The Smalls
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Headquarters | Edmonton , Canada |
| Products | Albums, live performances |
The Smalls are a hard rock and metal group originating from Edmonton, Alberta, established in 1989. They are distinguished by their fusion of jazz, hardcore punk, speed metal, and country elements. The band played a significant role in Alberta's music scene during the second wave of the Canadian west coast DIY movement, which was initially sparked by the hardcore punk group SNFU in the mid-1980s.
Overview
The band was originally formed by Derek Bevans and "Carigh" Brown, but soon stabilized with vocalist Mike Caldwell, bassist Corb Lund (hailing from Taber, Alberta), guitarist Dug Bevans (from Leduc, Alberta), and drummer Terry Johnson (from La Glace, Alberta). The members connected while attending Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton; Caldwell, Lund, and Johnson were music students, whereas Bevans studied art.
Recognition came swiftly due to their technical proficiency, notably Dug Bevans' rapid guitar playing and Caldwell's extensive vocal range, exemplified on their rendition of Natural Woman featured on their final album My Dear Little Angle. Caldwell earned praise for his powerful vocal delivery paired with a humble stage demeanor. Corb Lund later gained prominence through his country ensemble Corb Lund and the Hurtin' Albertans.
Although The Smalls primarily operated within hard rock and metal genres, their ties to the DIY punk community resulted in them often being categorized as a punk band. Their records consistently integrated a variety of genres such as jazz, country, swing, and salsa-inflected breaks alongside their hard rock and metal roots. They also performed covers of classic rock songs like Middle of the Road by the Pretenders.
Reflecting on their diverse musical style near the end of their career, Corb Lund remarked:
- "We’ve survived multiple scenes that others have attempted to classify us under, but we never considered ourselves part of any ‘scene;’ we never fully embraced punk, speed-metal, or rap-metal communities. People try to categorize us based on current trends, but we’ve largely ignored those labels."
Career highlights
Over twelve years, The Smalls sold more than 40,000 albums and cultivated a loyal following mainly across western Canada without relying heavily on label backing. Their tours included several trips to Quebec alongside GrimSkunk, and they became known for energetic performances that packed venues such as Vancouver's Commodore Ballroom. Their touring schedule extended into smaller towns; however, an incident involving a riot in Kamloops, British Columbia—triggered by overcrowding and police intervention—led to a performance ban there.
In 1999, The Smalls made history as the first Canadian band to tour the Balkans after the conflict ended, promoting cultural exchange. Bassist Corb Lund emphasized the significance of accessing these audiences. The group disbanded in 2001 after farewell concerts held in Calgary and Edmonton.
Recording history
The Smalls attracted industry notice with their self-produced debut album the smalls (1990) and secured representation from major Canadian management firm S.L. Feldman & Associates. Their sophomore release To Each a Zone (1992), produced by Vancouver punk producer Cecil English—renowned for collaborations with NoMeansNo and DOA—featured singles that enjoyed regular airplay on MuchMusic. The debut album was remixed and reissued with bonus tracks in 1993.
Their third studio effort Waste and Tragedy (1995), produced by Joel van Dyke (Wide Mouth Mason, Colin James), showcased a polished sound merging country influences with hard rock/metal. Promotional videos were created for "It's Gonna be Fast" and the lead single "Pity the Man with the Fast Right Hand."
Despite never signing with a major label, Waste and Tragedy was released through Cargo Records under a production and distribution arrangement with owner Randy Boyd, who had capitalized on Canada's indie rock market. Following Boyd’s sale of Cargo Records to entrepreneur Alan Fox, the company declared bankruptcy three years later, leaving The Smalls among creditors unpaid. Subsequently, the band transferred their catalog to Outside Music.
Although Cargo’s collapse posed challenges, The Smalls secured European distribution and embarked on their first European tour; this chapter was captured in The Smalls... Er Whatever, directed by John Stiles. Their final album My Dear Little Angle (1998) was produced by Glenn Robinson (GWAR, Voivod, Tori Amos, The Tea Party) and distributed via Outside Music.
The song "My Saddle Horse Has Died," a brisk country-metal track featuring layered vocals reminiscent of Ennio Morricone’s Spaghetti Western compositions, later appeared on Corb Lund’s 2007 album Horse Soldier! Horse Soldier!.
After the Smalls
Following his time with the band, bassist Corb Lund pursued a career with Corb Lund and the Hurtin' Albertans, a roots-country group recognized with a Juno Award and certified gold. Dug Bevans contributed to various Edmonton-based projects, including producing and performing on Steve Hobbins' Wizard of Words. Additionally, he took on the roles of Art Director and Composer for the 2011 Burning Man Trojan Horse installation. Drummer Terry Johnson joined Edmonton's hardcore outfit Secret Rivals, while vocalist Mike Caldwell fronted the country tribute ensemble Texas Mikey.
Reunion
On May 27, 2014, the group revealed through their official Facebook page plans to reunite for a performance at Edmonton's Sonic Boom Festival scheduled for August. This announcement was supported by launching a new Twitter account and sharing a promotional video featuring interviews. The band also performed at Calgary’s X-Fest in August 2014, sharing the stage with acts such as Jack White, Arctic Monkeys, and Death Cab for Cutie.
Members
- Mike Caldwell – lead vocals
- Corb Lund – bass guitar
- Dug Bevans – guitarist
- Terry Johnson – drummer
Discography
- The Smalls (1990; remixed and remastered on CD with three additional tracks in 1993)
- To Each a Zone (1992)
- Waste and Tragedy (1995)
- My Dear Little Angle (1999)
- Selected Works: 1990-2001 (2014 double-LP)