Noise 292 | The Che Underground

Musical chairs

December 13, 2017July 1, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

Packing 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.

Noise 292: “The Assassin”

January 1, 2011June 15, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

Here’s a prime example of the Noise 292 dark cabaret — and of Kristin Martin’s power as a singer and storyteller.

Recorded July 29, 1983 (when we performed with the Answers and Hair Theatre at the Che Cafe),
“The Assassin” showcases Noise 292 at its most atmospheric — it’s another facet of the modernist vibe of “Chanson Dada.” (Check out how the drums and scrap-metal percussion complement Kristin’s haunting vocals and David Rives’ spooky guitar work!)

Kristin Martin (rhythm guitar, vocals); David Rives (lead guitar); Hobie Hodge (trash percussion); Joanne Norris (drums); Matthew Rothenberg (bass).

Listen to it now!

Noise 292: “Stupid Future”

January 1, 2011May 26, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

Today marks the 25th anniversary of Noise 292’s first performance: May 26, 1983, at the Che Cafe with the Answers and the Odds. I can think of no better way to celebrate that silver anniversary than with a powerful performance by the brilliant Kristin Martin.

“Stupid Future” showcases everything that was so special about Kristin’s songwriting and performing, even at 19: arresting hooks, great lyrics and fantastic vocals. She’s one of the most innovative creative forces I’ve ever had the privilege of collaborating with.

Lemons Are Yellow: “Thousand Island”

January 1, 2011May 4, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

A true Che Underground supergroup — comprising David Fleminger (guitar, vocals); Kristin Martin (bass guitar, vocals); Paul Kaufman (guitar, vocals); and Ed Meares (drums) — Lemons Are Yellow first formed in high school, then regrouped in the San Francisco Bay area in the early oughts to create an amazing CD titled “Destroy All Music.”

“Thousand Island” off that 2006 album is a rip-snortin’ salute to El Cajon Blvd. Denny’s of early-’80s San Diego legend and to the waiter there who was rumored to provide patrons who requested “coffee with” a little something extra on the side. How’d you like your coffee with?

(N.b.: Che Underground: The Blog does not condone the use of illicit substances, except to propel a good lyric. The views expressed in “Thousand Island” are humorous and reflect neither Che Underground’s zero-tolerance house policy nor any verified menu practices employed by the Denny’s restaurant chain past or present. Please keep your comments theoretical.)

Listen to it now!

Noise 292: “Talking in Circles”

January 1, 2011April 29, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

Here’s “Talking in Circles,” the first of three compositions in the Che Underground archives by Noise 292 guitarist extraordinaire David Rives.

Dave and I played our first gigs together (Hair Theatre vocalist Sergio actually recalls watching us playing the Oak Crest Junior High School talent show in 1977), and he was my original guitar hero. This piece — which I believe was recorded in summer ’83 at the Che Cafe itself — showcases his formidable skills as a writer and performer.

Of all the rekindled connections on Che Underground, this one runs deepest for me.

Listen to it now!

Weird scenes inside the gold mine

January 1, 2011April 17, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

How many times have you found yourself playing in a very weird venue? From my very first gig at a chili cook-off through an assortment of busking misadventures, I’ve demonstrated a knack for performing in strange places for unwary/unwilling spectators.

Between the scrap metal and the cross-dressing and the affinity for the Velvet Underground’s second album, Noise 292 was nobody’s idea of a crossover band. One of our oddest gigs was a Jesse Jackson presidential benefit at Pea Soup Andersen’s in Carlsbad, Calif., which we were asked to play by a friend of Wendell’s parents.

Noise 292: “Subterranean Homesick Blues”

January 1, 2011April 5, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

Here’s another helping of sonic steak Tartar, to borrow Dave Rinck’s evocative phrase: Noise 292 serving up a very raw version of Bob Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues” at the Headquarters in Pacific Beach, August 26, 1983 (opening for the Pandoras and the Answers). This was the first Noise 292 lineup, and this number features Kristin Martin on bass; David Rives, guitar; Hobie Hodge, trash percussion; Joanne Norris, drums; Matthew Rothenberg, vocals and S&M tambourine (with which I raised a big hematoma on the heel of my hand every time we played this song). Leighton Koizumi (later of the Gravedigger V and the Morlocks) made his live rock-‘n’-roll debut playing electric violin on “Heroin” that evening, although Wendell Kling also took over violin duties when he replaced Hobie on percussion.

I always enjoyed how this cover threw a bunch of our noise-rock, art-rock, punk and garage influences into the Cuisinart and basically hit “purée”! (Can anyone identify the voice of the girl talking about her calculator at the beginning of the track? I keep wondering if she ever got it back.)

Listen to it now!

Presidio Park

March 27, 2019February 18, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

Here’s a picture Harold Gee took of Wendell and me at Presidio Park. According to some notes I posted to my personal blog, Harold took this while Sergio and I were serenading a group of skinheads. (I remember the kid in the picture telling me how much his mom liked Donovan.)

This was the summer of ’84, when we spent almost every night at Balboa or Presidio Park. What are your fondest memories of our evenings al fresco?

(BTW, I’d like to get in touch with Mr. Gee ASAP to find out if he’s got more photos of our crowd. Is anyone in contact with him? Lovely guy.)

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

October 19, 2018February 16, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

Help 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.