Species Being
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.
Members
The band was started in 1997 by drummer Frank Grau (Sleepytime Gorilla Museum). 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.
Releases
Yonilicious
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. 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.aural-innovations.com/issues/issue13/species1.html
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