Sam Wilson | The Che Underground

The Rockin’ Dogs, ‘Bye Bye Bye’

December 12, 2019December 11, 2019 by Mmrothenberg

Looking for the origins of Poway’s legendary Rockin’ Dogs? Dating way back to 1982, “Bye Bye Bye” is the first studio demo from the band, featuring the original Dogs lineup.

Writes Rockin’ Dog Dave Ellison, “This is from the historic Rockin’ Dogs San Marcos Sessions, featuring the earlier lineup of Sam Wilson on guitar/vocals; Dave Ellison on bass/vocals; Jim Meisland on guitar; and Scott Nichols (a k a Scott Slob) on drums.

“In 1982, we had a rented practice room in a metal building in San Marcos, which was owned by Vietnam vet auto mechanics. They used to work on cars in that building all night long. We used to practice until late at night, and they gradually grew tired of our racket and evicted us.

Hair Theatre opens for Devo at Iguana’s: The Juni Bravo archive

January 2, 2018January 2, 2018 by Mmrothenberg

An online discovery has created a new Che Underground mystery to solve.

I ran across this video of the mighty Hair Theatre playing Iguana’s in Tijuana. Now I want to know how it made its way to YouTube and who-all is on the other half-hour of tape!

Some clues:

The gig is dated Sept. 28, 1989, and the master VHS is credited to the “Juni Bravo archive.” It was posted to 3.Cameras.and.a.Microphone by someone who writes s/he knows nothing about the band and incorrectly identifies this San Diego North County group as Mexican.)
Google and Facebook tell me that Juni Bravo was a friend to many of our San Diego circle and had relocated to Austin before she passed away in February 2015.
At the end of the 11-minute segment, lead singer Sergio announces that “Devo is next.” A Google search reveals that Devo played two nights at Iguana’s: Sept. 28 and 29, 1989.
Besides Sergio, the lineup onstage includes Cesar Castillo on guitar; Sergio Castillo on bass; Steve Broach on drums; ~~Sam Wilson (I think?)~~ Simon Holehouse on lead guitar; and John Murray on flute, harmonica and percussion.
After the first 12 minutes, the balance of the 41-minute tape contains scenes from a Revolt in Style fashion show at … The San Diego Sports Arena, perhaps?

Old Dogs, new tricks

December 31, 2010December 10, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

Lori Stalnaker-Bevilacqua continues to enrich our historical understanding of the Rockin’ Dogs with priceless artifacts. Here’s a pre-Jane Bunting photograph of the Dogs — ca. 1982 — when Scott Harber was the bassist.

“I loved this shot from the series,” Lori writes. “I love the fact that you got two lookin’ at the camera and two turned to the side. I don’t think I directed them to that, just spontaneous. Nevertheless, it works!

“That is one good-lookin’ band! ;)”

“I remember the photo, but I don’t remember much about it other than the fact that the red plaid scarf belonged to a girl I was dating,” writes Dave Ellison. “Scott didn’t play with the band for very long. I remember he was planning a long trip somewhere … to another country, I think … so he was more or less filling in for a while.”

Rockin’ Dogs around town

January 1, 2011November 18, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

A long-sought contribution from recent blog arrival Lori Stalnaker-Bevilacqua: a flyer that puts a date (Feb. 10, 1984) to the legendary Saigon Palace gig featuring the Rockin’ Dogs and Noise 292.

This show (which found Sam Wilson covering all Rockin’ Dogs vocals while Dave Ellison recuperated from laryngitis and 17-year-old Wendell Kling evading ID inspection in the men’s room until Noise 292’s appearance) was also photographed by Ms. Stalnaker-Bevilacqua. But this is the first time we’ve been able to put it on the calendar. Mystery solved — thanks, Lori!

Bonus artifact: an ad featuring a July 29, 1983, appearance by the Rockin’ Dogs at the Headquarters (with the Ripsaws and Jimmy & the Vandals). I’m afraid I didn’t catch this show; the Answers, Noise 292 and Hair Theatre were playing the Che Cafe that night.

Three Dog day afternoons

January 1, 2011September 13, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

Courtesy of Rockin’ Dogs drummer and band archivist Cole Smithey, here’s a collection of photographs from the band’s last phase, when it became a trio with the departure of founding guitarist/vocalist Dave Ellison.

In addition to Cole, these pictures from late 1984 and early 1985 feature Sam Wilson (guitar, vocals) and Jane Bunting (bass, vocals).

The Rockin’ Dogs: “Bye Bye Bye”

January 1, 2011August 26, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

“OK, now we’re diggin’ into the archives!” writes Rockin’ Dog Dave Ellison of “Bye Bye Bye,” the latest stellar Dogs single and earliest Dogs recording to join our hit parade.

“This is from the historic Rockin’ Dogs San Marcos Sessions, featuring the earlier lineup of Sam Wilson on guitar/vocals; Dave Ellison on bass/vocals; Jim Meisland on guitar; and Scott Nichols (a k a Scott Slob) on drums.

Introducing the Rockin’ Dogs

January 1, 2011August 7, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

Here’s a very early artifact from the Rockin’ Dogs’ oeuvre: a flyer introducing the band to Pacific Beach’s Headquarters club in August 1982.

“This was when we just started out, when we were in high school,” guitarist/vocalist Dave Ellison writes. “What an embarrassing flyer … haha! For one thing, we spelled ‘Headquarters’ wrong.

“For another, we didn’t play rockabilly or r&b. We were probably trying to attract fans of the Paladins and Crawdaddys … and we probably didn’t care which, so long as someone showed up. (I can’t imagine anyone did on a Monday night!)

The Rockin’ Dogs at Saigon Palace

January 1, 2011July 18, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

Here’s a photo set from a memorable night in late 1983/early 1984 when the Rockin’ Dogs — guitarists/vocalists Dave Ellison and Sam Wilson; bassist Jane Bunting; and drummer Cole Smithey — took the stage with Noise 292 at Saigon Palace in what is now call the Gaslamp Quarter.

“The live color pics with Jane were the Saigon Palace!” Ellison recalls. “I was really sick, I had a fever and laryngitis really bad … to the point where I could do nothing but whisper for two weeks … so Sam sang all the songs that night.”

The Rockin’ Dogs: “Always on the Run”

January 1, 2011June 24, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

We’re spinning another sizzling Rockin’ Dogs hit requested by the Wallflowers’ Dave Rinck, this one from early in the band’s extraordinary collaboration.

“‘Always On the Run’ was one of the first songs we did,” writes Rockin’ Dogs co-founder Dave Ellison. “I’m pretty sure Sam wrote it before we started the band. It was always a part of our set … at least for as long as I was in the band.

“I always liked playing the lead on this one, but I think I screwed it up a little here. Oh, well … no time to do it over when you’re a young musician on a budget!”