DaveFest Four: ‘Richie Dagger’s Crime’
b/w ‘Let’s Lynch the Landlord’

Daves Fleminger and Rinck; DaveFest Four at Lestat's, July 30, 2010More highlights from the Che Underground Rock-‘n’-Roll Weekend July 30 and 31, 2010, in San Diego: Che Underground supergroup the DaveFest Four performs the Dead Kennedys’ “Let’s Lynch the Landlord” and “Richie Dagger’s Crime” by the Germs.

The DaveFest Four plays “Richie Dagger’s Crime”: Listen now!

“Dave Rinck came up with the idea to do an all-Dave set of our favorite punk anthems with a semi-acoustic roots sensibility,” writes Dave Fleminger.

Read moreDaveFest Four: ‘Richie Dagger’s Crime’
b/w ‘Let’s Lynch the Landlord’

The Comeuppance with Graziela Damian:
“Sunday Morning”

Graziela Damian with the Comeuppance; Lestat's, July 30, 2010 (Charisse Sciuva)The Che Underground officially entered its second generation Friday, July 30, when Graziela Damian joined the Comeuppance onstage at Lestat’s Coffee House during the Che Underground Rock-‘n’-Roll Weekend.

The daughter of Lou Damian and Charisse Sciuva graced us last year at the post-picnic for Che Games for May with an a capella rendition of Love’s “You Set the Scene.” This year, Graziela returned with this beautiful rendition of the Velvet Underground’s “Sunday Morning.”

Read moreThe Comeuppance with Graziela Damian:
“Sunday Morning”

Two days in Che: A retrospective

(Paul Kaufman flew in from Massachusetts to taste the fury of the Che Underground Rock-‘n’-Roll Weekend July 30 and 31. Here are Paul’s impressions, accompanied by photos from Sean McMullen and Kymri Wilt.)

David Rinck/Dave Doyle; Lestat's, July 30, 2010 (Kymri Wilt)After an early-morning cross-country flight, I was somewhat worse for wear by the time 9pm rolled around on Friday, July 30, but I didn’t want to miss this!

Lou Damian at mic; Lestat's, July 30, 2010 (Kymri Wilt)It had probably been around 20 years since I had been down Adams Avenue. Normal Heights is heavily transformed from the residential neighborhood I remembered, with many new restaurants and shops. The center of the action is Lestat’s gallery, coffee shop and nightclub. A big marquee announces the Che Underground show! In addition to the musicians themselves, lots of blog stars are there: Kristen Tobiason; Chris Mathis; and of course tonight’s MC, Lou Damian.

Read moreTwo days in Che: A retrospective

DaveFest Four: ‘Prison Walls’ at Lestat’s

David Rinck, Dave Fleminger, the DaveFest FourFirst fruits of the Che Underground Rock-‘n’-Roll Weekend: Days after we posted about a video featuring “Prison Walls” from the Injections’ seminal 1980 single, the DaveFest Four put its own spin on the song at Lestat’s Coffee House on San Diego’s Adams Ave.

Dave Fleminger, who provides vocals and guitar on the track, describes the inspiration for the DaveFest Four’s version of “Prison Walls”:

Read moreDaveFest Four: ‘Prison Walls’ at Lestat’s

From Lestat’s: Welcome back, Tom Ward

(Charisse Sciuva offers another advance view of the Che Underground Rock-‘n’-Roll Weekend July 30 and 31 at Lestat’s Coffee House and Bar Pink, respectively.)

Thomas E. Ward; Lestat's, July 26, 2010 (photo Lou Damian)Monday night, Lestat’s-goers were awestruck by the appearance of Thomas E. Ward, who will be kicking off the Che Underground show this weekend. Ward took the stage with his 12-string Guild and pounded out “She’s Not Just Anybody” with vocals to match.

Thomas E. Ward; Lestat's, July 26, 2010 (photo Lou Damian)While most sit back casually and drone out their love songs, Ward stood tall over the audience as he sang, a rock-‘n’-roll bassist back from New York City, grounded once again in San Diego. All eyes were glued on this fresh and crisp performer, waiting for what he would deliver next.

Read moreFrom Lestat’s: Welcome back, Tom Ward

Get your ‘Rock-’n’-Roll’ flyers!

You asked for it, you got it: “Then and Now” reporter and Che Underground veteran Kristen Tobiason has obliged us with downloadable PDF versions of the flyers she prepped for the Che Underground Rock-‘n’-Roll Weekend July 30 and 31!

Just click on the thumbnails below for pure, print-ready chewing satisfaction:

jll copychepink_2

Here’s a recap of the weekend’s haps:

Read moreGet your ‘Rock-’n’-Roll’ flyers!

Warming up for DaveFest Four

(Charisse Sciuva and Dave Rinck describe hot times at Lestat’s Coffee House. The featured act: a warm-up for the Che Underground Rock-‘n’-Roll Weekend July 30-31 and a Che Underground supergroup that will feature San Diego music legends Dave Doyle, Dave Fleminger, Dave Klowden and Dave Rinck.)

Dave Rinck, Dave Fleminger, Lou Damian; Lestat's, July 19, 2010 (Charisse Sciuva)On July 19, the DaveFest Four (actually two, Dave Rinck and Dave Fleminger, plus an “honorary Dave” — Lou Damian on harmonica), shut down a packed house at Lestat’s Coffee House on San Diego’s Adams Ave. after just two acts. The occasion was the second weekly night of the Monday night warm-ups at Lestat’s, the venue for Night One of the upcoming Che Underground Rock-‘n’-Roll Weekend on July 30 and 31. Due to an unplanned event that could be called a “mishap” by some, their performance set the standard for what is certainly going to be the event of the year!

Why “DaveFest Four”? Read Patrick Works’ history of Dave Fest!

After an intro by the master of ceremonies, the DaveFest combo took the stage in what was truly a Che Underground moment. Upon pulling in, a painfully loud intermittent reverb-laced blast was heard!

Read moreWarming up for DaveFest Four

The Comeuppance: Bringing it home

The Comeuppance; Lestat's Coffee House, July 12, 2010 (photo by Lou Damian)Dave Fleminger — veteran of San Diego’s Answers, Mirrors and Manual Scan and a chief architect of our Che Underground events — is down from San Francisco for the month to prepare for the Che Underground Rock-‘n’-Roll Weekend July 30-31.

Among the first-night acts at Lestat’s Coffee House: the Comeuppance, Dave’s current collaboration with cellist Heather Vorwerck. The duo last week made its San Diego debut at a Lestat’s open mic, and I asked Dave what it was like playing his new material on our old turf after so many years away.

The Comeuppance; Lestat's Coffee House, July 12, 2010 (photo by Lou Damian)The Comeuppance; Lestat's Coffee House, July 12, 2010 (photo by Lou Damian)The Comeuppance; Lestat's Coffee House, July 12, 2010 (photo by Lou Damian)The Comeuppance; Lestat's Coffee House, July 12, 2010 (photo by Lou Damian)

Read moreThe Comeuppance: Bringing it home

Sean McMullen, Dave Doyle on photography

Jon King, Gang of Four (Sean McMullen) It’s not just for bands any more: The pending Che Underground Rock-‘n’-Roll Weekend will also celebrate two photographers whose work has captured San Diego music for decades.

The first night of the event — Friday, July 30, at Lestat’s Coffee House in San Diego — will feature a joint exhibit of concert photos by Dave Doyle and Sean McMullen. I caught up with each of them to learn a bit more about their respective photographic visions and how San Diego has shaped them.

Read moreSean McMullen, Dave Doyle on photography

Che Underground Rock-’n’-Roll Weekend!

(David Rinck cuts the ribbon on a late-July musical extravaganza in San Diego!)

jll copyHow could we let a year go by since the Che Games for May? It is high time to do it again!

chepink_2Ladies and gentlemen, fasten your seatbelts and get ready to experience the Che Underground Rock-‘n’-Roll Weekend. Here’s what we have in store for you:

Friday, July 30, at Lestat’s Coffee House (3343 Adams Avenue; $10; doors open at 9pm)

Plus a photo retrospective of San Diego Underground Rock ‘n’ Roll by Dave Doyle and Sean McMullen.

Saturday, July 31, at Bar Pink (3829 30th St.; free; doors open at 9pm)

  • Wendy Bailey & True Stories
  • The Answers
  • Bombast

Plus, dubstep deejaying by the P Man

Read moreChe Underground Rock-’n’-Roll Weekend!

The Che Underground