Reviving San Diego's Rock Renaissance
More Wallflowers gems from the Cyndie Jaynes Collection!
Besides some great offstage photos of bassist Paul Howland, guitarist Todd Lahman and vocalist David Rinck, this set includes a striking headshot of Dave performing al fresco at the Che Cafe, apparently at the same event where Cyndie caught up with the Tell-Tale Hearts. Could this be the legendary Dave Fest 3, site of the Wallflowers’ triumphant last stand?
One of my favorite discoveries upon moving to New Jersey in 2001 was Weird NJ, a magazine in which Jersey veterans of about our age and funkiness trade stories about bizarre locations and legends of their youth. (The publishers have recently extended the franchise nationwide and beyond, but I find the other editions lack the authenticity of NJ punks trading ghost stories.)
With all due credit to this brilliant concept, I thought we should start our own list of eccentric San Diego County landmarks and local legends. What places and stories gave you goosebumps? What byways did you explore — and live to tell the tale?
Breaking Che Underground news: Sitting poolside in Las Vegas, ur-Morlocks drummer Mark Mullen has reportedly unearthed the band’s legendary lost album, Wake Me When I’m Dead, available for free download.
“It would be cool to put up on the site if people want to download it,” Mark suggests. “I really think most everyone has said they heard it existed, but it was more myth than truth. It was a myth for me until an hour ago.”
Mr. Mullen’s wish … Che Underground: The Blog’s command!
As our kids prepare for summer vacation, I thought this was an apt moment for roll call on our own high-school pedigrees.
We’ve mentioned many times how high-school friendships helped shape our tastes and our identities as cultural subversives. We’ve cited institutions like Gompers, Patrick Henry, Clairemont, Grossmont, Helix, Poway High … I know all the names, but I can’t keep track of which “cool kids” came from where or how each institution (or anti-institution) informed our creative process.
Here’s a prime example of the Noise 292 dark cabaret — and of Kristin Martin’s power as a singer and storyteller.
Recorded July 29, 1983 (when we performed with the Answers and Hair Theatre at the Che Cafe),
“The Assassin” showcases Noise 292 at its most atmospheric — it’s another facet of the modernist vibe of “Chanson Dada.” (Check out how the drums and scrap-metal percussion complement Kristin’s haunting vocals and David Rives’ spooky guitar work!)
Kristin Martin (rhythm guitar, vocals); David Rives (lead guitar); Hobie Hodge (trash percussion); Joanne Norris (drums); Matthew Rothenberg (bass).
Congratulations! Since it launched sub rosa in February, our little corner of the Web has grown like Topsy’s … Thanks to your good efforts, we’ve reunited far-flung friends; listened to some great music (some of it unheard for a quarter-century); and shed a bright light on a wonderful and largely forgotten chapter in the musical history of San Diego.
But wait — there’s more! The Che Underground digital empire is adding new features and new opportunities for you to contribute. You’ll notice the sharp new look created by Dave Ellison and implemented by Jason Brownell. I also want to direct your attention to our new e-mail address: cheunderground@gmail.com. Got flyers, photos, audio, video, clippings or other ephemera to share? We have a home for it!
Other Che Underground features for you to enjoy and enhance:
Cyndie Jaynes’ TV eye catches the Tell-Tale Hearts looking smart in a variety of venues, including more outdoor performance footage from the Che Cafe.
Could the black-and-white shots on the patio of the Che date from Dave Fest 3? (I’ve uploaded those photos at maximum resolution; the cast of characters populating the background itself represents a San Diego greatest-hits compilation!)
The Answers come alive! Here’s a very hot number from the 1982 lineup of this protean band. Dave Fleminger sets the scene for this song, which perfectly captures the SD teen spirit we’re celebrating on Che Underground: The Blog.
“The Answers, opening the day’s festivities at ‘Mod Mania,’ hosted by Lumpy at the Adams Ave. Theater, Sept. 18, 1982. Dave Fleminger (guitar/voice); Tony Suarez (bass/voice); David Anderson (drums).
Here’s another way of bringing together the folks who shaped San Diego’s underground music scene in the early ’80s as well as anyone who’s interested in that brilliant flash in the rock-‘n’-roll pan.
Che Underground: The Forum lets anyone read about the Che Underground scene and beyond. It also provides registered, approved users the chance to create threads; post content; and interact about their activities past, present and future.
Ray Brandes hardly needs a where-are-we-now introduction, considering the critical and popular acclaim his music has garnered over the years. But in the spirit of bringing our creative efforts into the 21st century, Ray has generously agreed to let me post a catchy and touching track from 2007’s smashing greatest-hits album, “A Matter of Time.”
“‘Welcome to the World’ was written after the birth of our son, and recorded a year or so later, in 2005,” Ray writes. “I wanted to write a song like “Kooks” from “Hunky Dory” that he could listen to when he got older. I stole some of the lyrics from William Blake’s ‘Auguries of Innocence’ and ‘Infant Sorrow.’ “
