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Something intangible has got its grasp around
this town
It saps your will leaves you addicted to a helpless down
You'll bitch and moan and never fuck outside established ground
Doomed to play this movie over and over
You're old and getting older
---All My Friends Are Ghosts
Tired of You (LP 1999)
Scared of Chaka was almost my introduction to the Albuquerque punk
scene. That dubious honor goes to Triskadeckaphobia with Scott (Bigdamncrazyweight/the
Honeys) Parsons sitting in at the Golden West Saloon when it was THE vital
punk venue in town. But I did manage to catch them as openers for Chicago’s
Pegboy in ’94 or ’95 at the Golden. I didn’t know one from another back then
and having heard Pegboy only through a good review in the long-running zine
The Big Takeover, I at first thought Chaka was them.
It turned out, as much as I dug Pegboy, I knew that SoC was a band to watch.
And to watch out for. Like attention-deficit disorder kids disrupting a nun’s
classroom, their sets were always fun as hell with lots of audience participation,
with people throwing ice cubes at “Cisco” or trying to pull his pants down
while he was playing. About the time I saw them play in the alley off Silver
Street between Girard and Dartmouth, their first 12” LP was due. When I stopped
by Mind Over Matter (the best store on the planet R.I.P.) to pick up
my copy, Tasha --the gal behind the counter--said “They’re flying off the
shelf! ”. Indeed.
After that I saw them every chance I got but my fave shows were in tandem
with the Drags: different styles but fast, choppy and mucho fun.
Soon after, premiere drummer Jeff Jones (late of the Gracchi) had
moved on, replaced by Ron Skrasek. Ron had a harder time dodging projectiles
than the other two, being as he was a sitting duck in the line of fire from
fans/friends who wanted to show their love by clocking him with an empty.
No one could pull flying leaps like bassist Dameon Waggoner and in a buttoned
powder blue leisure suit no less, with dandy ties
and cravats to match. Dave/Cisco/Yanul Hernandez always had this impish
look on his face like he was up to something -- probably was -- that reminded
me of that “Little Devil” Hot Stuff from 1960s Harvey Comics.
Things got a little less manic over the years (especially after Dameon
moved on) but missing their shows was never a good idea, especially after
they moved to the northwest (where all good scenesters eventually wind
up, sort of the mythological elephant’s graveyard of bands).
In 2002 they hung it up. By that time the Drags were gone, Mind Over Matter
had closed shop and the end of the summer saw a mass migration from Albuquerque
of bands, musicians, artists and hangers-on in the wake of the Great Emo Deluge.
If punk wasn’t dead, it was hobbling around like that guy that missed too
many stagedives and hit the floor headfirst too often. No one ever expected
a Scared of Chaka reunion. Lucky for us, Pete Menchetti, who was contemplating
Sticker Guy’s fifteenth anniversary, had something to say about it…
When Daemon first hipped me to the reunion, I knew immediately
that the one guy that would be there for certain was Mike Bobroff.
The man’s been a solid-- if unsung-- part of the local (and inter/national)
punk scene for well over a decade, most visibly as a tour manager, roadie
and expert troubleshooter. I bet he’s bailed bands out of jail as well. Whether
wiping noses or kicking asses, Mr Bobroff gets the job done.
Scared of Chaka 3/28 & 29/08 the Underground, Reno NV
submitted by Mike Bobroff
I was asked to write a review of the Scared of Chaka reunion show which
took place in Reno at the end of March and I really don't know where to begin.
People from all over the world traveled to Reno that weekend for a brief bout
of nostalgia; many I spoke with were unsure of what to expect (including
Scared of Chaka themselves) but it turned out to be a great show nonetheless.
The set list spanned bits and pieces from their entire (yet short-lived)
career with the only exception being the Link Wray intro which threw some
people off for a minute.
RUMBLE/TEEN WOLF
I’M ATOMIC
WHY ARE YOU WEIRD?
TIRED OF YOU
ALL MY FRIENDS ARE GHOSTS
SCHOOLBOY
FROZEN OUT
SUBMARINES
AUTOMATIC
ROSE ROSE
YOU’RE FIRED
WHO’S TO KNOW
DECEMBER
WANNA MAKE IT HAPPEN
{GOODSKY}?????
TOILET DUCK
GLASS SOCKET
C’MON LOOKOUT
GIRLS LIKE YOU
HORSHACK
I DON’T WANNA
I MEAN BUSINESS
I am going to say that the Albuquerque representation was lackluster at
best. With the exception of Albuquerque transplants living elsewhere, the
number of people making the trek from Albuquerque numbered under 10. I'm
sure Brian Angel and Ryan King were there in mind and spirit as they were
huge Chaka fans as well. RIP.
It was great to see the folks I hadn't seen in years to include a couple
of the bands playing the weekend - The Bananas and The Gain. I wish Zoinks!
would have performed to round out the weekend and after seeing Greg from Swingin'
Utters it dawned on me that Scared of Chaka actually accomplished quite a
bit from a touring standpoint traveling the world without the benefit of
a "label" or booking agent. Pete Menchetti filled those voids for the first
couple of years.
If you wanted to throw in a list of bands that SoC played with in the 90s
you would see a pretty impressive roster of both indie and mainstream bands:
Swingin' Utters, Excuse 17, New Bomb Turks, Dillinger 4, Fifteen, Voodoo Glow
Skulls, Descendents, The Queers, No Empathy, The Drags, Grapefruit, Citizen
Fish, D.I., Groovy Ghoulies, Good Riddance, AFI, Jughead's Revenge, Husking
Bee, Sicko, Turbonegro, Blink-182...you get my drift.
Rehearsing with rented or borrowed gear proved a bit problematic as Ron
had broken the kick drum head but they were able to improvise, overcome and
adapt. Dave had his trusty old Fernandes guitar (which he bought with the
Hopeless advance) and Dameon played a thrift store bass while Ron played
a potpourri of drums assembled from other bands playing over the weekend.
The set was pretty straightforward with random shout-outs from the crowd,
Pete delivering shots to the stage and the set itself rolled through quickly
but rather than paying attention, I was too busy remembering where I was or
may have been when I heard them start a particular song or I would see a
face in the crowd from years ago and try to place a name... I was also pretty
drunk.
The next night we went to dinner with a bunch of folks like Chris Brownrigg,
Josh Gibson, Lacy and Whitney and then split up promising to meet at the venue
later. As it turned out, SoC jumped on stage again and played 5 or 6 songs
to close out the night. Once again, I was drunk (Dave and I were doing shots)
& had an early flight which I missed anyway but it gave me time to reminisce
the weekend - it was pretty awesome to be a part of something so special
if not historic. Dave texted to say thanks and that they should do it again...I
hope they do and I hope to be part of it again...maybe a bit more sober next
time.
The idea for as many reviews of the same show as possible has been
kicking around my pointed little head for but I finally knew this was the
one. I posted online pleas for reviews to no avail but the gal below found
me through Chaka’s myspace and for unfathomable reasons thought I was worth
befriending. I thought it wouldn’t hurt to ask. She replied with an immediate
and enthusiastic “yes”. Yay! Thanks, rudegirl.
Scared of Chaka 3/28/08 the Underground, Reno NV
submitted by Melissa
Scared of Chaka! Wow…I have been a big fan for about two years and they
are probably on my top 5 list of best bands ever but I never thought I’d
get to see them live! When my boyfriend told me they were playing a show
in Reno and we were going, I just about shit!
First of all the venue they played was fucking nuts there were two stages
in two different rooms!! I’d never been to a show where they switched stages
like that, it was nice though because we didn’t have to wait for each band
to set up…one band played, when they were done we went to the second room
and the next band was ready to play. I’d go back in a heart beat for another
super show like the one we saw! It was a nine hour drive but well worth it
when the guys of Scared of Chaka started! The energy level was amazing and
even though they repeatedly apologized for fucking up one song after the next…every
one of the songs sounded as good as they did on their albums if not better.
I’ve never had so much fun being pushed around by a bunch of smelly old guys
and tiny little chicks! I REALLY hope they do another show, if they do my
boyfriend and I will be front and center!
Thanks a lot guys hope to see you again!
If you know anything about me ,the next reviewer needs no intro.
And if you don’t, too bad. I ain’t talking, see?
Scared of Chaka, the Gain, the Spits, the Bananas 3/28/08
the Underground, Reno NV
submitted by Jamie D.
Around 2pm we arrived at the El Dorado Hotel where Dameon said they were
staying (all expenses paid for the band by Sticker Guy Pete) -- it
was a sweet hotel/casino with a billon restaurants. We checked in, dropped
off our stuff, then headed out for some drinks downstairs.
The El Dorado has twenty-six floors of rooms and as we’re walking back to
ours on the 10th floor, Dameon pops his head out of a room TWO DOORS DOWN
from ours and said, “Hey guys! ” What were the chances of that?
We were happy as hell! He invited us in -- there on the night stand
was his laptop set up playing some Scared of Chaka tunes and his bass on the
bed as he was practicing before the show. Over on the other table I noticed
a half empty, open bottle of booze. He told us Noelan had driven in with Gina
and Michelle -- they left Albuquerque at something like 11pm and drove straight
through. Admirable of them, as that’s a fucking long drive! The band
and a bunch of others (Bobroff too, I think) had dinner at Harrah’s
the night before.
Ex Albuquerque-pat, Anna who now lives in L.A. had also made it and invited
him to breakfast with her that morning (some chateau or something out of
town where the waitresses were dressed up like St. Pauli girls – which he
said was all so surreal to him.)
A few stories later, I thought it’d best we leave him be and let him get
back to practicing before that night’s show, so we headed back to our room…
but!… not without asking who the surprise band was going to be.
“So who is it, The Drags? ”
Dameon: “No, I wish!”
“The Gain, then? ”
“Nah. I don’t know, I couldn’t tell ya”, and then he winked. Ha!
It was The Gain! Awesome.
We got to the venue, Club Underground, at about 11pm and see Mike Bobroff
with Sticker Guy Pete at the front door. They were pumped (a bit hammered
already too) and we knew we were in for a treat. There were two
stages set up in two different rooms. A long merch table was set up
with boxes of LPs, 45s, CDs, walls of pinned up tees/posters, and buckets
(and buckets, and buckets) of free stickers from Sticker Guy.
The Bananas were already playing in the back room, so we only
got to see them play a couple of their songs. They were hard to see
from where I was standing because their crowd of fans was so thick -- and
fucking loud too. I heard them singing more than I heard Mike R.Mike on the
mic!
Ran into Michelle after we got our beers – she was beaming and said she
was glad to see some other Albuquerqueans. I looked around to see if I could
find any others I knew but didn’t. I was eagerly looking for Jeffrey (ex-drummer
for Scared of Chaka), two of his last band mates, Laura and Ash of the
Gracchi, and Joe Anderson of Launchpad -- where the hell was Joe? Neither
were anywhere to be found. My heart sank a little. Okay, a lot (although
it's understandable that Joe might not've been able to make it out since the
'pad got torched from the Golden West fire).
Riffage was heard, which woke me right out of that depressing moment, and
it was off to the next room for The Spits who came out dressed in white
sheets and Ron Reagan masks. I found a chair near the stage and stood on
it to shoot some pics when someone came up and hugged my legs… it was Noelan!
Goddamn, I was glad to see him! Anna showed up a few minutes later but I
couldn’t hear a word she was saying – the Spits were awfully loud (in a
good way!) Shit, those guys were so fun and I was wishing the Sodos
sisters could’ve been standing there with us to see them. After their blazing
set it was back to the other room to catch The Gain for their ten-year
reunion. Killer set (I’d never seen them before) and unforgettable
songs! I had to race to the merch table to buy one of their CDs. Also
picked up two 12” Spits records which were stolen later that night (when,
stupid me placed them down on the floor in front of the stage so I could shoot
some pics).
A nice intermission break to get more liquor, then it was back to the front
room to see SCARED of fuckin’ CHAKA! Fun as hell, loud as shit – everybody
knew their songs and sang them out loud while throwing their rebel fists,
slam dancing, and body surfing (yet, they were the nicest damn crowd of
fans I’ve ever been surrounded by -- people quickly apologizing for
bumping into you or blocking your view).
Horshack was the most requested and shouted out for after every song. When
they finally played it, all hell broke loose! Some guy ran up on stage, kissed
Dave, sang into the mic with him, then leaped off the stage and into the crowd
(I have this all on video for you to see). After that song, Sticker
Pete jumped up on the stage and said, “Hey, can I just say something real
quick? Even though these guys just totally fucked up that last song…it
SO did NOT matter at all!” Damn right.
Dave was full of energy and his voice is still the best ever, so is Ron’s.
Dameon was a bit mellower, I dunno, I guess I was just expecting giant scissor
kicks and jumps off amps from him. But I did enjoy watching him sway back
and forth so soulfully during I Don’t Wanna. After the show, we ran into him
in the hotel lobby -- he said he felt sick and had to go throw up in his
room then was on his way back to party some more. Rock and Roll!
We can’t thank Pete Menchetti enough for whom without, this epic event would
never have happened. So thank you Pete, your posse, Club Underground,
and of course, all of the bands (both nights) for a most rocking, historical
show.
Note: For everybody who missed it, we’re sorry you did.
And we missed you! But hey, you can see 4 videos I recorded that night
here on YouTube: http://youtube.com/jamie505
and lots of photos here: http://www.thewigwambam.com/28March2008withScaredofChaka.html
Scared of Chaka, the Gain, the Spits, the Bananas 3/28/08
the Underground, Reno NV
Hooked up with cheapass air tickets (the family discount: $110 for two
roundtrip), my escort and I flew in the day of the show. The catch was
we had to go to Sacramento but at that price it was still a deal even adding
the cost of a rental car.
With visions of all-night hot tub parties, leggy showgirls, tuxedoed high
rollers and in-room roulette wheels we checked into the El Dorado. As it turned
out, we wimped on the afterparty. Too, we were disappointed by the family
atmosphere of the joint. People in sweatpants and Pull My Finger tee-shirts
is an instant buzzkill on baccarat table fantasies.
I felt like some big shot journalist sitting on the extra bed in Dameon
Waggoner’s room, “interviewing” the rockstar before the world shaking concert.
More fantasies of Wayne County, Hilly Kristal and Bebe Buell popping in and
out of the room cocktails in hand were dashed as we quietly chitchatted about
his trek to Washington to practice with Dave and Ron before flying into Reno.
His laptop was playing Chaka mp3’s to which he was practicing bass, relearning
songs he hadn’t thumped along on for a decade as well as a couple from the
band’s post-Waggoner days to which he graciously assented. We soon left him
in peace and reverie.
Fine dining was to be had in multiple facilities throughout the hotel and
valuing a disco nap before the night began, we didn’t leave the place until
showtime.
After steak & lobster, we leisurely motored to the Underground in time
to catch the last of the Bananas, Sacto high energy power pop-punkeroos.
They were fun as expected but during the two or three songs we heard I was
busier checking the place out: two rooms, two stages, two bars and low-rent
enough to make ya feel right at home.
Sadly, the hometown rated a c-minus for repping this show. The only Albuquerque
faces in evidence in Reno were Mr Bobroff, ace drummer Noelan Ramirez and
Launchpad buddies Michelle and Gina as well as our old pal Betty Coed -- who
ditched us a few years back for sunny California and her mounting shelves
of Emmy awards. Later it was pointed out to me that one of Dameon’s numerous
SoC replacements Josh Gibson was at the show. He was ripping it up with local
manic punk heroes Blind Nine when Chaka first formed
Next on the front room stage were Seattle’s the Spits, covered in
sheets and rubber Ronnie Raygun masks. That couldn’t a’ been comfortable especially
for the guitar guy with a busted finger but they gave it their all and turned
the energy knob up to eight and a half with catchy and lewd retardo punkrock.
The special guest surprise band of the night was California’s the Gain
who played a teaser set of three or four hard-rockin’ pop punk songs, presaging
their Saturday headlining spot. By far the most professional set of the evening,
it rocked like a happy landslide and belied their ten-year absence from the
stage. Yeah, bands will come crawling from old-age homes on hands and knees
dragging life support oxygen to play unexpected reunions for Sticker Guy.
Pete, he’s a stand-up guy.
Scared of Chaka’s music has never had much to do with professionalism (unless
you count touring relentlessly, missing few dates and piling up stacks of
killer wax) but is fast, furious and fucked-up, just how I like it. Sloppy
was never as good as these guys, like eating a piping-hot half-foot meatball
sandwich in a moving car, one hand on the wheel and the other holding a warm
beer while trying to find something decent on the radio.
The only reunion show that could’ve gotten me more excited would be Johnny
Thunders back from the grave and maybe not even then.
It was Mach Go! Go! Go! speed from note one, me happy as a lemur and trying
to sing along to songs I could never understand the words to anyway. The crowd
was amped and leaping around like steelhead trout breaching a whitewater river’s
surface. Now this is the exemplar of what mosh/ slamming oughtta be:
no meathead thugs but boys and girls jostling about, happy as slopped hogs.
The Chakas apologized for missed cues, less-than-smooth transitions and general
mistakes but they needn’t have bothered. No one gave a shit.
As each fondly-remembered song started I began to think that maybe just
maybe they wouldn’t play Horshack, my all-time favorite but they didn’t
let me down, bless ‘em! If the Underground was already vibrating at inter-molecular
speed, this song catapulted us into superconductor amplitude to the power
of ten. I’d have flown all the way there and back just to hear this one and
died a happy man. It made me feel like I was umm thirty-seven again. Two encores
followed and we’d have kept them there until dawn if we could. Too bad I
was booked to give a talk on Sunday and missed their Saturday encore set
since there was no way we could get back in time for my appointment if we’d
stayed another night.
Curses! Foiled again! Still this one goes down as an all-time favorite show.
Chances seem slim but we’re hoping for more Chaka tour dates. Aw who am
I kidding, I don’t give a fuck about any place else, I just wanna see them
back in the ‘burque. Hell I’d even watch them play in the Golden West rubble,
which, come to think of it, would be quite apropos.
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