The(e) Speaking Canaries

This is a fan page I started because information/links/exposure/publicity to The(e) Speaking Canaries is pretty limited on the web: basically a few reviews and interviews you can Google, a link on the Don Fanallero website(for all things Don Caballero), and a MySpace page I didn't realize sprouted up 10 days before I put this one up out of passion/boredom on Christmas Day. The(e) Speaking Canaries are my favorite band in the same way you wanna marry the chick you secretly think might be cooler than you. It is essentially Damon Che's band where he plays guitar and sometimes sings. For those that may not be aware, Damon Che drums in a band called Don Caballero that has achieved quite a bit of renown and acclaim--lauded by countless critics as one of the most influential and groundbreaking rock bands of the past 20 years. For perhaps the same reason that Robin Williams is more famous for portraying Mrs. Doubtfire in "Mrs. Doubtfire" than he is for portraying Island Jack in "Club Paradise", The(e) Speaking Canaries haven't achieved the same level of notoriety. Despite a 4 Star review in Rolling Stone sometime in '94 for their mindbending "Songs for the Terrestrially Challenged" 2LP, the Canaries jawdropping-ly original, expansive masterpiece seemed to alienate most listeners for it's inclusivity. Seamlessly drawing from all over the rock road map, "Songs For the Terrestrially Challenged" created a sound-world both infinitely intriguing, and utterly unpalatable/unfathomable/impenetrable to record buyers (and many critics) circa 1994. There's a quote on the back of the "Opponents" EP (released in '96 maybe) which says: "Man, it's a good thing we're never breaking up," presumably Damon referring to the almost complete non-response of the record-buying public to "Songs for the Terrestrially Challenged." Years later "Life-like Homes" was released (I believe in 2000) on vinyl only, which gave the impression (to me at least) that the record was almost a gift to its existing fans. Sprawlingly physical, intensely emotional; "Life-like Homes" is a brilliant record, an album you live with as much as you listen to. Probably selling even fewer copies than "Songs...", it seemed that Che put more time (at least observably) into Don Caballero for a while. In 2004 "Get Out Alive: the Last Type Story" was released (on which Che plays almost all the instruments, incidentally). Basically a souped-up combined re-release of "Like-like Homes" and "The Opponents" with a few new songs: it's arguably the Canaries' greatest moment. Two versions of this record are available: the regular one, and the long version. I highly recommend searching out the long version as it's in my opinion much more reflective of the band. It's also got the best version of "Stuffed With Fear"-- which is essentially the band's coolest X Games trick. Met with universal critical acclaim by those critics that actually were aware of it, "Get Out Alive: The Last Type Story" garnered the band at least some degree of worthy attention outside of "Hey,isn't that the Van Halen band?" Karl Hendricks played bass(Karl Hendricks Trio/Karl Hendricks Rock Band) and the amazing Noah Leger(Hurl/Taking Pictures) played drums on the first two albums, with Leger contributing to all of the Canaries releases in some part. Che's supporting cast has shuffled a bit since then and though I believe Gene Doyle (Creta Bourzia, Don Caballero) is playing drums now, the status of the band appears to be again in a holding pattern. Rumors of a new album have circulated and some live dates have popped up from time to time. I'm just a regular dude, not a guy purporting to be some authority on rock history. But this band is amazing...and people should listen to them.