Che Underground: The Blog

What I learned from bands

April 11, 2018August 18, 2010 by admin

Here’s another chance to compare notes a few decades down the road.

After a slightly meandering start, my adult career has proceeded quite nicely. I get to do interesting work, and (in the big picture) I’ve progressively been given more authority over it. My employers trust me to lead teams of people and try new ideas.

Learning about what you’ve been up to over the past couple of decades, it sounds like a lot of you have found jobs you like and are good at — and a disproportionate number have started your own businesses, from restaurants to barber shops.

For myself, it’s not just hyperbole to say I gained more fundamental career skills playing music with you folks than I did in the classroom. Here are a few lessons I picked up:

Closing party: Doyle/McMullen photo show

February 2, 2011August 15, 2010 by admin

(If you missed the opening festivities July 30 at the Che Underground Rock-‘n’-Roll Weekend, Dave Doyle invites you to join him and fellow photographer Sean McMullen for the closing of their joint show. Event photography by Kymri Wilt.)

As is often said, all good things must come to an end, and art exhibits are no exception. So in celebration of our first exhibition together, Sean and I thought it would be fun to close it with another party.

We will be hosting a simple reception at Lestat’s Coffee House on August 28 around 7:30. Then afterwards any willing adults are welcome to the Ould Sod for drinks, merriment and pontification on all things art, politics or whatnot. Lestat’s is child friendly, so feel free to bring your offspring or someone else’s.

Why don’t we sing this song all together?

February 2, 2011August 12, 2010 by admin

For many of the participants in this blog, our involvement with San Diego music ended with our wholesale departure from San Diego. A large contingent of us decamped first to San Francisco, and we now make our homes in places like Seattle, Oregon, New York, Boston, Wisconsin and Haiti.

That means the string of Che Underground gigs we’ve hosted in San Diego (including May 2009 and January and July 2010) marked the first time in more than two decades that many of our musicians have played in front of a hometown crowd.

Town Criers, Gary Heffern at the Casbah

February 2, 2011August 8, 2010 by admin

One of the highlights of our Che Underground showcase at San Diego’s Casbah Jan. 30, 2010, was the 20-year reunion of the city’s pioneering alt-rockers the Town Criers.

And adding to the Penetrators theme of the festivities, Gary Heffern (frontman for that legendary band) flew in from Finland to join the band in a rare San Diego guest appearance.

Read the Town Criers’ story!

First off, here’s the Town Criers performing “My Baby Left Me,” written by Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup and performed by Elvis Presley, among others. The lineup fueling this first performance in more than two decades included Ray Brandes (vocals, guitar); Mark Zadarnowksi (bass); David Klowden (drums); and Peter Miesner (lead guitar).

The Comeuppance with Graziela Damian:
“Sunday Morning”

February 2, 2011August 5, 2010 by admin

The Che Underground officially entered its second generation Friday, July 30, when Graziela Damian joined the Comeuppance onstage at Lestat’s Coffee House during the Che Underground Rock-‘n’-Roll Weekend.

The daughter of Lou Damian and Charisse Sciuva graced us last year at the post-picnic for Che Games for May with an a capella rendition of Love’s “You Set the Scene.” This year, Graziela returned with this beautiful rendition of the Velvet Underground’s “Sunday Morning.”

Two days in Che: A retrospective

February 2, 2011August 3, 2010 by admin

(Paul Kaufman flew in from Massachusetts to taste the fury of the Che Underground Rock-‘n’-Roll Weekend July 30 and 31. Here are Paul’s impressions, accompanied by photos from Sean McMullen and Kymri Wilt.)

After an early-morning cross-country flight, I was somewhat worse for wear by the time 9pm rolled around on Friday, July 30, but I didn’t want to miss this!

It had probably been around 20 years since I had been down Adams Avenue. Normal Heights is heavily transformed from the residential neighborhood I remembered, with many new restaurants and shops. The center of the action is Lestat’s gallery, coffee shop and nightclub. A big marquee announces the Che Underground show! In addition to the musicians themselves, lots of blog stars are there: Kristen Tobiason; Chris Mathis; and of course tonight’s MC, Lou Damian.

DaveFest Four: ‘Prison Walls’ at Lestat’s

February 2, 2011August 1, 2010 by admin

First fruits of the Che Underground Rock-‘n’-Roll Weekend: Days after we posted about a video featuring “Prison Walls” from the Injections’ seminal 1980 single, the DaveFest Four put its own spin on the song at Lestat’s Coffee House on San Diego’s Adams Ave.

Dave Fleminger, who provides vocals and guitar on the track, describes the inspiration for the DaveFest Four’s version of “Prison Walls”:

From Lestat’s: Welcome back, Tom Ward

January 6, 2011July 29, 2010 by admin

(Charisse Sciuva offers another advance view of the Che Underground Rock-‘n’-Roll Weekend July 30 and 31 at Lestat’s Coffee House and Bar Pink, respectively.)

Monday night, Lestat’s-goers were awestruck by the appearance of Thomas E. Ward, who will be kicking off the Che Underground show this weekend. Ward took the stage with his 12-string Guild and pounded out “She’s Not Just Anybody” with vocals to match.

While most sit back casually and drone out their love songs, Ward stood tall over the audience as he sang, a rock-‘n’-roll bassist back from New York City, grounded once again in San Diego. All eyes were glued on this fresh and crisp performer, waiting for what he would deliver next.

‘Prison Walls’: The Injections on YouTube!

January 6, 2011July 28, 2010 by admin

It’s always fun to see a piece of our mutual history surface in an unexpected location. Viz. this video compilation from “stev1963hit,” an old-school British audiophile who included an illustrated version of “Prison Walls” from San Diego punk pioneers the Injections in a series of YouTube posts dubbed “Anarchy in the U.K.”

“Prison Walls” is the first in a trio of songs in this edition, along with “Cold Eyes” by the Reactors and “No Passion” by the Vice Creems.

Get your ‘Rock-’n’-Roll’ flyers!

March 24, 2018July 26, 2010 by admin

You asked for it, you got it: “Then and Now” reporter and Che Underground veteran Kristen Tobiason has obliged us with downloadable PDF versions of the flyers she prepped for the Che Underground Rock-‘n’-Roll Weekend July 30 and 31!

Just click on the thumbnails below for pure, print-ready chewing satisfaction:

Here’s a recap of the weekend’s haps:

Read moreGet your ‘Rock-’n’-Roll’ flyers!