More Hair Theatre on YouTube, this time ca. 1984 with Paul Allen on lead guitar.
This video portrays the second major phase of what would prove to be the Che Underground’s longest-running group, enduring into the ’90s. (This is also the lineup that recorded the classic MP3s we’ve shared so far on the blog.)
When I first encountered Hair Theatre in July 1983, it was a four-piece with Howard Palmer on drums. By the end of the year, Howard had ceded the drum stool to Steve Broach, and Paul had added his guitar to Cesar Castillo’s.
Hearing “What Should I Say” after 25 years is another Proustian revelation to me; the tight songwriting and machine-gun delivery cuts through the murk of the video and taps wellsprings of love and admiration for this band.
Can anyone identify the venue? And who’s the young lady with the pink hair gyrating in the front row?
Sergio (vocals); Sergio Castillo (bass); Cesar Castillo (rhythm guitar); Paul Allen (lead guitar); Steve Broach (drums).
Hair Theatre MP3s:
I met Sergioand SImon who was my friend since I was 5 at some club in Mission Valley. simon Hoplehouse was the fabulous lead guitarist that is still living in Bonita. I saw Sergio and Ceaser at Simon’s Mother’s funeral.
This is great. Steve was a really powerful drummer too…what ever happened to him?
Dave Ellison: Steve Broach walks among us! I believe and hope he’s already been pressed into service for the Hair Theatre reunion in May.
People are popping out of everywhere. Mark Stern, Steve Broach, Joe Palmer, Steve Garris and others I didn’t know but probably bumped elbows with have all shown up here recently. Very cool.
I think this HT vid show was from the Gaslamp Quarter Theater show with an OC band called the Society and the headliner, Penguins Slept.