Whacky…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
Hi Pat…Well I never got arrested OR laid at any of your parties, but I was at one on New Years Eve. It was the only time I ever met you, as far as I know…It started out at a party in North Park, and you arrived by cab straight from the airport. With a small group of people we went to your mother’s house. There was a wild raging party going on, and we all hung out in Murphy’s bedroom (at least I think it was his…he was there, at least) all night. The next day we all walked around Balboa Park. It was really fun, especially because I dont think I’d ever met any of you before that night.
Tom: Your encomium perfectly captures the Wallflowers I remember. Pure magic, both in the experience and the retelling. Thanks!
Even Kevin ring had one. I played it a couple of times. It just didn’t have enough Juice. and no warm tube power. Great practice amp, though.
“The final line-up [of the Wallflowers] was:
David Rinck on vocals
Todd Lahman on guitar
Sammy Wilson on guitar
Paul Howland on bass
Matt Johnson on drums”
I vaugely remember Sam and Matt Johnson being in the Wallflowers at Davefest III. Has anyone tried to locate Matt? the last time I saw him was in the mid 90s…he was living in another state (florida, maybe?) and going to law school.
I remember one show when Armando and Todd were still in the band at Studio 517…people were sitting on the floor watching the band and some guy sitting by me yelled “Lose the sax and turn up the guitar!” …so Armando walked out into the crowd and walked around this guy in circles, blowing his sax in the guy’s face for a while.
It was a sad day when they took the amazing Vox-hyping circa 1967 signage down from the facade of the Apex store downtown. I remember wondering if they saved it--it would have been criminal not to. I wished even then that I had taken a photo. The store itself was always a bit of a disappointment inside, however. I guess I had thought the signage held out a promise that evaporated on entry. I wanted still more relics and artifacts to gaze upon!
The metal Vox signs may have just started to rust, but I recall that had long been pretty remarkably unweathered.
There was also a crazy pawnshop-type dealer in used instruments a few blocks away. I always suspected the stock mainly came from the proverbial drunken sailor, trying to raise a little cash for the next tattoo or something, but there was usually something to look at in there! Sometimes the stock was pretty beat--and the place itself certainly was. I can’t remember the name; was there an Acme Music as well as Apex, or was that here in New York in ’88?
Yup, maybe an instruments thread is needed so that folks / idiots like me don’t unduly gum up otherwise respectable threads. Not everyone looking at this will be an instrumentalist or guitar hound, although then again, an awful lot of us are or were, if even Amy Muirhead had a Gibson bass. I didn’t remember that. Hello, Amy!
Dave, I had remembered you playing a Jaguar with the Answers, but the photo of you and Jerry seems to prove it to have been a Fender Jazzmaster. Nice guitar.
Tom: My wish is your command … Here’s a forum to geek out on the gear! 🙂
Great post, Pat. Your house was the site of many long nights which spilled over into the next afternoon. In clarification, the Hearts’ first gig was not at your house, although we did play there often. I also remember a huge party in early ’83 at which the Hedgehogs played. Paul Carsola had quit, so I played drums. It was pretty dreadful. I remember “Ain’t Nothin’ Shakin’ But the Leaves on the Tree” with the bass drum sliding all over the hardwood floor.
that first TTH show was up in University city party, right?
Pat, I really wish I could have attended on the 13th! I’m sure it was a blast. Thanks for the invitation to all of us. Best wishes for your new studio.
I have the feeling I may not have seen you since you dropped in on Dave (Klowden) and I when we were gigging with Romy Kaye at the U.S. Grant Hotel. That would likely have been 1989, but could have been ’90. I remember feeling at the time that I hadn’t seen you in a long while. You had moved up to the San Francisco region, and when I got there a few years later our paths failed to cross.
Funny, I skipped my High School reunions--and I couldn’t make the recent Tell-Tale Hearts show due to cicumstances beyond the usual. However, if we end up with some sort of scene convention, the proverbial wild horses (etc.)--I’d take the risk that we might frighten ourselves with a look in the mirror, as it were. I think it would be a good time.
Hope the years have been good to you, Pat--and to all of us! I like it that you are down there in Steinbeck country. That’s a great part of the state, and I wouldn’t mind making like Henry Miller and holing up in Big Sur for awhile. Bit of a cliche, I guess, but still, an attractive one. Have you seen the book--a history and memoir speaking of the pioneering days down there--“A Wild Coast & Lonely”? I want to say the author is Alice Duer Miller, if memory serves. After I read it I had to check out Robinson Jeffers, and it brought back memories of numerous Hwy 1 adventures.
Is it too early to speak of a gathering? I can see it now (loving satire): “Go-Go Impossible II--the New Sounds of the ’80s-’60s--or is it ’60s -- ’80s?”. Something like that, or maybe just “Burning Mod.” Somehow a large San Diego event is never possible without a fairly daft name--apologies to Kristi and Bart! I wouldn’t have it any other way. I couldn’t do better! Actually, I quite liked the “Go-Go Impossible” name. Pat, you may have just left town when that one happened.
“Go-Go Implausible?” Don’t worry Pat, your house probably wouldn’t be the venue. It’d have to be in San Diego, unless it’s in Las Vegas, or on Ken Kesey’s ranch! Then again, if you can send 400 invitations and call 200 people to the inauguration of your new studio, there must be room for a band somewhere; maybe your place’ll work after all. . . .
I have often wondered, about what happened to Pat Works? I last recall you wanting to learn Russian back then. Well it is good to hear that you are doing well. I remember hanging at one of the parks close to your house and you trying to teach me some tunes on the harmonica. Great reading about some of the best times in my life, and to brief at that.
Ahhh, Mr. Works, Mr. Works… summer of ’82 living at E Street with you, Kevin Lyons, Jerry C, amongst other nomadic types back then… David K’s memories are priceless, and I’d like to add a few more: GIANT floating islands of dog hair on wood floors… waking up in last night’s clothes and lighting up a Phillip Morris Commander, drinking black coffee, and Linda asking when we were going to do some yard work out in the Munsteresque backyard. Never! Playing “Bright Lights, Big City” by Angry Young Them over and over and over again… walking downtown with Kevin to Manny’s Cafe for late breakfast, the panting back up Golden Hill to the house to drink beer and get ready for the ‘Blend, or Headquarters, or a party, or just to mope around the house and kick the refrigerator after getting pff the phone with Monica Sullivan (mod crush)… I was just a little runt, but I remember putting quite a few black scuff marks on that fridge! As far as parties, I remember flashes, glimpses… a 15 year old gets drunk pretty quick on Tyrolia-- besides I was too busy ogling the lovely Miss Sullivan… I do remember everybody was a lot taller than me, and i got my hair mussed constantly--heyyyy Seanie!!! And last, but not least, perhaps my favorite memory: working on the Jet200 with you in the garage, smoking Commanders, listening to music, hanging out, then walking up to the ‘Blend for a Crawdaddys show. You were a great friend to a little kid, and still are me boyo. I can’t remember how we met -- can you?
BTW, Dave, Matt is an immigration attorney and owns a house in El Centro! You can find him in my friends list on MySpace.
Hey Sean ( and Matt?!)
F*ck you all,
F*ck you all…
I hope you die
In a great long hall
With pools of acid and mean ol’ snakes
That bit your f*ckin’ heads off!
hehehehehehe
Nice to hear from you.
Love and echos
Patrick Works
Emporer of California,
Protector of Mexico
I will never forget those days at Persidio Park, Law Street, with Ray Brandes, Eric Bacher, Dirk, Mike Stax, Leighton Koizumi, Elana, Tamara, Pat with the hat. I remeber the Crawdaddy’s changing my life. I have some extremely funny stories if anyone wants to hear. Here’s my myspace link followed by my band link:
http://www.myspace.com/baaadman
http://www.myspace.com/kindhearts
Oooops, I guess I should have put in my name.
Unreal, Dave Rink, Pat Werks, Balboa Park! Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
April 15th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
I will never forget those days at Persidio Park, Law Street, with Ray Brandes, Eric Bacher, Dirk, Mike Stax, Leighton Koizumi, Elana, Tamara, Pat with the hat. I remeber the Crawdaddy’s changing my life. I have some extremely funny stories if anyone wants to hear. Here’s my myspace link followed by my band link:
http://www.myspace.com/baaadman
http://www.myspace.com/kindhearts
Didn’t Dave collect the money from Dave Fest and split to India? That’s the way I always remembered it. I talked back and forth with Dave a few years ago.
Darren: Dave Rinck is indeed a gentleman adventurer now … Check out the Facebook shots of him enjoying the diplomatic privileges of Nairobi!
LEIGHTON!!! Now it’s a party.
Hi , Pat, Jerry, Matt, Tom. . .( and ladies) it was starting to feel like a gay bathouse in here!!!
I’m not dead contrary to popular belief. . .
Leighton
zoomdogg@hotmail.com
Funny Leighton, I don’t remember Butt-ball, but you we’re always much more of a sporty jock than I was, and quite buff if I remember correctly.
The basement place on 24th was quite a wonder. Do you remember all the weird bottles of medical specimens under the rest of the house? Those poor relatively uptight landlords unknowingly renting the place to the nice artsy couple (Jeff and Annie) having no idea we’d be carting equipment around at 2-3am in the morning and hanging around everyday, day in day out, drinking Pepsi, smoking ciggies and watching Perry Mason. I think they kicked us out Christmas eve…
Eric: Didn’t the restroom feature a sign warning that if you — *ahem* — had a bowel movement, you had to pay Leighton a dollar?
Yea!! And many a dollar was spent! I know that Eric will remember the time that we rolled up little pieces of Ex-lax and we put them in a “Rasinetts” box and left them out, knowing that Jerry would soon be eating them, (Jerry was allways picking up anything left around and eating or drinking it), i think he ended up paying me like 20 dollars that day!
I think that Leighton has me mistaken for either Steve Medico or Rodney Krienke. 🙂
I don’t know Jerry, knowing Leighton he may still have the underwear to prove it.
Jerry . . .
What’s up brother!!!!!
miss you much!!!!
L
Hey, Leighton!
I am in SFO, or thereabouts -- I tried London a couple of times, but the difficulty of getting established there…
Just an old guy with kids now, I like to claim. I married in ’95, and the twins have their 8th birthday in 3 weeks.
Scare up Tom Clarke. I’m in Seattle at this very moment that I type -- but won’t have time to get around town before I go home Fri afternoon…
Jerry. . .
Thought you would get a kick out of this. . . Will be going to Europe in 4 Weeks to tour once agian. . . and will be playing “In The Cellar” and “One Way Ticket” on this current set. . .
Cheers Big Ears
L
So where the hell are all the girls? Elaina, Jill, Audrey, Denise…we need some representation!
Anyone want to go for a ride in the Pacer?
Davefest was planned as the end of an era, by Me, Pat Works, Paul Howland, Todd Lehman and Eric Bacher -- over many pots of french-press coffee on E-Street, one night.
Within a month, Todd and I were riding up to SFO in the back of Murphy’s pick-up, to join Dave Flem and all the Morlocks. Dave Rinck and Tom Goddard were days away from a flight to Indochine.
>>Leighton says:I know that Eric will remember the time that we rolled up little pieces of Ex-lax and we put them in a “Rasinetts” box and left them out, knowing that Jerry would soon be eating them, (Jerry was allways picking up anything left around and eating or drinking it).
Oh my gosh I am laughing SO hard…You and your butt ball! I remember you rolling that exlax up…Leighton..your so funny. I dont think that toilet even flushed correctly….or I dont know it overflowed A LOT!!!!
Leighton…. “Mommy, mommy my braids are too tight”.:p
Total blast! Leighton where are you???Europe?:)
I remember the first time the TTH’s played I had just met Mike and Bill somewhere with my friend Tina (boomboom):) we hung out at Balboa Park that night and went on crusin the train. The next time I saw Mike came and picked us up at my dads beach house in Bills Black volvo (which totally suited Bill & Mike) and we went to the party where they first played. That is when Mike lived with Carl Rusk … whom I met the next night playing the most beautiful song. He was in his room,(I think Ray was also there playing acoustic guitar). I wish Carl would have recorded that song! It is a great one!!! (he knows which song Im talking about).
Good times and Leighton was so funny!!
On his Facebook page, Carl Schneider has photos of DaveFest 3: July 20, 1985. Here are a few:
Here’s Hair Theatre at DaveFest 3, courtesy of Carl Schneider: