Here's a first entry for the new Che Underground YouTube channel: a 1994 desktop-video experiment by the Ho Hos, the band of San Diego expats I co-founded in mid-'90s San Francisco.
This production portrays a shortened version of my song "Gina Says/Infinite Prague," another recording from our 1993 Mr. Toad's demo session. (The video was ostensibly prompted by a long-forgotten MTV contest that compelled audio producer Jason Brownell to trim one verse and the solo, bringing it below the requisite three-minute mark.)
Hear the full-length version of the Ho Hos' "Gina Says/Infinite Prague"!
The contest provided a ready excuse to try our hands at some powerful new Mac-based video-editing tools, amassed for next to nothing by a team of tech-savvy and talented friends.
Lead guitarist Steve Lam directed the video; sometime Ho Hos manager Jan Lindner edited; Ming Lau and Todd Ferguson of Blue Waters studio donated the post-production time; Evelyn Miller, Ming Lau and Neil McManus worked the cameras; and my wife Nancy Tobin and I created the animated graphics.
Matthew Rothenberg (vocals, guitar); Jeff Lucas (bass); Robert Labbe (drums); and Steve Lam (lead guitar).
More Ho Hos MP3s:
Hey Matthew, did the drummer work at cafe Soma?
Good tune.
Good eye, Dylan! Yup, Rob worked with me at the Pannikin Encinitas, then brought his mad skillz to SF and indeed worked at Cafe Soma.
Thats right, Rob and I talked about the Pannikin and music(SD). I used to stop at Soma before work and after in the early 90's, they had a good jukebox.
I went to the Encinitas Pannikin once in awhile, beautiful place. Is it still there?
Near Juanitas right? loved Juanitas.
Dylan: We all loved Juanita's.
Encinitas Pannikin was the launchpad for 3 Guys Called Jesus, which Robbie and I were in with Steve Duke. It's still there -- I believe it's now bright yellow.
O'man late night at Juanita's after drinking on the beach, yumm!
Matthew: Wasn't there a moment in time when you considered calling the band "Pannikin Detroit?" (I was another Pannikin alum). Do you recall a party at Liz Ard's where we tossed names around with Steve Kirkham and Jimmy "Thrill" Quill. Does Steve Luvzit and the Luscious Dead ring any bells? Or am I just making that up?
Yes! Pannikin Detroit -- LOL ... If we could only have convinced Bob and Gay Sinclair (owners of the cafe chain) to franchise in Michigan!
cool song and video, Matthew. I thought that guitar was a violin at first...or a synth. Did you make any other videos?
Dave Ellison: Isn't it a great sound? Steve Lam used an EBow ... It could be corny in the wrong hands, but Steve definitely has the right hands.
This was our only actual video production, although we videotaped damn near every gig we performed. I don't relish the prospect of digging through all THAT! 🙂