Che Underground | The Che Underground

Punk rock picture show

January 1, 2011June 4, 2008 by admin

Picking up the thread from our “Hyphenates” discussion, let’s talk about notable on-screen portrayals of punk, with special focus on its applicability to the Southern California experience.

My candidate for best of show is “Repo Man” — as Toby said, perhaps the only decent thing Emilio Estevez has ever done, but good enough to make up for a dozen “Mighty Ducks.” (Worst/funniest could be the punk-rock episode of “Quincy.” (Am I right that some actual LA punks were extras in that episode?)

Discuss!

Morlocks in motion

April 21, 2012June 4, 2008 by admin

The legendary Cyndie Jaynes Collection of historical photos of the San Diego underground doesn’t stop at Camp Pendleton. Here’s a set of performance photos of the Morlocks playing San Francisco’s Swedish American Hall sometime after the band’s move north as well as earlier shots of them playing an undisclosed location in San Diego.

The Morlocks were an incredible live band, and Cyndie’s lens captures them at the acme of their power. San Diego’s loss … San Francisco’s gain!

Bo Diddley, RIP

January 1, 2011June 2, 2008 by admin

“Bo Diddley, a singer and guitarist who invented his own name, his own guitars, his own beat and, with a handful of other musical pioneers, rock ’n’ roll itself, died Monday at his home in Archer, Fla . He was 79.”

We’ve talked a lot about the man’s influence on us San Diego youngsters — in fact, we may have mentioned him more than any other single musician. This is the right time to discuss what made him so damn cool to us. Thanks again, Mr. Diddley.

Have you seen me?

December 11, 2017June 1, 2008 by admin

Here’s a mini-mystery for Che Underground irregulars: Who’s the kid in this picture Cyndie Jaynes shot in Presidio Park? A team of forensics experts has so far been unable to ID him definitively.

Ray Brandes’ best guess, with accompanying documentary evidence: “I’m pretty sure it’s Mike Therieau, who was in the Event–I didn’t think they were around yet, but then I found the attached flyer.”

Young mystery mod, the Che Underground salutes you! Step forward into the warm embrace of your peers.

Every picture tells a story

January 1, 2011May 31, 2008 by admin

The Cyndie Jaynes photo collection poses a curatorial challenge: There’s so much marvelous stuff here, it’s hard to decide how to slice and dice it.

Here’s another set of portraits designed to tickle the Proustian memory banks of anyone circulating in this corner of the early-’80s San Diego underground. Plus, they’re lovely photos in their own right. Help fill in the narrative blanks!

Miss Kristi’s Top 10s for San Diego ‘It’ Girls

April 21, 2012May 30, 2008 by Kristi Maddocks

(Everybody Violet founder and SD scenestress extraordinaire Kristi Maddocks contributes practical tips for female food ‘n’ frolic in the San Diego underground.)

Author’s note: I have so much to say about the Che Underground, but I didn’t know where to start. So I began with the obvious: Being a female in the scene put you at a bit of a disadvantage … Even if you were smart and had creative contributions to make, the better sex was still received, perceived and judged on its looks and physical persona first and foremost.

Even though the sexual revolution had occurred in the ’60s-’70s, ironically feminism wasn’t a player in the retro mod/psyche scene of early-’80s San Diego. I was as guilty as the next girl for using my legs as a personal weapon or batting my big eyes at the boys in the band. Heck, these maneuvers got me in the door — and definitely helped me get deep into the scene and later helped me front my own band, Everybody Violet.

The Wallflowers: “Rubber Room”

January 1, 2011May 29, 2008 by admin

While we’re all in a Wallflowers frame of mind, here’s another Phase One Wallflowers gem freshly excavated after a quarter-century beneath the Canadian permafrost. “Rubber Room” is essential Wallflowers material,” writes bassist Paul Howland. “This one and ‘Funland’ (along with any of the many Stooges cover tunes) encapsulate the Wallflowers sound nicely.

Read moreThe Wallflowers: “Rubber Room”

Cyndie Jaynes: An evening with the Wallflowers

January 1, 2011May 28, 2008 by admin

Cyndie Jaynes’ amazing gift to Che Underground: The Blog continues giving with this wonderful series of photographs from a late-era Wallflowers concert featuring Todd Lahman on guitar and Matt Johnson on drums. As always, Paul Howland (pictured in these photos) and Dave Rinck loomed large in the lineup.

MC/guest vocalist Jerry Cornelius, Tony Sanchez, Kristi Maddocks, and Audrey Moorehead also make the scene. What was the venue? The little picket fence and trellis evokes a freaky ice-cream parlor vibe. Who can ID this magic moment?

Career opportunities

January 1, 2011May 27, 2008 by admin

Another where-are-we-now topic to connect the dots between our past and present: While a select few of us indeed earn our adult living in the music business, most have found other sources of income.

Today’s question: What do you do nowadays to pay the bills? And what (if anything) did you learn from our salad days that helps you now?

This one’s pretty easy for me. I’ve worked in publishing (in SF and NY) for 20 years, more than 10 primarily online. I generally run large teams of creative, verbal, offbeat young people who’ve converged on the big city for aesthetic and social stimulation. Sound familiar yet?

Noise 292: “Stupid Future”

January 1, 2011May 26, 2008 by admin

Today marks the 25th anniversary of Noise 292’s first performance: May 26, 1983, at the Che Cafe with the Answers and the Odds. I can think of no better way to celebrate that silver anniversary than with a powerful performance by the brilliant Kristin Martin.

“Stupid Future” showcases everything that was so special about Kristin’s songwriting and performing, even at 19: arresting hooks, great lyrics and fantastic vocals. She’s one of the most innovative creative forces I’ve ever had the privilege of collaborating with.