Here’s a signature number from a superb band. Dave Rinck of the Wallflowers has called the Rockin’ Dogs’ “Candy Rock” his favorite San Diego rock-‘n’-roll tune, and it’s easy to see why.
We’re still trying to remember the spring 1983 Answers gig where we met, but the Rockin’ Dogs were an electrifying addition to the Che Underground scene. They looked tight, and they sounded explosive: Cole Smithey (drums) and Jane Bunting (bass) made a killer rhythm section, and vocalists/guitarists Dave Ellison and Sam Wilson (musical collaborators since age 14) were an endlessly fascinating study in stylistic contrasts; just check out the interplay of guitar styles on “Candy Rock.” The Rockin’ Dogs put Poway on the map for me!
PS: I believe Dave Ellison in this group photo is wearing the gray jacket that (according to previous discussions) won the coveted approval of Jerry Cornelius and other arbiters of fashion.
It looks like this was one of five songs we recorded that day. I dont remember which studio we recorded this at, but most likely it was AccuSound on El Cajon Blvd. It was behind a music store/rental business, and was the cheapest studio we could find. I do remember that we recorded there twice (the first time was the earlier version of the band). We also recorded at a studio on Claremont Mesa Blvd. that was behind a costume shop… and was probably a few dollars cheaper.
Cole’s going to be sending me a master compilation of everything the band recorded. Once I hear the other recordings again I’ll be able to tell which was recorded where.
According to this Reader profile, Accusound studios at 42nd and El Cajon, was owned by Eric Denton, one of the founding members of ’80s popsters the Monroes, the band behind “What Do All the People Know?” How’s that for a veritable Mount Vesuvius of useless information?? LOL
Eric Denton also owned Music Power and (I think) later bought Guitar Trader. I didnt know owned AccuSound, or that he was in the Monroes.
Eric Denton was a regular music M(onr)ogul! Yes, Wikipedia tells us that he does indeed own Guitar Trader.
The Monroes! I remember that song. I got my guitar at Guitar Trader. I started thinking about the few bands from San Diego that made it, or sort of did. The Greyboy Allstars, Stone Temple Pilots, Iron Butterfly, Frank Zappa, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap. Did I get ’em all?
And Harry Partch.
And Diamanda Galas.
Eddie Vedder, Jewel, Tom Waits. Lester Bangs — does Lester Bangs count?
Linda Perry used to hang out at Balboa Park around the time we did, but I don’t remember her.
Ah the Fruit Loop. I spent many a day hanging out in Balboa Park while ditching class at Roosevelt Jr. High School, while schoolmates Kristin Martin and Patrick Works probably actually learned something. It was much more fun hanging out years later in that little bowl near the Space Theater. Tom Waits, that’s cool. Don’t forget Ratt.
I can remember the Monroes album cover on the wall in the control booth at AccuSound…and the engineer telling me how the band had recorded parts of it there…the studio’s big claim to fame. Of course, he didnt mention that one of the guys in the band owned the studio. Haha.
The Stone Temple Pilots were also from San Diego…or so I’ve heard.
The Cascades (“Rhythm of the Rain”), Rosie and the Originals (“Angel Baby”)…Jim Croce…
There were so many musicians playing in Balboa Park back in the hazy days..downright boho…shocking even…nowadays it’s a permit raffle hurdle-jump, and “one sign no larger than 8.5 x 11 clearly stating ‘donations accepted’ must be displayed on site”….you can also have another sign “to state the nature of the entertainment provided”.
Possible sign idea: “I will continue to perform until I have accumulated enough change to purchase a medium chocolate-vanilla swirl cone from the food-stand across from the big tree”. And then start playing that Stephen Bishop song (another San Diegan)….”on and on…..on and on…and on…………and on…..”
Of course, my first practical experiment in the art of guerilla performance was with the Rockin’ Dogs’ own Dave Ellison (and Brian Phillips and I think Paul Brewin) beneath the UCSD Sun God. Ellison was a natural … Wish you’d made it out to Hamburg with me!
Wow, who needed the Che Cafe? You should have told me this long ago, Matthew…I wouldnt have had to take up graphic design.
Zippo rules. Even the Venice Beach boardwalk doesnt have street musicians with a jacket like his.
I think I can ID this scene almost to the note … It was taken when we were retained at Luna Luna, an art carnival that ran in Hamburg in summer ’87 (note the Keith Haring design in the background). We’re playing “Stand by Me,” which was featured in a popular commercial at the time, and we’re at the instrumental break, when Philipp would put down the bass and bust loose on the violin. I oughta find some more photos — this was my Jonathan Richman moment when I finally learned to move a little onstage!
BTW, our archrival for Hamburg’s small change was a tiny man who flew around town on a moped while we had to haul Philipp’s bass in a big rickshaw contraption of Zippo’s. This little guy would pull up to a public spot, jump off his moped, start singing that “Figaro” thing from “The Barber of Seville,” open a box of shaving equipment, open a folding chair, grab a random guy from the audience, singing all the while, lather the guy up, pull out a straight razor, strop it, sing-sing-sing, and shave the guy, finishing at the climax of the song … HUGE response every time, big shower of coins, then he’s packed and back on the moped in, like 90 seconds. It seemed like we couldn’t go anywhere in town without eating his dust!
damn i miss germany, i split san diego for there and stayed 5 years. those folks on the continent really value artists and are happy to support them in their pursuits, i wish i never had to come back to this barbarian violence hell. anyway…oh yeah! bob mosley super bad ass dude from the moby grape was from linda vista
Ah! Here’s my old violin/contrabass buddy from Hamburg, looking the same as he did in 1987: