# 116 of 130 drummers I’ve seen and heard in my lifetime - Damon Che
Damon Che – Don Caballero
There was a CD Store in Winter Park called Park Avenue CD’s. Located on Park Avenue. I was a buying and selling customer. A great music store) I knew a couple of the staff. They knew about my playing music. One of the staff told me about a band that was playing that night. They were performing downtown at The Sapphire Club (it’s name changes seasonally) The group was called Don Caballero. He said the drummer was really good and I would enjoy it. I had no idea what to expect.
This was 2000. At age 50, I was feeling out of touch with the music presented in those venues. Don Caballero and drummer Damon Che was like nothing I’d seen in many years. I was totally amazed. Damon Che was unbelievable. I had a casual passing conversation with one of the guitarist, gave him my critique of what I thought I heard. It was similar to Phillip Glass, Terry Riley, Steve Reich.
With time signature math drumming, 2 guitars and bass. Minimalism but powerful) He said I had tagged their sound accurately. I had zero idea any bands playing like this Exist, in the world.
There was a large audience that night. It was a cult fan base that supported this group. I’ll say again, I had no idea this type of music was popular. The original origin of Don Caballero is Pittsburg. You need to see Damon Che play or watch his Youtube videos to comprehend his odd unorthodox physical execution of the drumset. He plays a double bass drum pedal very well. He uses multiple snares drums as part of his sound (like toms)
He sets and plays his main snare drum -very low- to the ground. His thing is abstract and brilliant. He guides the bands music through odd time signatures, variable tempos, beats, grooves, sound and silence. His drums and cymbals are tools for his expression. He has no drum tech changing the heads every show. Drum – Cymbal endorsement – I doubt it. Though he would be a masterful clinician in that world. I can’t imagine him in the Pearl, Zildjian, Vic Firth NAMM booth.
After my complete blown away experience, I bought some Don Caballero CD’s and discovered there is a genre called---Math Rock. Damon Che’s style has been tagged as Metal, Hard Rock, Punk, Jazz and Fusion. His drumming is a lead instrument.
I saw Don Caballero again at Wills Pub in 2006. It was a different lineup and the music was slightly less minimalism. I got close to the stage and noticed his drumset was on a large plywood board. The board had been designed with specific cutout trenches for each stand, high hat and bass drum. Keeping it from sliding or moving around. He plays very hard but, dynamically loud.
I use to nail my bass drum to the floor on stages in 1968. It was ridiculous. Buddy Rich carried his own wood board for his drums because of the acoustic reflection and rebound of sound, which he liked.
Damon Che has created a Don Caballero Official Youtube site. I just discovered his recent, within the last 12 months, post of him playing to tracks of Don Caballero. I’m watching one now, just amazing.