Toby Gibson | The Che Underground

A Che Underground refresh: Ready for its closeup!

December 31, 2020 by Mmrothenberg

After a stint in rehab, Che Underground: The Blog emerges restored and refreshed, thanks to a year-long intervention by our own Jeremiah Cornelius!

Jerry has:

Untangled an overgrowth of outdated, damaged code;
Migrated the blog to a modern web host and an updated CMS;
And finally, reskinned the whole thing to allow readers to comment again and to avoid formatting snafus that had cropped up in recent years.

We’re going to be fixing links and outstanding formatting glitches in the coming weeks — so if you see something, say something (in the comments below)!

The quirky bits: Scribbles we love

February 7, 2018August 26, 2009 by Mmrothenberg

(Toby Gibson asks after our favorite filler.)

It’s fairly easy to guess that pretty much everyone who comes through this site is some pedigree of audiophile — many have already confirmed themselves as walking archives of music history and have shared some fantastic personal details and trivia.

It’s also fairly easy to imagine that I’m not the only person who keys in on tiny personal fragments (or funny quirks, or just neat bits) of songs that I wait for every time I hear them — someone talking in the background, either by design or unintentionally, funny melodic idiosyncrasies that stick in the mind to become that moment that you wait for.

Mike Woods, 1961-2009

April 23, 2012August 14, 2009 by Mmrothenberg

Toby Gibson alerted me to this obituary from the San Diego Tribune and to the comments on a related MySpace page.

Mike and Lori 2000 “Michael Dean Woods, 48, of Corpus Christi, Texas, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Thursday June 25, 2009. Mike had a rare genetic disorder, Porphyria.

Mike Woods “Mike was born in Oregon on April 1, 1961. He is preceded in death by his parents, Dean and Phyllis, who raised him in San Diego, California. Michael worked hanging drywall, he also made custom rockscapes.

Hobbies and diversions

January 1, 2011April 7, 2009 by Mmrothenberg

Having known most of you best during one little window of our lives, in a scene focused on music, I really cherish the opportunity to learn about the before, after and sideways.

Over the past year, we’ve heard a lot of passing mentions of folks’ extracurricular activities — the stuff they loved as kids and the things they like to do now. I discovered that I wasn’t the only aspiring magician on the blog, we’ve learned about Patrick Works’ fascination with Russian in general and Rasputin in particular, Dean Curtis (and others) have shared their epicurean enthusiasms, Toby Gibson (and others) have cited their affinity for matters aquatic … The list goes on.

So, open question: Besides listening to and playing music, what did you like to do then? What do you like to do now? Do the dots connect, or would the kid you were then be surprised at the activities that amuse the grownup you’ve become?

Photo paydirt from the garage

January 1, 2011February 7, 2009 by Mmrothenberg

“Hi Matthew,” writes Greg S. “Maybe you remember me. … Toby Thunderbird/ Lifehater/ Gibson told me about your site.

“I’m visiting the US and thought I’d dig up some old photos to contribute, which have been sitting in a box in my mom’s garage. … Wasn’t sure how/where to post them, so here they are.”

Monday, December 8

January 6, 2011December 8, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

Toby Gibson reminds us it’s been 28 years since John Lennon’s death. We’ve already discussed at length that very dark moment just before the Reagan era, but it was an event that affected many of us deeply, provoking black humor and profound sorrow and coloring our attitudes about peace, love and understanding. (I can still recall every detail of that other Monday night.)

How about if we change gears, though, and talk a little more about what Lennon and the Beatles meant to us? For me, they were the original touchstone for what being in a rock-‘n’-roll band was supposed to be. How about you?

Sympathy for the ’70s

March 29, 2019November 13, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

“Perhaps another thread for ’70s appreciation is in order, too,” writes Ray Brandes of yesterday’s post focused on the darkest aspects of our formative years.

Toby Gibson concurs: “While my dark, apocalyptic views of the ’70s (and my gritty black-and-white memories) seem negative, I wish I could go back for so many things that are gone now, and to get away from so many things that are just WAY worse.”

Let’s accentuate the positive! Many of us idolized the ’60s, but most of us spent the majority of our minority in the ’70s. What memories of the era warm you up when the modern world seems cold?

Ask not what Che Underground can do for you …

January 1, 2011October 18, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

If you were there, the Che Underground blog is your story, too. We’d love to hear and see your side of it.

Like PBS, we run on donations from viewers like you. This site is built on flyers, photos, audio and video from collectors including Kristen Tobiason, Toby Gibson, Cyndie Jaynes, Kristi Maddocks, Tom Goddard, Jason Seibert, Bruce Haemmerle, Mike McCarthy, Dean Curtis, Mark Mullen, Jeff Lucas, David Klowden, Cole Smithey, Bart Mendoza and Paul Allen. What rock-‘n’-roll treasures are growing crispy in your attic, your basement or your mom’s house?

If you can scan them or digitize them, great! If you need some help, operators are standing by … We’ll find you someone who can. Either way, raise a virtual hand here or drop a line to cheunderground@gmail.com, and we’ll get you started.