Damon Che
Encyclopedia
Damon Che is a rock drummer
and guitarist
. He has made significant contributions to indie rock
and progressive rock
through his work with math rock
pioneers Don Caballero
since 1991. His style is heavily influenced by metal, hard rock
, punk
, jazz
, and fusion
.
Che utilizes a hard-hitting yet flowing extrovert style of drumming that combines the syncopation of Stewart Copeland
, the backbeat of John Bonham
, and the bombast of Keith Moon
. In Don Caballero, his drumming takes more of a lead instrument role than just keeping time. There are many instances where the guitars would act as rhythmic foundation, while Che soloed freely on top.
band Syndicate, and then co-founded the synthpop trio Pynknoys (1985-1986), where he sang, played drums, and programmed the drum machine
. He then joined Pittsburgh hardcore punk
stalwarts Half Life. Che played on the group's seven inch EP Under The Knife (released in 1986) and participated in a Half Life reunion in 2003. Che rounded out the 1980s playing the drums with garage rock
band The Heretics and noise rock
band Punching Contest.
, the most recent of The Speaking Canaries' four albums, Che plays all of the instruments on all but three songs.
and bassist Pat Morris
. Between 1993 and 2000, Don Caballero released five immensely influential albums on Touch and Go Records
and played hundreds of shows, earning a reputation as the definitive math rock
band.
Che became notorious in the underground music community for his erratic and unpredictable behavior, from stripping down to his boxer shorts
to play the drums, to capping off a particularly brilliant performance by breathing fire
. Don Caballero's dissolution in 2000 was largely due to Che's on-stage outbursts and tensions between Che and guitarist Ian Williams
. In recent years Che has been rather hostile to Williams in the press, further putting to rest the hopes of a reunion of the "classic" Don Cab lineup.
guitarist Agostino Tilotta under the moniker "Bellini". This collaboration grew to include singer Giovanna Cacciola and bassist Matthew Taylor, and produced a startling debut album called Snowing Sun.
In a much publicized incident, Che got into an argument with his bandmates during a show in Athens, Georgia while touring in support of Snowing Sun in October 2002 and proceeded to pack up his gear and drive the band's van to Chicago alone, leaving the others stranded. The remaining members of Bellini promptly replaced Che with Girls Against Boys
drummer Alexis Fleisig, borrowed a van from the band OXES
and managed to complete the tour. Damon Che has not worked with Bellini since.
. Punkgasm
followed in 2008, featuring Che's guitar skills on the title track and his lead vocals on several songs.
"Oh Suzanna" on the 2001 Monitor Records compilation Membranophonics.
Export drum kit with a Ludwig
Power Piccolo snare
and a selection of oversized, inexpensive cymbal
s, often augmented by Rototom
s, an auxiliary snare drum and a cowbell. His main snare is memorable for its distinctive "toonk" sound, reminiscent of Alex Van Halen
's snare sound. Che would nail his bass drum
and pedals to the stage á la Elvin Jones
until 2000, when he began using a custom-made plywood board to hold his drum kit in place during live performances. He is also known to set his snare very low to the ground, possibly to accommodate his long arms.
The setup listed below reflects the equipment Che played on World Class Listening Problem and subsequent American tours. Che appears to rent most of his equipment when touring overseas.
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
. He has made significant contributions to indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
and progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
through his work with math rock
Math rock
Math rock is a rhythmically complex guitar-based style of experimental rock that emerged in the 1980s and that was very influenced by progressive rock like King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Henry Cow - and 20th century composers such as Steve Reich and John Cage...
pioneers Don Caballero
Don Caballero
Don Caballero are an American rock group from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The group took their name from the character Guy Caballero, portrayed by Joe Flaherty, on the sketch comedy show Second City Television...
since 1991. His style is heavily influenced by metal, hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
, punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, and fusion
Fusion (music)
A fusion genre is music that combines two or more styles. For example, rock and roll originally developed as a fusion of blues, gospel and country music. The main characteristics of fusion genres are variations in tempo, rhythm, i a sometimes the use of long musical "journeys" that can be divided...
.
Che utilizes a hard-hitting yet flowing extrovert style of drumming that combines the syncopation of Stewart Copeland
Stewart Copeland
Stewart Armstrong Copeland is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the band The Police. During the group's extended hiatus from the mid-1980s to 2007, he played in other bands and composed soundtracks...
, the backbeat of John Bonham
John Bonham
John Henry Bonham was an English musician and songwriter, best known as the drummer of Led Zeppelin. Bonham was esteemed for his speed, power, fast right foot, distinctive sound, and "feel" for the groove...
, and the bombast of Keith Moon
Keith Moon
Keith John Moon was an English musician, best known for being the drummer of the English rock group The Who. He gained acclaim for his exuberant and innovative drumming style, and notoriety for his eccentric and often self-destructive behaviour, earning him the nickname "Moon the Loon". Moon...
. In Don Caballero, his drumming takes more of a lead instrument role than just keeping time. There are many instances where the guitars would act as rhythmic foundation, while Che soloed freely on top.
Early career
Che received his first drum kit at the age of fourteen. While in high school, he drummed for the New WaveNew Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band Syndicate, and then co-founded the synthpop trio Pynknoys (1985-1986), where he sang, played drums, and programmed the drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
. He then joined Pittsburgh hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
stalwarts Half Life. Che played on the group's seven inch EP Under The Knife (released in 1986) and participated in a Half Life reunion in 2003. Che rounded out the 1980s playing the drums with garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
band The Heretics and noise rock
Noise rock
Noise rock describes a style of post-punk rock music that became prominent in the 1980s. Noise rock makes use of the traditional instrumentation and iconography of rock, but incorporates atonality and especially dissonance, and also frequently discards usual songwriting conventions.-Style:Noise...
band Punching Contest.
With The Speaking Canaries
Che formed The Speaking Canaries in 1991, some months before he formed Don Caballero. Unlike all his previous bands in which he was the drummer, Damon Che sings and plays guitar with the Canaries. On Get Out Alive: The Last Type StoryGet Out Alive: The Last Type Story
Get Out Alive: The Last Type Story is the fourth album from The Speaking Canaries, a Pittsburgh-based indie rock band.-Track listing:#"I Wear Glasses in the Most Brutal Sport Ever Invented" - 2:55#"Menopause Diaries" - 4:47#"Last Type" - 4:29...
, the most recent of The Speaking Canaries' four albums, Che plays all of the instruments on all but three songs.
With Don Caballero
Che formed Don Caballero in late 1991 with guitarist Mike BanfieldMike Banfield
Mike Banfield is a rock guitarist.Banfield was a founding member of math rock pioneers Don Caballero, playing guitar with the band from 1991 to 1998. Prior to that, Banfield was a member of the popular State College, Pennsylvania band Slag...
and bassist Pat Morris
Pat Morris
Patrick Morris is a bass guitarist.Morris was a founding member of the math rock pioneers Don Caballero. Also played guitar in the Northern Bushmen and bass in Six Horse...
. Between 1993 and 2000, Don Caballero released five immensely influential albums on Touch and Go Records
Touch and Go Records
Touch and Go Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois, USA.After its genesis as a hand-made fanzine in 1979, it grew into one of the key record labels in the American 1980s alternative and underground rock scenes, Touch & Go carved out a reputation for releasing adventurous...
and played hundreds of shows, earning a reputation as the definitive math rock
Math rock
Math rock is a rhythmically complex guitar-based style of experimental rock that emerged in the 1980s and that was very influenced by progressive rock like King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Henry Cow - and 20th century composers such as Steve Reich and John Cage...
band.
Che became notorious in the underground music community for his erratic and unpredictable behavior, from stripping down to his boxer shorts
Boxer shorts
Boxer shorts are a type of undergarment worn by men. The term has been used in English since 1944 for all-around-elastic shorts, so named after the shorts worn by boxers, for whom unhindered leg movement is very important.Reasons for a preference for boxers can be attributed to their variety of...
to play the drums, to capping off a particularly brilliant performance by breathing fire
Fire breathing
Fire breathing is the act of creating a fireball by breathing a fine mist of fuel over an open flame. Proper technique and the correct fuel create the illusion of danger to enhance the novelty of fire breathing, while reducing the risk to health and safety...
. Don Caballero's dissolution in 2000 was largely due to Che's on-stage outbursts and tensions between Che and guitarist Ian Williams
Ian Williams
Ian Williams is an American rock guitarist. He became noted for his finger tapping guitar playing in bands such as Don Caballero, Storm & Stress and currently in Battles.-Biography:...
. In recent years Che has been rather hostile to Williams in the press, further putting to rest the hopes of a reunion of the "classic" Don Cab lineup.
With Bellini
Several months before the November 2000 breakup of Don Caballero, Damon Che began collaborating with SicilianSicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
guitarist Agostino Tilotta under the moniker "Bellini". This collaboration grew to include singer Giovanna Cacciola and bassist Matthew Taylor, and produced a startling debut album called Snowing Sun.
In a much publicized incident, Che got into an argument with his bandmates during a show in Athens, Georgia while touring in support of Snowing Sun in October 2002 and proceeded to pack up his gear and drive the band's van to Chicago alone, leaving the others stranded. The remaining members of Bellini promptly replaced Che with Girls Against Boys
Girls Against Boys
Girls Against Boys are an indie rock/post-hardcore band, originally forming in Washington, D.C. in 1988 and currently based in New York City.-Career:...
drummer Alexis Fleisig, borrowed a van from the band OXES
OXES
OXES are an instrumental rock band from Baltimore, Maryland. Their music has been called math rock or post-punk.OXES are part of what is known as "The Baltimore Rowdy Collective" which stages practical jokes, usually involving a confrontational and outlandish racket in public places...
and managed to complete the tour. Damon Che has not worked with Bellini since.
With Don Caballero (again)
Che reformed Don Caballero in 2003, with himself as the only original member (though Che is fond of pointing out that he has been the only remaining original member of the group since Mike Banfield left in March 1999). This revamped lineup completed several tours and in 2006, released an album entitled World Class Listening ProblemWorld Class Listening Problem
World Class Listening Problem is the fifth full length studio album by math rock band Don Caballero. Damon Che is the only member of the original lineup appearing on this record.-Track listing:# "Mmmmm Acting, I Love Me Some Good Acting" – 5:54...
. Punkgasm
Punkgasm
Punkgasm is the sixth studio album by Don Caballero, a Pittsburgh-based math rock band. Apart from the song count-offs, television samples and ebullient vociferations heard on previous albums, it is the first Don Caballero album to feature vocals....
followed in 2008, featuring Che's guitar skills on the title track and his lead vocals on several songs.
As a solo artist
In recent years Damon Che has occasionally performed and recorded as a solo artist. On Don Caballero's November 2000 tour, Che opened for the band with a solo set of live drums, looped guitar, samples and vocals. Che also played solo shows sporadically around Pittsburgh in 2001 and 2002. None of this material has been released; Damon's only official solo recording to see the light of day thus far is the "Moby Dick"-esque drum soloDrum solo
A drum solo is an instrumental solo played on a drum kit. A drum solo may be set or improvised, and of any length, up to being the main performance....
"Oh Suzanna" on the 2001 Monitor Records compilation Membranophonics.
Gear
Over the years, Che has consistently played a black PearlPearl Drums
Founded in 1952, the is a multinational corporation based in Japan with a wide range of products, predominately percussion instruments.-History:Pearl was founded by Katsumi Yanagisawa, who began manufacturing music stands in Sumida, Tokyo on April 2, 1946...
Export drum kit with a Ludwig
Ludwig-Musser
Ludwig-Musser is a drum and percussion instrument manufacturer that is part of the Conn-Selmer division of Steinway Musical Instruments.The first product made by the Ludwig brothers, William and Theobaldner , was a bass drum pedal capable of playing faster beats than was typical of products of the...
Power Piccolo snare
Snare drum
The snare drum or side drum is a melodic percussion instrument with strands of snares made of curled metal wire, metal cable, plastic cable, or gut cords stretched across the drumhead, typically the bottom. Pipe and tabor and some military snare drums often have a second set of snares on the bottom...
and a selection of oversized, inexpensive cymbal
Cymbal
Cymbals are a common percussion instrument. Cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys; see cymbal making for a discussion of their manufacture. The greater majority of cymbals are of indefinite pitch, although small disc-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs sound a...
s, often augmented by Rototom
Rototom
Rototoms are drums which have no shell. They consist of a single head in a die-cast zinc or aluminum frame. Unlike most other drums, they have a variable definite pitch. Composers are known to write for them as tuned instruments, demanding specific pitches. Rototoms are often used to extend the tom...
s, an auxiliary snare drum and a cowbell. His main snare is memorable for its distinctive "toonk" sound, reminiscent of Alex Van Halen
Alex Van Halen
Alexander Arthur "Alex" Van Halen is a Dutch-born American musician, best known as the drummer and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen. Originally, his brother Eddie had taken lessons for drums, while Alex practiced guitar...
's snare sound. Che would nail his bass drum
Bass drum
Bass drums are percussion instruments that can vary in size and are used in several musical genres. Three major types of bass drums can be distinguished. The type usually seen or heard in orchestral, ensemble or concert band music is the orchestral, or concert bass drum . It is the largest drum of...
and pedals to the stage á la Elvin Jones
Elvin Jones
Elvin Ray Jones was a jazz drummer of the post-bop era. He showed interest in drums at a young age, watching the circus bands march by his family's home in Pontiac, Michigan....
until 2000, when he began using a custom-made plywood board to hold his drum kit in place during live performances. He is also known to set his snare very low to the ground, possibly to accommodate his long arms.
The setup listed below reflects the equipment Che played on World Class Listening Problem and subsequent American tours. Che appears to rent most of his equipment when touring overseas.
- Pearl Export drums in black wrap:
- 13x6.5" Ludwig Classic Series Power Piccolo snare in Natural Finish
- 6" Remo Rototom
- 8" Remo Rototom
- 10" Remo Rototom
- 13x11" rack tomTom-tom drumA tom-tom drum is a cylindrical drum with no snare.Although "tom-tom" is the British term for a child's toy drum, the name came originally from the Anglo-Indian and Sinhala; the tom-tom itself comes from Asian or Native American cultures...
- 14x12" rack tom
- 16x16" floor tomFloor tomA floor tom is a double-headed tom-tom drum which usually stands on the floor on three legs. However, they can also be attached to a cymbal stand with a drum clamp....
- 14x5" "auxiliary" snare (possibly a SlingerlandSlingerland Drum Company-History:The Slingerland Drum Company is a historic drum company that is linked to the rich history of jazz drumming. The company was founded by Henry Heanon "H.H." Slingerland in 1912. Slingerland had won a correspondence school of music in a card game aboard one of the gaming boats that once...
Radio King in Blue Sparkle) - 22x16" bass drum
- Cymbals:
- 14" hihatsHi-hatA hi-hat, or hihat, is a type of cymbal and stand used as a typical part of a drum kit by percussionists in R&B, hip-hop, disco, jazz, rock and roll, house, reggae and other forms of contemporary popular music.- Operation :...
(ZildjianAvedis Zildjian CompanyThe Avedis Zildjian Company is a cymbal manufacturer founded in Istanbul by Armenian Avedis Zildjian in the 17th century during the Ottoman Empire. At nearly 400 years old, Zildjian is one of the oldest companies in the world...
New Beat OR SabianSabian (company)Sabian is a Canadian cymbal designer and manufacturer. It is a leading manufacturer of cymbals along with other top companies such as Zildjian, Paiste, and Meinl.-History:...
AA Regular top / Sabian B8 Pro Rock bottom) - 20" or 21" B8 Pro rideRide cymbalThe ride cymbal is a standard cymbal in most drum kits. It maintains a steady rhythmic pattern, sometimes called a ride pattern, rather than the accent of a crash...
(used as crashCrash cymbalA crash cymbal is a type of cymbal that produces a loud, sharp "crash" and is used mainly for occasional accents, as opposed to in ostinato. The term "crash" may have been first used by Zildjian in 1928....
- often a 20" Light Rock Ride) - 20" or 21" B8 Pro ride (used as crash - often a 20" Medium Ride)
- 20" or 21" B8 Pro ride (usually a 20" Power Rock Ride)
- 14" hihats
- Hardware:
- Pearl and Ludwig stands
- Tama Iron Cobra double bass drum pedal with Rhythm Tech vinyl beaters
- HeadsDrumheadA drumhead is a membrane stretched over one or both of the open ends of a drum. The drumhead is struck with sticks, mallets, or hands so that it vibrates and the sound resonates through the drum.-History:...
:- Remo coated Emperor on snare batter (tuned medium-high to very high)
- Emperor Snare Side on snare bottom (tuned very high)
- Coated Emperors on tops of toms (tuned medium low)
- Clear Ambassadors on bottoms of toms (tuned high)
- Coated Emperor on bass drum batter (tuned medium low)
- Evans black on bass drum front (tuned high)
- Pinstripes on Rototoms
- SticksDrum stickA percussion mallet is an object used to beat drums and other percussion instruments. Some specialized mallets are called beaters, drumsticks.Note: See Rute .-Drum sticks:...
:- Pro-MarkPro-MarkPro-Mark is a Houston, Texas-based American drumstick company owned by founder Herb Brochstein. It is a widely known stick company generally played in drum set, drum and bugle corps and concert bands.-History:...
TXDC10W marching sticks (played with butt ends)
- Pro-Mark