Let me take a moment to introduce you to one of the most dynamic bands playing live performances today on the jam-band and festival circuits.
THE CANINE UNIT, hailing from Ft. Collins, CO is truly bursting onto the music scene with all that propelled the original jam-band movement that we fell in love with. 'American Cosmic Music' at it’s finest, this innovative band combines American roots rock with an original twist that references everything from roadhouse blues to hard driving, psychedelic, country-rock to a jazzy, improvisational sound that will keep you guessing. Look for well written ballads, highly danceable tunes, and lyrics that spell out memorable images to engage your imagination.
The Canine Unit has played just about every premier venue on the front range of Colorado, including The Mishawaka Amphitheater, Bellevue; The Fox Theater, Boulder; Trilogy Wine Bar, Boulder; Quixote’s True Blue, Denver; The Gothic Theatre, Englewood; Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, Denver; The Aggie Theater, Ft. Collins; Tracks Coffee Company, Leadville; Cactus Jack’s, Evergreen; and The Mountain Sun Brewery, Boulder (and there are more). They are planning on heading out and touring both “out west", and to the Midwest soon. They have shared the stage with Vince Welnick from the Grateful Dead, Leftover Salmon, The McCloskey Brothers, Shanti Groove, Mary and Mars, The Single Malt Band, Ekoostik Hookah, High on the Hog, and other fellow 'jambanders' and 'jamgrassers' alike.
This hard working, innovative band is a favorite opener for the legendary Leftover Salmon, and members of Leftover have joined in playing with Canine at their own shows. Leftover front man Vince Herman calls The Canine Unit’s music 'avant-retro hippie-tonk'. Chad Staehly, keyboardist and vocalist for the band, describes the band’s performances as “a matter of letting the higher power of music take over … letting the music play us.” Beautiful, forward rolling keyboards/vocals under Staehly, masterful guitar by Andy Gaydos, grounding rhythm guitar and lead vocals from Ben Meek, with thought provoking lyrics from all three, combined with Ed Hays on bass and Rob Colgan on drums, brings this 'big sound' band to the forefront of positive vibe music.
The Canine Unit has brought their 'American Cosmic Music', along with Vince Herman and Bill McKay of Leftover Salmon on a “Leftover Dog Daze Of Winter Tour” across the front range to The Gothic Theatre, Englewood, Dec. 11, The Aggie Theatre in Ft. Collins, Dec. 12, and to Denver at Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, December 13th. Dec.14, 2003 marked the end of the mini tour, culminating in a benefit show at Trilogy Wine Bar in Boulder for the Inaugural Event of the Mark Vann Foundation. The band played with many special guests, including “Dr. Banjo”, Pete Wernick of Hot Rize, and wife Joan, among others, to help celebrate the life of Mark Vann, banjo player extraordinaire, core member of Leftover Salmon who passed away from melanoma on March 4, 2002. The Mark Vann Foundation, among other things, works to help preserve traditional American music and the culture that surrounds it.
TCU is in it for the long haul and give a stellar live performance not to be missed. They continue to move the minds and feet of audiences in their ongoing path.
Band Biographies
Andy Gaydos, Guitar, Harmonica, and Vocals.
At a very early age, Andy had his sights set on being a professional pianist,
but his grandfather, after weighing the options (and possibly the instruments)
bought him an acoustic guitar instead. Andy played in many bands in the Midwest,
both as guitarist and bassist, in a broad range of styles from Jazz to Folk
to Funk. Becoming restless, Andy moved to the East Coast, then the West Coast
performing with many different music ensembles in search of his musical ideal.
He has found his home in Colorado as guitarist for The Canine Unit, bringing
with him songs and a wide range of ideas gathered from his travels, and his
raw and unbridled love of music.
Ben Meek, Guitar and Vocals.
Primarily a rhythm guitarist and songwriter in The Canine Unit, Ben was born
in Plymouth, England. He originally started out playing drum kit but moved to
guitar to develop his songwriting skills and unique style. He has collaborated
with keyboardist Chad Staehly for many years through several bands in Wisconsin
and Colorado.
Chad Staehly, Keyboards and Vocals.
Since the age of eight, Chad has been performing music in the theater, churches,
school bands, jazz ensembles, and in bars and clubs. He is a classically trained
pianist, but has also played saxophone and guitar in various groups for the
past twenty years. Chad began playing in rock and roll bands thirteen years
ago, primarily on keyboards and guitar, and has done some songwriting as well.
Ed Hays, Bass Guitar and Vocals.
Ed, originally from New Jersey, has lived in Fort Collins, Colorado for the
past thirteen years. As well as playing in several bands throughout the years,
he's had the good fortune to open for bands such as The Samples, Merle Saunders,
and New Riders of the Purple Sage. In addition to bass, Ed also has performed
playing six-string guitar and drums, and brings his substantial musical experience
to The Canine Unit.
Rob Colgan, Drums.
Originally from Toledo, Ohio, Rob has been playing drums in various bands from
coast to coast for the past eight years. Starting out on hand percussion with
Heavy Jelly and Ergot in North Carolina, Rob progressed to trap kit in 1996.
He studied at the Toledo Drum School, and moved to the West Coast to play with
various musicians in Oregon and California. Arriving in Colorado two years ago,
Rob has brought his unique influences from around the country to The Canine
Unit.
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