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Don Caballero

Some people start bands because they feel they have something to say. Others see band formation as a guaranteed path to free drinks and unprotected sex. When Damon Che formed instrumental crunch-rockers Don Caballero 15 years ago in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he had significantly different plans. “The only plan we had at the time was to come up with music we liked,” he says earnestly. “The reason we ended up the way we did was because, in our estimation, [the music] wasn’t ready yet. The opportunities to record kept coming up, and we didn’t want to waste them, even if we didn’t have our craft entirely up to specifications yet.”

Che might have had reservations about the preparedness of the music, but nobody was really prepared for the kind of efficient instrumental urgency DonCab generated. Mike Banfield’s crunching guitar riffage and Pat Morris’ bass underpinned everything so that Che’s indefatigable complexity—i.e., drums as lead instrument—was front and center. The band was instrumental by default, wielding a technical proficiency that could rival the staunchest prog outfit, but instead choosing to deliver a far more visceral impact.

Of course, like most things genuine and exemplary, DonCab were greeted by blank stares and confused looks similar to the ones a dog makes eating peanut butter. An early supporter pleaded them to participate in a city battle-of-the-bands contest. When the leader of the judging “panel of experts” heard two minutes of the band’s first single, he lifted the needle and said, “These guys need to go back to Songwriting 101.” Fortunately, Songwriting 101 got brushed aside so DonCab could expand to a quartet, adding guitarist Ian Williams; sign to the Touch And Go label; and head off to Chicago to record their 1993 debut album, For Respect, with Steve Albini at the controls. Many a fanzine writer and alt-weekly-residing tastemaker began describing the band’s complexities and Che’s rhythmic prowess as “math rock,” a term that, to this day, sits uneasy with the drummer. “I think we got to much credit for those particular aspects of the band,” he reflects. “We did have many twists and turns and hard-to-follow time signatures. But we were a much more simplistic mechanism compared to great bands like Breadwinner or Confessor. Much respect to them—I hope they’re not mad about it!”

The next 10 years saw the band generate an admirable body of work in the form of three additional albums (Don Caballero 2, What Burns Never Returns and American Don) and a singles compilation (Singles Breaking Up, Volume One), along with a series of bassists and the resignation of original member Banfield. And while the band were collecting their hard-earned share of accolades from indie rockers and headbangers alike, the creative friction between Che and Williams had escalated to reactor-melting proportions. "At that point, we couldn’t see eye-to-eye on anything,” says Che. “Ian and I are like natural-born enemies, like a cobra to a mongoose. People think that’s harsh for me to say. On a humanitarian level, Ian is, obviously, not my enemy. But on an artistic level, you’re godamn right he is. Looking back, it was kind of a miracle that we actually accomplished all that we did together.” While Che can listen to previous DonCab recordings without reaching a cringe factor, he is upfront about what exactly went into those proceedings: “In my opinion, those records are a product of one person getting their way, the other getting theirs, and the entire process getting deflated by a lot of boring compromise.” By the fall of 2001, Che and Williams decided that DonCab belonged to the history books, and the band fragmented.

Immediately following the split, Che kept himself busy. He signed on as bassist for Matador Records act Chavez for a brief tour; explored his guitar playing and songwriting in his side project, Thee Speaking Canaries; and got behind the drums in Bellini, an outfit he formed with former Uzeda guitarist Agostino Tilotta. Yet through all of these playing situations, Che felt that Don Caballero wasn’t finished. In 2001, he made the acquaintance of bassist Jason Jouver and guitarists Gene Doyle and Jeff Ellsworth, members of Creta Bourzia, a Pittsburgh-based angular rock unit who were long on musical talent and short on ego-tripping. The trio bonded with Che over music and aesthetics, and a friendship based in music was born. (Che played bass on a Creta Bourzia tour; Doyle manned the drums for some Speaking Canaries gigs.) Che broached the prospect of reactivating DonCab with them. Not surprisingly, writing and rehearsals followed with an intense fervor.

Earlier this year, while the quartet were recording in producer Al Sutton’s Detroit studio, Rustbelt Recording, they were approached by Relapse to become a part of the label’s roster. The connection is hardly unusual, considering that both band and label have histories of changing listeners’ perceptions of what constitutes “heavy music.” World Class Listening Problem, Don Caballero’s Relapse debut, exceeds the expectations of longtime followers, while also recognizing that calendars only move in one direction. Che’s playing is still equal parts tantrum and tempered, and the ambi-directional musings of Doyle and Ellsworth traffic in everything from engaging atmospherics to full-on guitar choogle. Tracks like “Palm Trees In The Fecking Bahamas” and “And And And He Lowered The Twin Down” are imbued with a refined energy, as well as a greater willingness to explore sonic texture. "We’ve come up with material that tips its hat to everything DonCab has done in the past while still having its own new, distinct voice,” says Che. "There’s nothing contrived here.” Not surprisingly, the new music also has its psychic benefits, as well. “We’re liking the music we’re making,” he says, “and as people, we’ve accrued more ‘get-along points’ than Don Caballero has ever had before.”

DonCab 2K6 intend to make Problems for everyone across the United States this summer, with plans to bring the noise to whatever global hamlet wants them. Owners of unkempt long hair and faded Slayer t-shirts—as well as listeners from the realm of white belts and Rod Stewart haircuts—are encouraged to attend. Don Caballero doesn’t subscribe to any “scene elitism” and hope no one brings that kind of psychic baggage to their gigs. A festival show in Paris found the band sharing a stage alongside such hipster beard-scratcher favorites as U.S. noisemongers Hair Police and British eccentrics Volcano The Bear. ("There were beards," Che says about the gig, "but they did make a fuss.”) But long after the last songs are played, and the 117th set of drumsticks are reduced to kindling, Che’s sole concern comes off as selfish, but is essential to Don Caballero’s mythology.

"The main edifice here was just to exist," he says. “To exist, thrive and enjoy the process. The fanaticism has to start with us before it can reach the fans.” - Jason Pettigrew

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All Don Caballero CDs are half price at Relapse Mailorder now through Oct. 31! (Relapse titles only) http://bit.ly/3PWpcc
12:24 PM October 15

All Don Caballero CDs are 50% off at Relapse Mailorder now through Oct. 31! (Relapse titles only)

Now through October 31st, the Relapse Records M...

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Oct 25 2008, 06:21 PM

DON CABALLERO: Sunday’s Berlin Show To Be Broadcasted Live

DON CABALLERO's upcoming performance at Festsaal in Berlin, Germany, as part of the band's month-long European Punkgasm tour, will be broadcasted live courtesy of new German media website Ligx.de. The performance can be viewed worldwide on Sunday, October 26th starting at 1:00 pm EST (7:00 pm CET) at this location and via the band's MySpace.

DON CABALLERO kicked-off this headlining tour last week in the Netherlands. The Plan B Magazine sponsored tour will also include inaugural stops in Norway, Luxembourg, Croatia, and Poland for the band and as well as a performance as part of the Hobaken Festival in London alongside FUCKED UP, PART CHIMP, SUN RA's ARKESTRA, and more. A complete listing of tour dates can be found below with more to be announced soon.

DON CABALLERO Tour Dates:

October 25 Munchen, Germany Feierwerk
October 26 Berlin, Germany Festsaal
October 27 Stuttgart, Germany Schocken
October 28 Zagreb, Croatia SC
October 29 Milan, Italy Music Drome (w/ NO AGE)
October 30 Rome, Italy Circolo degli Artisti
October 31 Ravenna, Italy Bronson
November 1 Turin, Italy Spazio 211
November 2 Bulle, Switzerland Ebullition
November 3 Belfort, France PMA
November 4 Paris, France Point Ephemere
November 5 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg Rockhal
November 6 Cherbourg, France L'Epicentre
November 7 London, UK 93 Feet East (as part of the Hobaken Festival)
November 8 Brighton, UK Engine Room
November 9 Bristol, UK The Croft
November 10 Oxford, UK The Regal
November 11 Leeds, UK Brudenell Social Club
November 12 Glasgow, UK Stereo
November 13 Belfast, Ireland The Bunker
November 14 Dublin, Ireland Whelans
November 15 Bydgoszcz, Poland Lo-Fi Festival
Sep 16 2008, 10:57 PM

DON CABALLERO: Announce European Headlining Tour

DON CABALLERO (Damon Che: drums, Jason Jouver: bass, and Gene Doyle: guitar) have announced the dates their first European headlining tour in support of their brand new full-length, Punkgasm. This Plan B Magazine sponsored tour will kick-off in mid-October in the Netherlands and also include inaugural stops in Norway, Luxembourg, Croatia, and Poland for the band. DON CABALLERO will also be performing as part of the Hobaken Festival in London alongside FUCKED UP, PART CHIMP, SUN RA's ARKESTRA, and more as well as the Lo-Fi Festival in Poland during this run. A complete listing of tour dates can be found below with more to be announced soon.

DON CABALLERO released Punkgasm in late August and have just completed their first US run in support of the album. Tracks taken from Punkgasm, "Lord Krepelka" and "Bulk Eye", can be heard now via the band's iLike or MySpace page.

DON CABALLERO Tour Dates:

October 15 Tilburg, Netherlands 013

October 16 Leuven, Belgium STUK

October 17 Antwerpen, Belgium Scheldapen

October 18 Haarlem, Netherlands Patronaat

October 19 Strasbourg, France Le Molodoi

October 20 Lille, France La Malterie

October 21 Koln, Germany Gebaude 9

October 22 Hamburg, Germany Hafenklang

October 23 Oslo, Norway Revolver

October 25 Munchen, Germany Feierwerk

October 26 Berlin, Germany Festsall

October 27 Stuttgart, Germany Schocken

October 28 Zagreb, Croatia SC

October 29 Milan, Italy Music Drome (w/ NO AGE)

October 30 Rome, Italy Circolo degli Artisti

October 31 Ravenna, Italy Bronson

November 1 Turin, Italy Spazio 211

November 2 Bulle, Switzerland Ebullition

November 3 Belfort, France PMA

November 4 Paris, France Point Ephemere

November 5 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg Rockhal

November 6 Cherbourg, France L'Epicentre

November 7 London, UK 93 Feet East (as part of the Hobaken Festival)

November 8 Brighton, UK Engine Room

November 9 Bristol, UK The Croft

November 10 Oxford, UK The Regal

November 11 Leeds, UK Brudenell Social Club

November 12 Glasgow, UK Stereo

November 13 Belfast, Ireland Black Box

November 14 Dublin, Ireland Whelans

November 15 Bydgoszcz, Poland Lo-Fi Festival
Aug 19 2008, 12:39 PM

DON CABALLERO - Punkgasm in Stores Now!

DON CABALLERO's brand new studio album, Punkgasm, is now in stores throughout the US! It is set for an August 22nd release in Germany and August 25th for the rest of the world. You can purchase the album via Relapse Records at this location. Also available for purchase is a deluxe gatefold double LP, a specially priced CD / T-shirt combo and LP / T-Shirt combo.

DON CABALLERO, propelled, as always by drumming virtuoso Damon Che, twists and turns through fourteen new tracks on its brand new album Punkgasm. Punkgasm explodes with all of the bands legendary trademarks: wildly inventive poly-rhythms; layers of looping guitar acrobatics; rich melodies and textures; and expansive compositions that evolve and unfold from start to finish. The albums more relaxed feel sees the band pushing their sound in a host of surprising new directions to create an album as equally gratifying on its first listen as its 50th. Punkgasm is a celebration of DON CABALLERO at its finest!

Additionally, you can catch DON CABALLERO on their upcoming headling tour with Ponytail on the following dates:

***All dates from August 19 thru 30 w/ PONYTAIL***

August 19 Arlington, VA IOTA Club & Café(purchase tickets)

August 20 Baltimore, MD Sonar (purchase tickets)

August 21 Virginia Beach, VA Steppin Out (purchase tickets)

August 22 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda's (w/ AN ALBATROSS) (purchase tickets)

August 23 New York, NY Knitting Factory (w/ AN ALBATROSS) (purchase tickets)

August 24 Allston, MA Harper's Ferry (purchase tickets)

August 25 Montreal, QC Club Lambi (purchase tickets)

August 26 Toronto, ON Lee's Place (purchase tickets)

August 27 Hamilton, ON Casbah (purchase tickets)

August 28 London, ON Call the Office (purchase tickets)

August 29 Pontiac, MI Pike Room (purchase tickets)

August 30 Chicago, IL Subterranean (purchase tickets)

August 31 St. Paul, MN Turf Club (purchase tickets)

September 2 Dekalb, IL The House Café (purchase tickets)

September 3 St. Louis, MO Bluebird (purchase tickets)

September 4 Cincinnati, OH Northside Tavern (purchase tickets)

September 5 Columbus, OH Café Bourbon Street (purchase tickets)

September 6 Pittsburgh, PA Mr. Small's Theater (purchase tickets)

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