the Morlocks | The Che Underground

The Ho Hos: “Snowball”

January 1, 2011July 26, 2008 by admin

This number ties up a few narrative strands and bridges the San Diego-to-San Francisco gap that defined much of our post-Che Underground history.

“Snowball” is a song I wrote for 3 Guys Called Jesus in 1986. It’s performed here by the Ho Hos, the mid-’90s San Francisco group of San Diego expats that comprised me on vocals and guitar; ex-Morlocks bassist Jeff Lucas; Robert Labbe (former drummer for 3 Guys, the Forbidden Pigs and myriad other outfits); and Steve Lam, a marvelous guitarist and vocalist who met us in SF by way of Hong Kong. (Speaking of musical Che-chairs, this was a dream lineup for me.)

Then and now: La Posta

January 1, 2011July 22, 2008 by admin

(Roving correspondent/ photographer Kristen Tobiason revisits and documents the scenes of our youth. Today, rolling with the tacos at La Posta, 2008!)

Ah! La Posta. Our signature Southern California cuisine. …. Craving carne asada at 3am? No problem. The mighty little taco shop, La Posta, on 3rd and Washington, is still going strong just as it was 25 years ago. (Twenty-five years?! Jeebus!)

Back in the day it was all the nutrition we needed. Next to McDonald’s five-hamburgers-for-$1 deal, (the Morlocks were huge fans of Mickey D’s), it was a cheap feast. Who would have thunk that today we would be eating sushi?

Later days at the Che

January 1, 2011July 12, 2008 by admin

Like many Che Underground musicians, I left San Diego in the mid-’80s (February 1987 in my case). However, the Che Cafe itself continued to host music by a variety of acts, many of them related to the bands that staked out the turf in the earlier ’80s.

Generous donors including Bart Mendoza and Bruce Haemmerle have sent me flyers from late-’80s Che Cafe shows. I’m eager to start making connections between the gigs of 1983-’85 and those that happened (at the Che and elsewhere in San Diego) after many of us here had decamped to San Francisco or other ports of call.

The Morlocks: “One Way Ticket” live in SF

January 1, 2011July 11, 2008 by admin

Here’s another piece of the Morlocks’ performance at San Francisco’s Swedish American Hall, captured by KALX radio on Sept. 28, 1985.

This live performance of “One Way Ticket,” which bassist Jeff Lucas has called lead guitarist Tommy Clarke’s “masterpiece,” closed that memorable show.

“I distinctly recall how the song’s signature stuttered rhythm would stick with you: out onto Market St., on the way home, and on for days,” recalls Paul Kaufman. “That was the best Morlocks show I ever saw.”

Musical chairs

December 13, 2017July 1, 2008 by admin

Packing so much musical talent into the confines of the San Diego scene pushed the Che Underground Mixmaster into overdrive. A couple of short years produced a dizzying melange of amputations, collaborations and creative explosions as assorted musicians formed new combinations.

Sergio of Hair Theatre sang for the Answers; guitarist David Rives from Noise 292 joined them for one performance as Painted Sun; Sam Wilson moved from the Rockin’ Dogs to the Wallflowers to Hair Theatre; Joanne Norris drummed for the Injections, Noise 292 and Everybody Violet; Crawdaddys and Gravediggers became Nashville Ramblers; half of our bands converged into the Morlocks; and Dave Anderson kept the beat for everybody else.

Many familiar faces (a few missing names)

January 1, 2011June 30, 2008 by admin

The Cyndie Jaynes Collection continues to generate a kaleidescope of images from the early-’80s San Diego underground … This batch features a shot I overlooked from the Tell-Tale Hearts’ performance at Dave Fest 3 as well as a variety of portraits.

Here’s a selection of Cyndie’s photos, followed by a list matching names to these well-loved faces. Note the gaps in the historical record; help us out here!

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.”

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 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!

The birth of Everybody Violet

January 1, 2011June 14, 2008 by admin

(Everybody Violet co-founder Kristi Maddocks reminisces about making the band. Read these excerpts, then check out the full account in our Related Bands section!)
I hung out in the San Diego underground late ’81 to early ‘82, but I wasn’t an out-‘n’-out player until 1983. After years of watching shows I began to assert myself as a writer, a poet — and a wannabe singer/songwriter.

It was like kismet: As soon as my old roommate moved out, Michelle [Krone] moved into the Madison Avenue place. Tired of being known as just “The Morlocks’ Girls,” Michelle and I looked at each other and said, “Let’s start our own band!” I would sing lead, and Michelle would sing back-up and learn the bass guitar.

Word got around the scene we were looking to become a legitimate group. A couple of days later, Michelle and I were introduced to Anni and Carina, and the great musical partnership of Everbody Violet was born.