Don Caballero

Don Caballero
American Don line-up; From left to right: Eric Emm, Damon Che, Ian Williams
Background information
Also known asDon Cab, The Don
OriginPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Genres
Years active
  • 1991–2000
  • 2003–2009
(hiatus:1995–1997)
Labels
Spinoffs
Past members
  • Damon Che
  • Gene Doyle
  • Jason Jouver
  • Mike Banfield
  • Pat Morris
  • Ian Williams
  • Eric Emm
  • George Draguns
  • Matt Jencik
  • Jeff Ellsworth
WebsiteDon Caballero's official Facebook

Don Caballero (often shortened by members as 'Don Cab') was an American math rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[2]

Although the band has had numerous lineup changes with co-founder Damon Che (drums and percussion) being the only constant member, the band's 'classic' lineup consisted of Che, Ian Williams (guitar), Pat Morris (bass guitar), and Mike Banfield (guitar).

Formed in 1991 as a trio, the band released two singles in 1992. Williams joined the band the same year during the production of their debut album For Respect which was released in 1993 to positive reviews. Morris shortly left after the album's release and was replaced by bassists Matt Jencik, George Draguns from 1993 to 1996 respectively. In 1995, the band under the lineup of Jencik, Williams, Banfield, and Che released their second album Don Caballero 2 to critical acclaim. After the release of Don Caballero 2, the group went on hiatus for two years.

The core lineup reformed in 1997 to release What Burns Never Returns to further critical acclaim. The following year, Morris departed again and was replaced by bassist Eric Emm. Banfield soon followed in 1999 and the band became a trio for the second time since its original inception. In 2000, Don Caballero released their fourth album American Don which featured a less aggressive sound than their previous albums. American Don received critical acclaim with critics considering it to be among their best work.[3] The band split the same year due to tensions between Williams and Che.[4][5] In 2003, Che reformed the band with guitarists Jeff Ellsworth and Gene Doyle along with bassist Jason Jouver. They released World Class Listening Problem in 2006 and Punkgasm in 2008 both to mixed reviews. In 2009, the band disbanded for the final time.

Considered pioneers of the 90's underground math rock movement along with bands Slint, Chavez, and Shellac, they developed a cult following during their career and are considered to be widely influential.[6][7][8]

  1. ^ Holm-Hudson, Kevin, ed. (2013). Progressive Rock Reconsidered. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-71022-4.
  2. ^ "SPACE CITY ROCK: Monsters of Post-Rock -- Don Caballero's Damon Che talks about the band's past, his present, and the history of doing stuff".
  3. ^ Don Caballero - American Don Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2022-08-01
  4. ^ Culturefly (2016-11-16). "Gig Life: Remembering The Final Dark Days of Don Caballero". Culturefly. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
  5. ^ "mycophobia's web site - The Final Dark Days of Don Caballero by Fred Weaver". mycophobia.org. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
  6. ^ "MATH ROCK RETROSPECTIVE // Don Caballero (1991 - 2009)". Fecking Bahamas. 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
  7. ^ "FOCUS // DON OF A NEW ERA: DAMON CHE AND ASH PEARSON ON RESTORING THE DON CAB DISCOGRAPHY". Fecking Bahamas. 2021-11-16. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
  8. ^ "POP AND JAZZ GUIDE". The New York Times. 2000-05-05. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-08-02.