Noise 292 fan turned rock ‘n’ roll anthropologist Stefan Helmreich joins our ranks with a collection of tracks, including this late live performance of the band performing my early composition “Eyesight.”
“I recently stumbled across your Ché Underground site and was delighted to read such loving accounts of those long-ago days and nights,” Stefan writes. “I was still in high school — a year behind [Noise 292 percussionist] Wendell [Kling], then a senior at at San Dieguito — when I went to to the Nov. 17, 1983, Noise show, which stunned my then 17-year-old sensibilities and tracked me toward discovering Joy Division; the Velvets; and, soon enough, prompted me to start my own band.
“We actually played on the same bill sometime in [late May] 1984, in the driveway of a fellow named Chris Henry, with whom I started a group called ‘Structural Fracture.’
“I’m still musicking, in the time between classes (I’m an anthropology professor at MIT) — i did a noisy project a few years ago, manipulating photocopying machines. Xerophonics was released on Negativland’s label in 2003.”
The version of “Eyesight” Stefan sent dates from a performance Noise 292 did at UCSD’s Center for Music Experiment April 25, 1984, when we opened for Jerome Rothenberg and Bertram Turetzky. I’m on bass and vocals; David Rives is on guitar and backing vocals; Wendell provides percussion; and (squinting my brain real hard) I’m going to say Dave Fleminger is drumming. But it could be Sergio.
More Noise 292 MP3s:
Noise 292 plays “The Assassin”: Listen now!
Noise 292 plays “Chanson Dada”: Listen now!
Noise 292 plays “Mr. Pumpkin”: Listen now!
Noise 292 plays “Stupid Future”: Listen now!
Noise 292 plays “Talking in Circles”: Listen now!
Noise 292 plays “Subterranean Homesick Blues”: Listen now!
Noise 292 plays “Sister Ray”: Listen now!
Love it! For me, the guitar tone and interplay presage the golden age of Guided by Voices.
Update: Dave Fleminger states with near-total conviction that this would’ve been Serg behind the drums.
Cool song, Matthew… the “trash percussion” actually sounds very musical. Interesting that you played at Chris Henry’s house… in the 90s he had his own band called Noise Pie. I think you might have been an inspiration… at least for the name!
Thanks, Dave! Yeah, Stefan and Chris and Structural Fracture are one evolutionary link between Noise 292 and later tribalistic poundings, including Crash Worship.
I’ve often wondered how that facet of our band would’ve gone over a few years later, as Survival Research Labs, Burning Man and other institutions popularized that kind of post-industrial tribal vibe.
You guys were clearly ahead of your time. By the way, Matt, that’s an incredible resume your dad has . . .