I’ve been hearing that question a lot in the past few weeks as contributors to Che Underground: The Blog notice stories that have gone missing from our four-year document of San Diego’s underground music scene.
To put the pieces back in place, I’ll need your help.
First, a brief explanation of what happened: We suffered some security breaches to the old version of the blog. Our Web-hosting service noticed unusual activity and blocked the site. I did a quick fix to the database. We updated the blog software, and the blog was switched back on.
(In the first installment of a series, Che Underground: The Blog considers how a young San Diego show promoter became a Eugene, Ore., soup titan. Plus: a bonus after-party recipe from Mark! If you’d like your story told, e-mail cheunderground@gmail.com!)
The last time we were in the same town, you were playing in the Frame and promoting gigs in SD and Orange County at spots like Greenwich Village West, Big John’s and Club Cult. How did you move from there to the culinary arts?
I started at a steak-and-seafood joint as a dishwasher in Mira Mesa when I was in 10th grade, moved into doing salad station. There were all these “college” girl waitresses who would flirt with the new kid.
After that I got a job across the street at Chuck E. Cheese, doing pizza, and I would go out and do promos as the rat. My favorite was when they had me do an event for kids with Daryl Strawberry, then a Padre, who took me aside roughly when he thought I was upstaging him and whispered, “Take it easy, Chucky.”
(Just in time for Che Underground: The Blog’s fourth birthday, Gary Heffern shares an international collaboration featuring some of San Diego’s finest!)
Here is a new song by Gary Heffern & Beautiful People with lyrics written by myself, music by Rustman, and arrangement by Beautiful People: Selinda Shirley, Oulujoe, Mad Mulligan and Rustman.
It also features Ray Brandes, Joe Piper and Dave Fleminger on backup vocals and Ray doing some great harmonica as well. I thought if you would want to feature it on Che, you can do so and have first grabs at featuring the song.
(Dave Fleminger evokes the Answers of 1982 and extends an invitation to see the band this week with the Sidewalk Scene.)
During the summer of 1982, the Answers recorded a series of homemade demos in bassist Tony Suarez’s garage. The “Green Cassette” session was played and sung live to cassette, two microphones, onto a grungy used cassette tape (“JSL” brand) that was chosen for its green stripes and because we probably ran out of new tapes.
The 15 songs are probably directly taken directly in order from an Iblend setlist. The lyrics of the first tune on the cassette, “Ideas,” read to me now like a time capsule left for an uncertain future:
(Dave Fleminger revisits the sights and sounds of this cornerstone of the early-’80s San Diego scene.)
2012 still sounds to me like a year from the future (or perhaps a Rush album). But here it is, and here we are, and 2012 will contain the 30th anniversaries of many happenings already chronicled on this blog. In the spring of 1982 the North Park venue known as the International Blend was re-named The Kings Road Cafe.
Within an unassuming building on 30th St., an incredible stew of various musics were served up to an all-ages crowd. There were even after-school shows that felt like a continuation of some grand afternoon dance-party tradition.
Whether it was the Iblend or the Kings Rd., the decor inside of the club was pretty much the same: bare-bones and all about the music. The stage was immediately on your left as you walked in the door and in the back of the room was a pinball machine that would shout “The … Black … Knight … challenges …. you!” every couple minutes.
(Bart Mendoza invites you out for an evening of free music to celebrate the debut of “String Theory.”)
On Friday, Dec. 30, Wendy Bailey & True Stories will celebrate the release of their new album, “String Theory,” with an event at Bar Pink, 3829 30th St., in San Diego’s North Park.
For this special show, the band will perform two sets. In the first, the quartet will play the new album in its entirety, plus a few old favorites. In the second, Wendy Bailey & True Stories will be joined by special guest musicians for a run through of a dozen choice R&B and rock-‘n’-roll classics — a different guest for each song.
“String Theory” is the debut album from Wendy Bailey & True Stories, featuring lead guitarist and vocalist Wendy Bailey; bassist Billy Fritz; guitarist Bart Mendoza (Manual Scan, the Shambles et al.); and drummer Danny Cress (the Coyote Problem, Skid Roper and more).
(Bart Mendoza ushers in this salute to the big cat.)
Saturday, Dec. 17, The Casbah will be the site of the Pink Panther’s 25th anniversary party. Expect many familiar faces in attendance to celebrate the late bar’s brief existence. Founded by future Casbah proprietor Tim Mays, Peter “English” Verbrugge and Bob Bennett, the Pink Panther was the meeting spot for much of San Diego’s music scene during its run and fittingly, the night features an eclectic bill.
Opening the night will be the soul and rock dance combo The Amandas. Fronted by Amanda Suter, the band includes the ace rhythm section of Tom Ward (bass) and David Klowden (drums), with guitarist Jon Erickson, saxophonist Aaron Rossi and keyboardist A.J. Croce.
(Bart Mendoza remembers a friend and dedicated member of San Diego’s mod community, who passed away at age 44.)
The ’80s?
I couldn’t imagine them without Scott Harper. His passing last week is another devastating blow to the San Diego community and yet another reminder how short and unfair life can be.
Scott was such a part of my life for most of the ’80s, he was like a brother. Adventures were legion, he rarely missed a Manual Scan show and was instrumental in helping with the New Sounds festivals.
My fondest memories, apart from some nights spent in discourse over a few drinks, is the way he always pitched in to help with crises big and small. At events, whenever there was static, or a question about something being done, he’d always be the first to jump in and say, “I’ll do it.” Worth his weight in gold.
With that in mind, here’s a little salute, to the 100%:
And now, a little consolation for the injured parties in the last video. They can hum this little ditty to themselves at night, and muse that, at least George, once sympathised with their plight…
Pure Boom is one of my very favorite selectors. I met him through the Dubstep scene in San Diego in early 2009. Here though, by special request of Geeked, he’s playing roots steppers dub. Pure Boom is the only selector I know of who actually mixes this type of music, as it’s usually played “sound system style” (play the dub, flip over, play the vocal, no beatmatching). Heavy-duty mixing chops and super-sick selecting and programming skills, combine to make each of his sets a very special occasion.
I’ve been hearing that question a lot in the past few weeks as contributors to Che Underground: The Blog notice stories that have gone missing from our four-year document of San Diego’s underground music scene.
Here is 
