Of all the bands launched by the Che Underground diaspora, Hair Theatre was easily the most consistently active, gigging on the West Coast well into the 1990s.
This set of flyers from the collection of Hair Theatre lead guitarist Paul Allen spans a full decade, from 1984 to 1994. In the intervening years, the band underwent some personnel changes — most notably in the lead-guitar position — but they never stopped working.
Warning: Flyer #4 below is most likely Not Safe for Work (unless you work in a specialty bookstore or urologist’s office).
Hair Theatre MP3s:
Thanks for posting these, Paul. They are nice little memory jogs too, for clubs like the Roxy (about which there were many unanswered questions a few months ago), as well as the Rock Palace. As I remember, John Stoup ran Club Cult, and he was valiantly trying to create an antidote for the DJ-heavy dance music circuit which was taking over all of the clubs at the time. By the end of the eighties it was nearly impossible to find a venue that would book a rock and roll band. You’ll notice in the fine print he advertises “hard core music 8:00-9:30.” I’m sure that went over like a lead balloon.
The main thing that I remember about that club was the owner frantically checking everybody’s drinks for liquor when he realized John had booked an 18 and over show.
Awesome flyers… who did the artwork, Sergio?
And who was behind Blue Hammer? I remember the name… it seems like they put on a lot of shows back then.
That After Christmas Party?
Wild.
Ray you’re right -- we were trying to place that in an earlier thread.
That was the show where Hair Theater ‘clicked’ for me. All of their licks were tight and in place, little Sergio in his wild outfit. They were neither something atavistic or derivative. That said, there was a strong sense of ‘Glam’ in a ‘Man Who Sold the World’ fashion, and something ‘Doors-ey’ in the presentation -- mainly because of big Sergio’s powerful presentation. But they weren’t a ‘scene’ act or fitting a category that was well defined. They were very much a matter of the moment, despite identifiable references.
When Hair Theater visited in SFO a couple years later, I played their ‘Glass Brick’ demo for some L.A. friends. They thought it sounded very ’60’s! This amused me -- but I guess that was what most people would have said of a recording with identifiable snare sounds in the drum mix, instead of deep “whup-Whup!”
The environment for Club Cult, with the weird old ballroom stage, black & white checkered dance floor and mirrored columns was an amazing setting for that show. I can vividly recall the sounds that night. “I got a problem, No solution to my situation…” with Paul’s sinewy and slithery lead over Serge’s walking bass.
Shoulda woulda coulda. That was a band that outta have made it.
Jeremiah, I’m glad you remember that show so well. I wish I could recall these events better. I remember generally having a hell of a lot of fun during that period. Dave, I know Sergio did the 2nd and 4th flyers, I’m not sure about the others. I have a couple of flyers for Blue Hammer shows at the Rock Palace including another one for the 2.16.85 show that is signed Lee/Hammer.
Update: I posted the rest of the flyers I saved on my flickr page along w/some photos from the Che reunion: http://www.flickr.com/photos/polalyn/sets/72157620697320011/
why are there so many tags and very little text?..im just curious because i am Green regarding the computer..well anyway..the Anomic Jazz thing Caught my eye..two members of a Band I played in were in Anomic Jazz..but i couldnt find any text..i was taken back to the club cult daze..i liked that place ..the roxy?..if your talkin about Roxy west or whatever..its the place that was the Laffiette lounge..we played their twice..I liked Saigon Palace Better…it was also better as club ID
Well anyway..Clubs today,if you wanna call em that do not have what places like club cult had..it was nice to see the flyer with Assasin on it too..certainly not an underground Band..but worthy of mention
Didnt Club Cult Have a Cowboy style swinging door at one time?..yep..
and the Dance floor area was sunk down in the back.(Maybe i was just really Drunk) but they seemed to make creative use of the Limited Space their…it was a Cave………
>>why are there so many tags and very little text?
Mike: I try to give everyone cited in a post and the flyers and such it contains credit in the tags. When there are a lot of bands and musicians (usually the case in a flyer feature like this), the number of tags increases sharply.
Club Cult was a bit of a movable feast under whose auspices 3 Guys Called Jesus performed on an number of occasions, primarily at the Whistlestop.
Ok i understand that..thank you Mmrothenberg for answering..yeah i dug Club Cult..i remember seeing alot of the people from Club ID migrate their..it was to me interior wise set up the coolest by far..and the vibe was warm and “Cavelike”..i dont remember the mirrors but i definately remember the checkers on the dance floor..Thanks again ,,
I wish i still had flyers from when we played Saigon Palace,,id definately send em your way..i have a couple pics but not equipped to send via computer..if you have a po box or something…
Mike