Species Being
Encyclopedia
Species Being was an improv/experimental rock band located in the San Francisco Bay Area from 1997 to 2002. This band is considered one of the forefathers of improv progressive music.
). The original line up consisted largely of musicians from the local space-rock group Beyond-O-Matic and other local psych-rock and jazz musicians. In 1998 the line up changed considerably and included Mike DiPirro on bass (Free Peoples, Soulstice, Radioactive), Jai Young Kim on keyboards (Secret Chiefs 3
), and guitarist Eli Good (Grassy Knoll). After the departure of DiPirro in 1999, Species Being included several new musicians to its rotating line up including bassist Kenseth Thibideau (Pinback
), guitatist Mitch Cheney (Rumah Sakit
), composer/keyboardist Graham Connah, and bassist Matt Lebofsky
(Secret Chiefs 3
, MoeTar
, miRthkon). This rotation of members stuck with the band until their break up in 2002.
Species Being self-released its debut Yonilicious in 1998. This album is a series of 11 vignettes strewn together to make a whimsical and wild pastiche of out-rock. Stylistically reminiscent of Soft Machine, Univers Zero, and other out-rock groups, this record was distributed in the UK by ReR Megacorp, by Marquee in Japan, and through other outlets across the U.S. and Europe.
The album was received quite well from progressive music and out rock audiences. Writer Pierro Scaruffi described it as “certainly one of the most challenging progressive-rock recordings of the 1990's”. MishMash describes Yonilicious as ‘a monster, and it's amazing how it all comes together. If you like your music on the edge, this one will take you there’. Mutant Sounds, Aural Innovations, Expose, Ground and Sky and other experimental rock media outlets have also given Yonilicious excellent reviews.
Orgone Therapy
Species Being’s second record, Orgone Therapy, was released in 2000 on the now defunct Innerspace Records. Much like its predecessor, it is a collage of material taken from recording sessions, this time at the legendary Radical House studio in San Francisco. Unlike its predecessor, it entirely improvised with no overdubs and instead of an out-rock style, Orgone Therapy is far more progressive rock in its approach.
Orgone Therapy has been called an ‘improvisational masterpiece’ by Ground and Sky. Gnosis states “It is amazing that the entire affair was improvised in the studio with no reworking or overdubs…..This one comes highly recommended.”. It received several accolades from the progressive rock community: the Gagliarchives placing it in the Top 100 records of 2000 and Aural Innovations naming it one of the top 5 releases of 2000.
http://www.scaruffi.com/ratings/2000.html
http://www.aural-innovations.com/issues/issue13/species1.html
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/reviews/r0900_104.htm&recommended=1&recommended=1&recommended=1&recommended=1
http://gnosis2000.net/reviews/speciesbeing.htm
http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/display.php?rev=sb-yon
http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/bobmarley/albums/album/280516/orgone_therapy
http://www.e-prog.net/albums/gagliarchives2000.htm
http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/wxyc-playlists/2000/000074.html
http://www.rermegacorp.com/
http://www.expose.org
Members
The band was started in 1997 by drummer Frank Grau (Sleepytime Gorilla MuseumSleepytime Gorilla Museum
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum is an American experimental rock band, formed in 1999 in Oakland, California. The band fuses classical, industrial, and art-rock themes throughout their music...
). The original line up consisted largely of musicians from the local space-rock group Beyond-O-Matic and other local psych-rock and jazz musicians. In 1998 the line up changed considerably and included Mike DiPirro on bass (Free Peoples, Soulstice, Radioactive), Jai Young Kim on keyboards (Secret Chiefs 3
Secret Chiefs 3
Secret Chiefs 3 is an instrumental rock group led by guitarist/composer Trey Spruance . Their studio recordings and tours have featured different line-ups, as the group performs a wide range of musical styles including surf rock, Persian, Arab, Indian, death metal, film music, electronic music,...
), and guitarist Eli Good (Grassy Knoll). After the departure of DiPirro in 1999, Species Being included several new musicians to its rotating line up including bassist Kenseth Thibideau (Pinback
Pinback
Pinback is an indie rock band from San Diego, California, currently signed to Temporary Residence Ltd. The band was formed in 1998 by singers, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Armistead Burwell Smith IV and Rob Crow. Tom Zinser, Chris Prescott, and Mario Rubalcaba have all contributed drums...
), guitatist Mitch Cheney (Rumah Sakit
Rumah Sakit
Rumah Sakit was an instrumental rock band from San Francisco, California. The group was signed to Temporary Residence Limited. "Rumah sakit" means "hospital" in Indonesian .- Discography :* Rumah Sakit...
), composer/keyboardist Graham Connah, and bassist Matt Lebofsky
Matt Lebofsky
Matt Lebofsky is an Oakland, California based multi-instrumentalist and composer. Growing up in New York he studied piano/composition with Arthur Cunningham from 1978-1988. As a performer/composer he is currently active in several bands such as , MoeTar, Secret Chiefs 3, , , , and . He is also a...
(Secret Chiefs 3
Secret Chiefs 3
Secret Chiefs 3 is an instrumental rock group led by guitarist/composer Trey Spruance . Their studio recordings and tours have featured different line-ups, as the group performs a wide range of musical styles including surf rock, Persian, Arab, Indian, death metal, film music, electronic music,...
, MoeTar
MoeTar
MoeTar is a Bay Area, California based rock group founded by singer Moorea Dickason and bassist Tarik Ragab . Moorea and Tarik previously worked together in the more politically charged funk/pop band .-History:...
, miRthkon). This rotation of members stuck with the band until their break up in 2002.
Releases
YoniliciousSpecies Being self-released its debut Yonilicious in 1998. This album is a series of 11 vignettes strewn together to make a whimsical and wild pastiche of out-rock. Stylistically reminiscent of Soft Machine, Univers Zero, and other out-rock groups, this record was distributed in the UK by ReR Megacorp, by Marquee in Japan, and through other outlets across the U.S. and Europe.
The album was received quite well from progressive music and out rock audiences. Writer Pierro Scaruffi described it as “certainly one of the most challenging progressive-rock recordings of the 1990's”. MishMash describes Yonilicious as ‘a monster, and it's amazing how it all comes together. If you like your music on the edge, this one will take you there’. Mutant Sounds, Aural Innovations, Expose, Ground and Sky and other experimental rock media outlets have also given Yonilicious excellent reviews.
Orgone Therapy
Species Being’s second record, Orgone Therapy, was released in 2000 on the now defunct Innerspace Records. Much like its predecessor, it is a collage of material taken from recording sessions, this time at the legendary Radical House studio in San Francisco. Unlike its predecessor, it entirely improvised with no overdubs and instead of an out-rock style, Orgone Therapy is far more progressive rock in its approach.
Orgone Therapy has been called an ‘improvisational masterpiece’ by Ground and Sky. Gnosis states “It is amazing that the entire affair was improvised in the studio with no reworking or overdubs…..This one comes highly recommended.”. It received several accolades from the progressive rock community: the Gagliarchives placing it in the Top 100 records of 2000 and Aural Innovations naming it one of the top 5 releases of 2000.
The Break Up
After several years of touring and two promising releases, Species Being broke up in 2002. Drummer Frank Grau had joined Sleepytime Gorilla Museum in 2001. Shortly after joining, he had taken on the task of co-releasing SGM’s debut release Grand Opening and Closing, as well as the booking and management chores for the band. These new found responsibilities and Sleepytime's initial success caused the touring and recording of schedule of Species Being to grind to a halt. In spite of its bright future, Grau felt strongly compelled to put all of his efforts into SGM and broke up Species Being in 2002.Sources
http://www.scaruffi.com/vol5/species.html#orghttp://www.scaruffi.com/ratings/2000.html
http://www.aural-innovations.com/issues/issue13/species1.html
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/reviews/r0900_104.htm&recommended=1&recommended=1&recommended=1&recommended=1
http://gnosis2000.net/reviews/speciesbeing.htm
http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/display.php?rev=sb-yon
http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/bobmarley/albums/album/280516/orgone_therapy
http://www.e-prog.net/albums/gagliarchives2000.htm
http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/wxyc-playlists/2000/000074.html
http://www.rermegacorp.com/
http://www.expose.org