Che Underground: The Blog

The Dinettes serve up two long-lost videos

February 9, 2021February 9, 2021 by Mmrothenberg

In the mostly male redoubt of San Diego punk bands in the ’70s, The Dinettes were double-X pioneers when they formed in 1978 (originally under the name The Cockpits). Before they disbanded in 1980, The Dinettes appeared at local venues and even undertook two cross-country tours (the latter leading to their dissolution in Atlanta).

A 2017 reunion re-energized the band and the brand — and now a couple of videos offer new documentary evidence of The Dinettes at the turn of the ’80s.

Keyboardist Sue Delguidice reports, “I was fortunate to locate the Target Video film after years of searching, as I remember the video crew being there at the Deaf Club.”

Tuning in to the Trebels

February 8, 2021February 7, 2021 by Mmrothenberg

Trebels bassist Oscar Barajas provides a backgrounder, sounds and images for a band that took California by storm in the mid-’80s.

The first bass I bought was at Freedom Guitar in downtown San Diego, a Fender Precision copy. I couldn’t play a lick. Yet with time and a bit of practice, I became somewhat competent. What helped was some guitar chords and ditties I learned from my older brother Fernando.

Guitarist Xavier Anaya also picked up on the guitar and learned from his Tio Chato, an original Treble. The original Trebles were a popular outfit in Tijuana back in the ’60s and ’70s.

John Chilson was an instant pro at the drums the minute he picked up those sticks, a natural. Jay Wiseman fell in perfectly as singer and frontman.

The Trebels were born, a future of cops breaking up house parties because of our Maximum RnB; a wedding reception where we were bullied by the bride’s father (understandably so, looking back on it); a triumphant show at the White House in Imperial Beach; and thanks to our great friend Dan Holsenback, our most highly compensated gig — the graduation party for UC Davis Law School.

A Che Underground refresh: Ready for its closeup!

December 31, 2020 by Mmrothenberg

After a stint in rehab, Che Underground: The Blog emerges restored and refreshed, thanks to a year-long intervention by our own Jeremiah Cornelius!

Jerry has:

Untangled an overgrowth of outdated, damaged code;
Migrated the blog to a modern web host and an updated CMS;
And finally, reskinned the whole thing to allow readers to comment again and to avoid formatting snafus that had cropped up in recent years.

We’re going to be fixing links and outstanding formatting glitches in the coming weeks — so if you see something, say something (in the comments below)!

Then and now: Tim Mays, SD impresario magnífico

October 13, 2020 by Mmrothenberg

Those of us who came up in the San Diego scene at the turn of the ’80s were privileged to witness Tim Mays’ emergence as a promoter and club owner. Over the ensuing decades, it’s hard to think of anyone who’s done more to keep San Diego on the musical map.

To reboot our Then and Now feature, Tim has provided Che Underground: The Blog with an exclusive history of his career — and his insights about the future of live music in San Diego as we all contend with the challenges of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

From there to here

I put on my first show in Barstow, the town I grew up in, in 1979. It featured a hard rock band from Orange County and a friend’s band from Barstow — smashing success.

After that, a friend and I decided to put on a show in East Hollywood at Baces Hall, which, unbeknownst to us, had been the site of a show a couple years earlier that ended in a riot. This show was Weirdos, the Plugz, Suburban Lawns, and San Diego’s Penetrators.

We turned away people at the door, and the next thing I know, I’m getting a call from Laura Fraser asking if I would be interested in becoming her partner in the Skeleton Club. This was early 1980. I gave her a check for $1,000 and became her partner. This was the second incarnation of the Skeleton Club and was located at the corner of Market Street and 2nd Ave, two blocks from the police station at the time. We got hassled constantly by SDPD and had to close down in May 1980 over permit issues.

Tell-Tale Hearts from the David J. Watkins Archives

October 12, 2020October 11, 2020 by Mmrothenberg

Che Underground: The Blog has been graced over the years by the generosity of contributors who documented our scene back in the analog days, before a sea of smartphones captured every event.

From the late Cyndie Jaynes to Harold Gee to Jason Seibert to Juni Bravo to Margarat Nee and on and on — including a number of key contributors who’ve requested anonymity — this archive is built on the photos, video, audio, flyers and other artifacts of an incredibly creative community.

Add to the ranks David J. Watkins, whose recent house move unearthed a treasure trove of photographs we look forward to sharing in coming months.

Che Underground on the campaign trail!

October 11, 2020October 8, 2020 by Mmrothenberg

(Editor’s note: This update clarifies Cricket’s work in the union and adds a second variant of his ad, featuring a classic photo of teenage Bobo.)

It’s exciting to spot an old friend on a new platform.

Case in point: Che Underground scenester Bobo (now living in Florida and traveling under the moniker Cricket), who makes a compelling case for voting his working-class interests in the 2020 election.

P-Touch All Stars: ‘Cry Baby Cry’

October 9, 2020October 4, 2020 by Mmrothenberg

The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic have spawned a thousand new flowers of socially distanced creativity — and the artists of the Che Underground are tending their mind gardens for your delectation.

Case in point: This latest effort from P-Touch All Stars, which gives an old favorite a new cinematic treatment (with a little help from the Library of Congress’ film archives).

Plugger: ‘WASAAS’

October 3, 2020October 3, 2020 by Mmrothenberg

Plugger/Bums from Deep Space present their first joint under the Che Underground label. What happens after the fairy tale ends?

It’s been a long time, you know? I mean, a long time. Since she rode off with that guy while they stood waving their caps until she disappeared over the horizon line, a lot has happened (or should have happened?) — but nothing has really changed.

How long was she with them, anyway? (Outside of her crystal casket, I mean.) A week? It’s crazy how much difference that little bit of time made. But in the mines, time doesn’t move the same way. There aren’t the same visual cues. And the time you’re on the surface is that much clearer, but it’s brief, you know? Little pinholes in a black box.

Jerry Cornelius’ Cooler Heads: ‘Shot by Both Sides’

September 24, 2020September 23, 2020 by Mmrothenberg

Scholars of San Diego music agree: The Che Underground might have happened without Jerry Cornelius, but it wouldn’t have been happening.

Jerry was a catalyst, MC, artist and style guru associated with The Answers, The Wallflowers, The Morlocks, and related acts. On Feb. 29, he returned to a San Diego stage for the first time in 35 years. The event was “A Che Underground Leap Night Showcase,” and he deftly led San Diego supergroup The Cooler Heads.

This video presents the Heads’ slinky and sizzling version of Magazine’s “Shot by Both Sides.”

P-Touch All Stars: ‘Remake Remodel’

October 4, 2020September 21, 2020 by Mmrothenberg

Remember the pre-pandemic days when a few hundred close friends could pack together into a crowded club and make music?

Che Underground remembers: Viz. the collective manifestation of musical solidarity that transpired on Feb. 29 at La Mesa’s the Riviera Supper Club & Turquoise Lounge under the name “A Che Underground Leap Night Showcase.”

The gig featured a trio of Che Underground supergroups that brought special guests back onto a San Diego stage for the first time in more than 30 years.