San Diego music | The Che Underground

The Morlocks: Live at the Swedish American Hall

January 1, 2011June 28, 2008 by admin

Just as Canada offered political asylum to Wallflowers artifacts over the past quarter-century, Croatia emerges as the sanctuary for sounds of the original Morlocks.

Drummer Mark Mullen last week received this track fresh from the former Yugoslavia — the first in a completely preserved 13-song show at San Francisco’s Swedish American Hall that was originally broadcast live on KALX. (Could it be this show from Sept. 28, 1985?)

Freshly arrived in town, Jerry Cornelius outdoes himself as MC. “That’s me,” Jerry writes. “Doing the intro in imitation of the Dutch band, Q65 — which the Morlocks worshipped.”

Get a job!

January 1, 2011June 27, 2008 by Paul Kaufman

(In which Manual Scan/Lemons Are Yellow vet Paul Kaufman revisits the day jobs of our misspent youth.)

You asked for it … There have been multiple requests for a post about the various jobs we held so that we could afford all the gasoline, musical equipment, hip apparel and rolled tacos that propelled the San Diego scene.

I’ll start the proceedings with two rather uncool jobs that I held; since both establishments are still in business, the names will removed to protect the guilty. The first was a small Italian eatery where I washed dishes. The work itself was OK, but there was a creepy and exploitative relationship between the owner and the crew.

Hair Theatre: “Nightfall”

January 1, 2011June 26, 2008 by admin

Here’s a keystone number in Hair Theatre’s brilliant repertoire: “Nightfall” is one of my clearest memories of this unforgettable band.

According to vocalist Sergio, this performance was part of a four-song demo recorded at the end of 1983: Hair Theatre’s second demo session and the first with lead guitarist Paul Allen.

“Nightfall” was recorded at Lab Studios in Carlsbad by James of Manifest Destiny. “James was very patient with us, very good,” Sergio recalls. “He was used to doing everything punk-style: one take and out. I insisted on a couple of tracks for my vocals,” and the band devoted multiple takes to making sure the sound was polished to a fine edge.

More Morlocks lore

January 1, 2011June 25, 2008 by admin

A Morlocks motherlode: Founding bassist Jeff Lucas has opened up his archives to Che Underground: The Blog! His collection of photos, flyers, lyric sheets and other curiosities spans the band’s earliest days in San Diego (summer 1984) to the dissolution of the original lineup three years later.

Here’s a showcase of Jeff’s collection followed by his notes:

The Rockin’ Dogs: “Always on the Run”

January 1, 2011June 24, 2008 by admin

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!”

Candid Wallflowers

January 1, 2011June 21, 2008 by admin

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?

5051 by numbers

January 1, 2011June 18, 2008 by admin

(Excerpts from an epic history of the seminal San Diego punk band by 5051 lead singer David Klowden. Read the full version in our Related Bands section!)

When I sat down to write the 5051 story, I realized that, just as with most of my girlfriends of the ’70s and ’80s, I unfortunately couldn’t remember the beginning or the end. Also, I couldn’t remember most of what happened in between.

So I located Sam “Topper” Kolzar, lead guitarist of 5051, and Matt “Guy” Silver, producer of 5051’s record. It was my first time talking with either of them in over 25 years, so it was fun to reconnect and reconstruct the 5051 years of 1981-82. Other members of 5051—drummer Joel Roop, guitarist Steve “Squirrel” Oberg, and Squirrel’s half-brother, bassist Scott Harber, are still at large. With the help of Sam and Guy, I offer the following slice of San Diego music history.

The Morlocks: Wake Me When I’m Dead

December 11, 2017June 16, 2008 by admin

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!

Rock ‘n’ roll high school

December 13, 2017June 16, 2008 by admin

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.

Noise 292: “The Assassin”

January 1, 2011June 15, 2008 by admin

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).

Listen to it now!