

According to vocalist Sergio, this performance was part of a four-song demo recorded at the end of 1983: Hair Theatre’s second demo session and the first with lead guitarist Paul Allen.

“Nightfall” was recorded at Lab Studios in Carlsbad by James of Manifest Destiny. “James was very patient with us, very good,” Sergio recalls. “He was used to doing everything punk-style: one take and out. I insisted on a couple of tracks for my vocals,” and the band devoted multiple takes to making sure the sound was polished to a fine edge.

Read moreHair Theatre: “Nightfall”

The Cyndie Jaynes Collection, Part One

Detail: Jerry and Sergio at Murphy’sWhat can we say about Cyndie Jaynes? Not only is she a published author and successful graduate of the San Diego underground, she’s also a marvelous documentarian with an unrivaled cache of photos and flyers from early-’80s SD.

Here’s a sampling of the great things she’s shared with me … I’m very grateful for the chance to bring these treasures to light. Stay tuned for more!
Detail: Paul Howland at Murphy’s place in HillcrestDetail: Jerry Cornelius at Murphy’sDetail: Pat Works holding (I believe) Bo Diddley’s string - I forget how he got it thoughDetail: Cynde Jaynes, Jill Ruzich and ZoeyDetail: Mike and Eric of the Tell-Tale HeartsDetail: Eric Bacher, I think at 517 4th St.Detail: Jeff and Leighton of the MorlocksDetail: Jerry at 517 4th St.Detail: Denise (Bacher), Mike Stax and Carl Rusk at PresidioDetail: Ray Brandes, Mike Stax at Che CafeDetail: Bill Calhoun, Tell-Tale HeartsDetail: Tom Ward, Gravedigger V

Hair Theatre in living color

Detail: Hair Theatre’s Sergio at the micAt long last, Che Underground is proud to present photographic evidence of the immortal Hair Theatre! Thanks to Paul Allen for coming up with these great photos (and to Kristin Martin for a technical assist getting them into my hands).

Detail: Hair Theatre’s Sergio at the mic #2I’d peg this appearance by Sergio, Little Serg, Cesar and Paul around 1985, although I’d appreciate a memory boost from the band itself in specifying the date and location. (Plus, who was drumming at this stage?) It’s so cool to see the band together after all these years!

Detail: Hair Theatre on stage (from crowd)Speaking of Hair Theatre reunions: I know that both Sergios and Paul at least will be together in San Diego this weekend to celebrate Big Serg’s wedding! Please join me in sending warm Che Underground wishes to Sergio, his fiancée Season and their daughter Lily. (Is a musical reunion at the reception too much to hope for?)

Detail: Hair Theatre on stage (from crowd) #2And Sergio/Paul: Please e-mail wedding photos so the happy couple’s extended circle of well-wishers can join in the celebration!

Hair Theatre: “Meet Me Outside”

Detail: Sergio of Hair TheatreThe first time I heard Hair Theatre was a party at Margarat Nee’s house in Leucadia in the summer of 1983. They came out of nowhere (a k a Carlsbad, a few miles north of my sphere of activity), and I knew from Note 1 that we needed to invite them to join the scene coalescing around the Che Cafe. What an incredible band! What fantastic stage presence!

Making its digital debut on Che Underground: The Blog, here’s Hair Theatre doing “Meet Me Outside.” Listening to this, who else can clearly picture Sergio in action?

Listen to it now!

Dave Fest/Party at Pat’s House

DaveFest 3 flyerWhacky…yeah we had a lot of parties. Most of you got laid or arrested there.

Pretty quickly we learned that most of our friends were cool, some were knuckleheads, and then we knew a few named Dave. Dave Rinck was our inspiration here…so rather than castigate them we decided to celebrate them…hence the 3 different parties called Dave Fest.

The first was The Wallflowers, Manual Scan, and the Tell Tale Hearts. That was the Hearts’ first gig if I remember correctly. That one was broken up when Arturo of SDSH used a Mission Hills mod I had a feud with as a battering ram and broke the toilet…whence we learned the rule “always put the keg outside.”

Dave Fest 2 was promoted quite a bit more widely, finally resulting in radio DJs in SF and LA announcing in for a week, bands from LA calling asking to be allowed to play…and yeah…that was broken up too when the guy we brought in to do security told all his friends to come and a couple of them had just got out of jail that day…they kinda ran amok, but they were not Red and White. Just SDSH associates.

That one was the Wallflowers, and the Hearts again, the Answers, and The Pandoras (they never got to play but they got paid)

I called the cops on that one myself. It was out of hand.

Dave Fest 3 was 10 bands for $10 at Che Cafe…get the keg out of the bathroom, and take it to the other end of town! Too many bands to name, but we had Noise, Hair, Hearts, Flowers, and on and on. I left town after that one.

Door policy at the house parties was as follows:

$3 admission, $2 if you wore your sunglasses after dark, and FREE if your name was Dave.

We had a lot of great times at 2866 E St. Many of our friends came to live there for extended periods of time. My mom (the much loved Linda) and I sat down and counted all the kids who at one time or other actually lived there (not just staying for the weekend) and it was over 26 names. You know who you are and are still loved.

Ironically after all the wild times I had with all of you, my little brother’s friends moved in after I left for SF and they ended up looting the house. Nobody would believe that this was my brother’s friends doing…it had to be me. Funny.

BTW I am throwing another party March 13 here in Watsonville to open my new studio. I mailed out 400 invitations and personally invited another 200 people. You are all invited too. Drop me a note and I’ll give you directions.

I still have the bug…heheheheheheheheh The local chamber of commerce actually sent me a flyer on “how to throw a successful party”. LOL

BEZEEYINGYOU

— Patrick Works

Noise 292/Hair Theatre?/Answers?? at the Che

Jeff 'n' SergioHelp me reconstruct the back story on these photos, which come from a set of snapshots I’m betting were taken on Nov. 17, 1983, when Noise 292 played the Che with Hair Theatre and 11 Sons. Near as I can make out, Jeff Lowe is playing bass with Hair Theater that night, while Dave Fleminger is drumming for Noise 292 … Or was this a show when Sergio was fronting the Answers?

Oh! And Jeff and I seem to be playing the same bass in these pictures … Was that his? ‘Twasn’t mine or Kristin’s.

Dave Flem 'n' Noise 292

The Che Underground