Che Underground: The Blog

The Amazons make Rolling Stone! (Thanks, Vedder)

March 5, 2016February 23, 2016 by admin

After all the blood, sweat and tears secreted over the years by the musicians in our combo, a Joe Jackson cover and shambolic version of “Roadrunner” got us national press on Monday in Rolling Stone, Consequence of Sound and Pearl Jam’s site. I believe a couple guest turns by our old high-school theater buddy Eddie Vedder had something to d0 with all the to-do. But hey, while we’ve caught the buzz, I might as well tell the story.

The Amazons were an acoustic guerrilla rock trio we put together in San Francisco in 1997: me; my fellow San Dieguito High School Theater alum Todd Barker on drums; and on bass, Jason Brownell, a friend of mine who went all the way back to fifth grade in Milwaukee before I moved to San Diego.

Listen now: The Amazons play “Brother P-Touch”

Get your copy! ‘Getting Nowhere Fast’

January 2, 2016 by admin

I’m overdue commemorating an important milestone for the San Diego scene: the release of Ray Brandes’ Getting Nowhere Fast, the long-awaited first volume of band biographies by this talented musician, historian and author.

Featuring an introduction by lead Penetrator Gary Heffern, the book includes unrivaled accounts of Glory, the Zeros, the Penetrators, the Crawdaddys, the Dinettes, the Unknowns, the All-Bitchin’ All-Stud All-Stars (the birthplace of Country Dick Montana), Manual Scan, the Nashville Ramblers, the Gravedigger V and Ray’s own Tell-Tale Hearts.

RIP Cyndie Jaynes

December 11, 2017December 31, 2015 by admin

Today brings sad news about Cynthia Jaynes Omololu, née Cyndie Jaynes, 18 months after her cancer diagnosis.

Her husband Bayo reports:

“Dear friends and family, tried to figure out how to let everyone know without putting a damper on your holidays, but it is with a broken heart that I have to tell you that the love of my life Cyn passed away this morning on her sleep. The last month and a half were extremely painful for her, but the one consolation was she died peacefully.”

CU Video Jukebox: We’ve got you covered

January 30, 2022May 25, 2015 by admin

(In the first installment of a series, San Diego musician and impresario Bart Mendoza selects unexpected covers of local bands.)

The ultimate compliment for a band? It has to be having your songs covered – it’s a clear sign you’ve made an impact. It is a rare thing indeed, but percentage-wise, San Diego’s bands circa the late 1970s through the mid 1980s actually have fared quite well, with new generations of musicians taking up inspiration in their songs. Here are 10 examples:

1. Brandywine Road – What Do All The People Know? (originally by the Monroes) This song is well on its way to being a standard, and this is a terrific version.

A banner year for David Fleminger

December 11, 2017May 21, 2015 by admin

Early in the blog’s history, I recall joking about the prospect of San Diego’s city fathers erecting a statue to us in the Gaslamp Quarter.

It’s more than a little exciting, then, to learn that our own David Fleminger now graces a banner on El Cajon Blvd. — one of this year’s crop of musical figures so honored by the El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement Association.

The association’s Beryl Forman explained to me that the organization (formed 25 years ago to raise a gateway sign over the boulevard) is hanging banners to recognize outstanding contributions to the area’s retail, dining and music experiences. Among other familiar names gracing banners on El Cajon Boulevard are Tim Mays; El Vez; Mojo Nixon; Joey Harris; Candye Kane; and Bart Mendoza, who initiated the effort to include David in the program.

The Mirrors play UCSD Rec Gym

May 9, 2015May 9, 2015 by admin

Jeffrey Luck Lucas — veteran of the Answers and the Morlocks and current solo artist — offers up these photos from the band he calls his favorite from his days in San Diego.

The Mirrors were formed by Jeff and Dave Fleminger in late 1983 and played their last show in May 1984. Artifacts are rare, but these images shot by John Nee capture the band playing the UCSD Rec Gym April 14, 1984 with The Unclaimed, the Odds and Noise 292.

Sign your support for the Che Café

March 22, 2015March 22, 2015 by admin

Time is running short for the performance space of our youth. Here’s a note from Susan Wingfield-Ritter, who’s gathering signatures in support of a last-ditch effort.

Urgent Request from C.H.E. Café

Dear Friends and Supporters of the C.H.E. Café,

The C.H.E. Café Collective is requesting your support at this critical time. On March 15, 2015, the collective received a letter from the UCSD administration stating that they will now go ahead and post the 5-day notice to vacate (eviction order). They can post it any day now.

The appeal we filed of the eviction lawsuit is still pending a ruling from the appellate court. We need your help to try to convince the administration to not finalize the eviction. We appeal to our friends and supporters at UCSD and in the community to submit a statement of support for the C.H.E. Café.

Hair Theatre: ‘Place in Space’

November 29, 2014 by admin

Here’s another selection from Hair Theatre’s Nov. 17, 1983, performance at the Che Cafe, where the band joined Eleven Sons and Noise 292. For the occasion, Hair Theatre added Answers co-founder Dave Fleminger to the original lineup of Sergio (vocals); Sergio Castillo (bass); Cesar Castillo (rhythm guitar); and Howard Palmer (drums).

Listening to songs like “Place in Space” at 30 years’ remove, I’m more aware than I was then of the contemporary qualities of Hair Theatre’s sound.

Watch Hair Theatre perform “In Obscurity” at Che Games for May, 2009!

Read moreHair Theatre: ‘Place in Space’

End of the line for the Che Cafe?

October 21, 2014 by admin

Today carried this blog’s namesake closer to the brink, when San Diego superior court judge Katherine Bacal ruled in favor of UCSD in its efforts to evict the Che Cafe.

While the collective argued it believed it was protected from decertification before losing its co-op status in a vote by the Graduate Student Association, Bacal was unconvinced.

According to NBC, “she said the Che had the burden of proving that it sought dispute resolution, but there was no evidence that it had tried to obtain it, so the university was allowed to move forward with the eviction proceedings without dispute resolution.”

Pictures of Jerry

May 5, 2019October 18, 2014 by admin

Thanks to Jeremiah Cornelius for providing this portrait of himself as “Romulus Johnson”, ca. 1988, after many of us had relocated from San Diego to San Francisco and a year or so after the dissolution of the original Morlocks.

As anyone familiar with our scene knows, Jerry Cornelius was the indefatigable trend-setter, flyer-maker, lyricist, MC, band manager and catalyst behind myriad San Diego adventures.

“What Would Jerry Do?” Read all about it!

Transplanted to San Francisco, Jerry continued his cultural explorations via music and fashion.