The Deamon's Tube

archives: Top Players Choice: #9 for Keith "Krash" Adams - session 354

2011-09-14T13:01:00.000-07:00

As was mentioned in a previous blog post, Instagon played an epic Sunday night residency at the Liquid Den in Huntington Beach,CA between 2002 & 2004. One night, in December of 2002, a southern gentleman from Louisiana named Kieth Adams wandered into our Den..had a saxophone and said he wanted to jam, and so he was invited to play..and well, he just stuck around and came out nearly every week after that! We played a bunch of shows over the time of 2003 and when it was all said and done Keith had played 36 sessions with Instagon, giving him the #9 Top player spot. Currently Keith is on the East coast.. he still plays sax occasionally, but spends most of his time training and running in marathons. I got a hold of Keith recently and asked him what his most memorable show was.. and right away he started telling me about a night that Yod played.. and that we played a REALLY long version of Jazz for Satan and that it was really crazy...so I started comparing dates that Yod & Keith played together and there were only a few, and then narrowed in on a session from 2003, that also included David Chetkin on drums, & Zak from The TAINT playing with us too. I showed this data to Keith and he confirmed this was indeed the show he was thinking of.. and so .. now we present it to you for your enjoyment.

Instagon Top Player's Choice #9
for Keith Adams
session #354
August 17, 2003
Liquid Den, Huntington Beach,CA
http://www.archive.org/details/instagon2003-08-17.flac16

This was a Sunday night at the Liquid Den. We came to jam and drink beeeer.
Sometimes we would have a 2nd band play with us on a Sunday, this night was night that kinda night. The session was made up of players who had all experienced Instagon previously, so there was no new blood for the deamon that night...but we all were there and ready to have a good time.. well all except Zak Olson..who arrived late and only played for the 2nd set. The band consisted of DAVID CHETKIN (of the local band Frogdog) on drums, SEAN CAMPEAU on guitar, KEITH ADAMS on sax, LOB INSTAGON on bass & vocals, and later on ZAK OLSON on keyboards. The first set was pretty typical of sessions from this time period of Instagon...a couple of covers.. a couple of originals.. something new.."Ubertracker" was a song that we played during the summer of 2003 that only had 3 or 4 outings.. (this may be the final appearance) Also in this set there is a rare cover of The Who's "Boris The Spider", which only appears in the set every once in awhile (mainly if Chetkin is on drums), there was also a unique space/noise piece called "Area 51" that is exclusive to this set. For the 2nd set we got Zak all dialed in and added to the stage.. and he started playing around with his key board and playing the opening notes, with the right effects, for Pink Floyd's "Echoes" .. and so we joined in and explored into that calling it "Echoes23"..this is the ONLY time Instagon has attempted to play Echoes. The set continued on with one of Keith's favorite jams, "Thee Little Turtle" ...then a "Rock Lobster" ..a nice relaxing version of "Spider"...and THEN it happened.. the epic "Jazz for Satan".. it clocks in at 21 minutes!..during this jam there was lots of switching of instruments and people.. Sean played bass.. Lob played guitar.. keyboards.. Zak played bass..Sean played keyboards.. Zak played drums.. David played keyboards..and so on.. only Keith played Sax for the entire jam. The show closed in standard fashion with a jam on The Germs' "Shut Down".. but then came back for an encore with another noise/soundscape piece called "Liquid Dream" ..and then a cover of America's "Horse With No Name". This is one of my (lob) favorite songs ever..and I had totally forgotten about this rendition of it until i started uploading this recordings. This is the ONLY time Instagon has played this song by America. This session was recorded in the audience.. with a Mini Disc recorder..it was transferred to CD at home, and then just this month the original CD recordings were re-mastered for this posting. This is the entire show, it will require 2 discs if you are burning it. Click on the link above to stream or download this classic Liquid Den session from Instagon. THANKS KEITH!

archives: Top Players Choice: #8 for Don Rawlin (RIP) - Red Devil Lounge, SF,CA 2006

2011-09-08T01:11:00.000-07:00

Don Rawlin
1960 - 2010

I first met Don Rawlin in 2002 when I started booking shows for Jim Cline & the LIQUID DEN bar in Huntington Beach,CA. He was soon to be the sound man after our original sound man, George, passed away. He was a smokin' guitar player that had played with the local HB band POSSUM DETH, and also (he told me) had spent some tweaker time with Kerry King from SLAYER, and such had learned some amazing licks. We played over 35 shows together at the Liquid Den before he moved away to San Francisco at the end of 2003. We did not see each other again until 2005 when Instagon had relocated to Northern California and we invited Don to play with us in Oakland...it was great to hook up with him again and play a few more shows. Earlier this year, the news came that Don had passed away in 2010, another victim to Cancer. We were pretty blown away and sad by this news. Don was always a man with a big smile and warm energy. I am sure that there are those that were close to him that are missing him a lot. I knew him pretty good, but we were not "close" or anything.. and I miss him. Don played 38 sessions with Instagon, giving him the #8 Top Player position. I chose the show listed below as it was my first memory that came to play when thinking about Don playing with Instagon. It was the last show that he played with Instagon. He invited his friend Mutt to be a part of the festivities too.. and we had a blast. Chris Van Huffel of Sub-Arachnoid Space held down the beats for this show.. it was pretty silly, and fun. ..I wish we (Don & I) had gotten to play more shows before he moved away to Oregon...but it was not to be.

INSTAGON Top Players Choice #8
for Don Rawlin (RIP)
Session #422
February 17, 2006
Red Devil Lounge, San Francisco,CA
http://www.archive.org/details/instagon2006-02-17.flac16

Instagon applied and was accepted to play as part of a "Battle of the Bands" happening being promoted by a company called EMERGENZA Productions. The bands were coming from all over Northern California and the battles were happening in various locations.. the winner would see a show at the Warfield in SF, and get some sorta recording deal. (or so they said) .. the first round for Instagon was to happen in SF at the Red Devil Lounge. The Red Devil is a pretty nice venue, and so I was excited to play this show. I invited a group of ringers, hot players that would bring a great band to the stage and clinch our WINNING! . The band included Chris VanHuffel from SUB-ARACHNOID SPACE on drums, DON RAWLIN from the Oakland Raiderheads (official band of the Oakland Raiders) on guitar, and myself playing bass. Don suggested that we include his friend Andrew "mutt" Masonetti.. Mutt's plan was to put on devil horn's ..paint his body red.. and dance around on stage playing Kazoo while Instagon jammed. it was a good plan. i liked it.. and we went with it. We arrived and it was already pretty crazy.. , but they had a backline for us.. no load in.. just guitars and drumsticks.. it was cool. I explained to the MC what was about to happen.. and he was pretty confused. but took my word for it and introduced us. The ritual Invokation was short (as we only had 20mins to play in this battle) and launched into Deamon's Tube..which was solid..but slow paced.. followed by a wild & crazy Jazz for Satan. Mutt was totally into this tune for obvious reasons, and was chanting "Jazz for Satan" by the end of the jam. Don was playing amazing smokin' shredding guitar riffs, it was hot! We closed the set with a fun and bouncy exploration into Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust".. a song we have been playing occasionally for years, and the place exploded.. goes to show just what the power of familiarity and recognition is all about! There were probably 8 bands that fought it out that night.. we placed 3rd !! We were shocked and amazed...and we were accepted to move on to the next round!! We found out later that the next round involved us coming to the Bay area 3 more times before the actual gig for some reason or another...and that was kinda pricey (gas prices were soaring at that time) and so we kindly declined to participate in the rest of the "battle" ..but who knows..we coulda been a contender..
Click the link above to stream or download this show in its entirety, or listen to a song or 2.

the recording is an AUDIENCE recording.. and the crowd was loud and active, placing the recording device someplace safe and strategic was very hard, So there IS a bit of crowd noise on this recording.. but it is the only recording we have.
-/\-

archives: Top Players Choice: #7 for Chris TM. - "PITTSBURGH!"

2011-09-05T09:13:00.000-07:00

Chris TM. is one of the original 4 members of the "first" Instagon session. He was the local contact person representing TOPY in the area of Orange County when I first moved to Huntington Beach. We began our friendship, i think, in the mail.. me writing and introducing myself as an Active TOPY member that had just moved to OC from Las Vegas. Eventually we actually met in person...Our first encounter...i think...was a TOPY meeting that took place at the home of a friend..and then possibly at Vinyl Solution Records..but I remember the first time i went to Chris's apartment in Fullerton (where the first Instagon session happened).. it was this old 1970's apartment building..and the hallways were long and dim and it reminded me of scenes from Pink Floyd's "The Wall" film...and then this guy with dark black hair in a white shirt, like something Jim Morrison would wear, opened the door with this mysteriously mischievous grin. Chris was a fun person...and was very much part of the early conceptual passion that was Instagon in the first few years.. Chris TM currently holds the #7 position for top players with Instagon..he has played 43 sessions.. Which is pretty impressive when you realize the last time he appeared with Instagon was in August 1997 (session #147). Chris was there when the deamon was brought forth.. he was part of the ritual that unleashed the beast...Chris and I are still very good friends, even though he lives on the East coast now and we never hardly see each other (except for facehook). He lives a happy family life with a beautiful wife and daughter. we all here on the west coast, that remember the Chris tm. who was.. ...the shadow that lingers behind that mischievous grin wearing a leather jacket and boots...and we still scratch our heads and try to figure it out.
But the chaos and and mischievousness of the Chris Tm legend still continues as far as things involving Instagon is concerned...14 years may have passed..but that has not changed things much.. This show posted is actually Chris' 3rd choice. The first 2 choices were BOTH not found in the archives and may not have been recorded at all (although that is unlikely)...none the less neither of the original shows he asked for are currently available for posting. ..we are still searching..but they are not in the "official" archive location at this time. THOSE SHOWS are session #63, 11-25-94 Anomoulous Records,Whittier,CA - "T.V. DEATH", and session #55, 10-22-94 Metropophobobobia, Phoenix, AZ. . (these shows are NOT available) SO.. THIS show.. is TM's 3rd choice..

INSTAGON Top Players Choice #7
for Chris TM.
session #68
"PITTSBURGH"

January 15, 1995
Concourse Bowl, Anaheim,CA
http://www.archive.org/details/instagon1995-01-15.flac16

We somehow were booked to play a Sunday night "Rockin' Bowl" in Anaheim,CA. I am not sure if Opus booked this gig, or if I did. Also on the show were a band called BIG HIPPY PARTY, & our label mates from Insta-Noise Records, THE IRON ONS. The photo above is an ACTUAL photo of the inside of Concourse Bowl. The guy that we had booked this show with was the son of the owner of the place. He ran a weekly Sunday night gig that he booked local bands for, and he had no idea what he was getting when he booked Instagon. Ken Tuntison, who later worked a lot with Instagon at Club Mesa, he was there with other bands and was involved with the sound system too i think.. and so this was HIS first exposure to Instagon!! For this gig.. we planed to be very minimal..sort of a tribal sludgy dirge was planned.. it was going to be myself and Dan Young on percussion.. Opus23 & Myke Quest both on guitar.. Crow Mayhem on keyboards, and Chris TM on electronics and loops. BUT..on the way to the gig.. we were in a van.. i think it was Dan's van...we were driving down Beach Blvd. on our way to the show.. and we saw Charles Ardinger walking down the street.. we pulled up and told him to "get in the van" ..and kidnapped him into this performance. Upon arriving at the gig.. I proceeded to introduce myself to people sitting around the bowling alley. The question of the day was "What is your favorite football team?" I asked probably 3 or 4 people ..who refused to reply at all.. but finally one girl responded "Pittsburgh, that's a team... right?" and so this was to be our subject matter for the vocal. I returned to Charles and told him his topic for the night was "Pittsburgh" ..that is ALL that he was told. A few moments later we started.. and is what happened. About 15 minutes into the set.. the guy who had booked the show attempted to pull the plug and stop us.. as we were so noisy that it was chasing away customers..his Dad, who owned the place, thought it was a riot that we had duped his son into booking this "band" and forced him to deal with us and let us finish our set!..it was pretty funny.. eventually someone came forward with a tray of beers for us and Opus23 drop his guitar and rushed for the beer and the set was ended...in the 23 minutes or so we played we had nearly completely emptied this 80 lane bowling alley (that was full when we arrived) to only band members and a few die hards.. the other bands played to nearly no one (sorry). Another side note is that there were a few young girls (like 13/14 yrs old) that were at this show by chance one of them was a girl named Aileen Holmes, and a few years later she would actually become involved and play in a few Instagon shows herself! There IS video documentation of this performance, and perhaps if there is interest and a good way to share, this will be come available sometime in the future too.. but for now..here is the audio! Click the link above to stream and download this epic and legendary performance. Thanks to TM for choosing this session. PITTSBURGH! -/\-

archives: Players Choices: #6 for Charles Ardinger

2011-08-31T22:44:00.000-07:00

Instagon Player's Choice #6
for CHARLES ARDINGER
session #53
"A Live Noise Experimental Tribute to Theodore Giesel/Dr.Seuss"
September 23, 1994
The Natural Fudge Cafe, Los Angeles,CA
http://www.archive.org/details/instagon1994-09-23.flac16

Charles Ardinger, the Punk Nerd.. has been involved with Instagon since very very early on appearing in his first show in Spring of 1994...since then he has continued to be a part of the instagon experience whenever we have the chance to include him...he has a regular standing invitation and is always welcome. Currently, according the most recent records, he has appeared with Instagon in 46 sessions.. giving him the #6 position currently in the 10 Top Players list. Charles is a one of a kind person.. a unique character to say the least (and that is actually nearly an understatement) He is one of the very special people that has been drawn into the magickal vortex that is Instagon whom we are seriously happy to have been given the chance to work with. THIS show, that Charles chose, was actually a pretty easy guess as to the show that Charles WOULD pick..hehe it was his 9th appearance with Instagon.. He was the front man for the band.. we were doing Giesel .. if you know Charles, this is obviously a show that was conceptualized for him..and so it is one of his favorites..

During the first few years that Instagon was doing live appearances...we used to do this thing called a "noise/experimental tribute" ..and we would pick a subject, and they would be the subject matter that a conceptual based performance would be created around.. we did them for W.S.Burroughs, Charles Bukowski, Richard Nixon, Charles Manson, David Koresh, and a few others... THIS recording is just one such of these performances.. with our honoree being Dr. Seuss. The plan was to have a few sound artists with random instruments play accompaniment while a poet, Charles Ardinger, the punk nerd, reads 3 books by Dr. Seuss...this was the entire concept for the performance. But what happened was so much more.. and this recording does so little to convey just what really happened on that day. A few close friends and allies were present for this nights performance..
We drove into the heart of Los Angeles.. the east hollywood/silverlake side of town..if you are familiar with a venue called the IL CORRAL then this is exactly that same part of town..but long before the days of Il Corral. The space was called NATURAL FUDGE CAFE.. it was an underground legend in the LA area.. it was owned and operated by a woman and her husband.. and i cannot for the life of me remember thier names.. the husband passed and the woman continued to run the space.. renting to bands ..rockers, punks, mods, whatever.. she also sold cold sodas and was really quite an animated character in her own right. We, meaning Instagon, somehow got on a show with a few other bands.. i think Opus might have set this show up.. the other bands were high school aged pop punks.. we did not think this was gonna go over well.. but we proceeded anyways. On the mound for the deamon with me (Lob) was Sharon444 playing floor tom percussion.. Opus23 playing guitar.. and Reverend Andy Warthog (RIP) mixing noises and samples live with a 4-track cassette machine. .on the microphone ..reading the Seuss, Charles Ardinger. When Charles stepped out onto the stage space he was wearing his signature fedora hat..glasses.. a sports coat.. and black & red speedo underwear. .black socks.. hard shoes. it was QUITE the site.. (ANY PHOTOS THAT MAY EXIST HAVE YET TO BE SEEN) Charles took the mic and told us some fun facts about Dr. Seuss.. and then read Cat In The Hat, Green Eggs & Ham, and Hop Up Pop.. while the teenage crowd from the other band gathered and gawked in disbelief.. I remember there were a group of young girls.. barely of legal age i am sure.. they gathered together in front of the stage and got on their knees and bowed and praised Charles as he read the Dr. Seuss.. it was most incredible to behold.. and these sort of things really just cannot be made up. The performance ended.. I tried to engage the crowd in some dialogue about Dr. Seuss..but they were not really up for it.. Andy played some great samples and we faded away into the Los Angeles night never to been again at the Natural Fudge Cafe.

You can click the link above to hear this session or download it and hear it later. The recording is not the best..as its an old school walkman style cassette recording. you can hear me messing with the microphone in the beginning trying to get the best placement for sound before we start. So I apologize for the not so listenable quality..this posting is mostly for historical fact and documentation, which is just how it should be anyways.. enjoy the show!

Instagon 579 at The Distillery, Sacramento,CA 8-27-2011

2011-08-28T22:42:00.000-07:00

INSTAGON
Aug. 27, 2011
The Distillery, Sacramento,CA
session 579
http://www.archive.org/details/instagon2011-08-27.flac16

Megafauna are an awesome band from Austin,TX. They came thru Sacramento last January and played a show with Garage Jazz Architects. This time thru we set up a show with Instagon. The show was really fun for those that were there..but the turnout was not as happy as anyone would have liked. ce la vie.. we still played a strong show. The night started out with BUK BUK BIGUPS doing a ripping 20 minute solo set of really Dan Deacon inspired performance art... Instagon was next on the stage.. this time around it was all first time players.. with Kim Aparicio from The COMMON MEN on drums, Robert Kuhlmann from chikading! playing guitar for a change.. and Jasynte Harris from Set Theory916 holding down the keys.. Of all 3 of the new players, Kim was probably the most nervous at the start..but she did great and we had a blast! The show started sorta slow..but quickly built up pace and was pretty hot with Joyride leading the way.. Buzzkill followed, it was not as upbeat as past versions, but still cool..there was a really fun version Orgone Collector ..and I pulled out a riff called "Peaches" from the band The Stranglers for the first time. (its Hugh Cornwell of the Stranglers birthday this weekend), and a long rocking version of "Sound of the Night" to close out the set. . Little Black Bats were supposed to play next.. but they did not show up at all for the gig for some still unknown reason.. so Megafauna took the stage and mopped up the night.. Dani's shredding guitar and dreamy vocals made for great time .. thanks to everyone that DID make it out. Click on the link above to hear this set from Instagon.

Instagon 579, photo by Kevin Ian

here is a link to a video clip of "Peaches"
http://youtu.be/TrxfiNI8xz0

here is a link to a video clip of "Sound of the Night"
http://youtu.be/Tr-VpiX3b5w

here is a 2nd clip from "Sound of the Night"
http://youtu.be/QHyv6JSSIzw

archives: Players Choices: #5..(tie) Robert Fisher & Sean Campeau

2011-08-27T17:13:00.000-07:00

When we started this series of show postings,..these 2 players were NOT tied...but with last week's gig at Vega's in Old Sacramento (session #577) Robert Fisher has moved up one more notch and now he and Sean 'Yod' Campeau are both tied for the #5 spot.. The Fifth largest number of shows played by any individuals is 58 shows and currently both Yod and Robert are tied with this number to be proud of. So we asked both of them to choose a show that was their favorite memories of playing with Instagon.
Sean's first choice was a show from 1994 in Fullerton,CA at the Muckenthaler Museum. (session #37,4-29-94). This was a show that involved a procession of percussionist walking up the street to the Museum and into the grounds to the stage area...where we continued to create a tribal percussion with drums and wind instruments...soon a small crowd gathered that included random children that were VERY excited and into what we were doing.. soon we had the kids on the stage playing the drums and other instruments and WE were sitting on the grass watching. It was very very fun and well.. because of the nature of it..there does not seem to be a recording. This is one of those rare shows that does not appear to be found in our immediate archival collection. IF someday this show DOES find its way to materializing.. we will for sure share it.. but it does not seem to be available. ..and so ..we asked Yod what his SECOND choice would be .. and he came up with this

Players Choice #5 (tie)

for Sean 'Yod' Campeau

session #314
Dec. 22, 2002 -Liquid Den, Huntington Beach,CA
http://www.archive.org/details/instagon2002-12-22.flac16

The Liquid Den was a bar in Huntington Beach that was owned by Jim Cline, brother to Opus23. He hired Lob to book the bands for his bar...we had live music 7 days a week (when we could make it happen). Instagon played an 28 month Sunday night residency at the Liquid Den...nearly every Sunday night for almost 2 & half years , with a different line up and stellar shenanigans. Sean also worked at Liquid Den at the end of the run in 2004 as the sound man there.. but this show is from the early beginnings of this epic residency in December of 2002.. a holiday show. We played 2 sets. The players included all regulars to the Sunday night happenings, The band was Lob, Sean Campeau, as well as Liquid Den's then current sound man Don Rawlin (RIP)...sax man Keith Adams..and members of THE TAINT..Zach Olson & Jack Johnson. ..Sean said he chose this show because during the show at one point I turned to Don and asked him to start something from the guitar.. to begin the next jam.. and he started to play the xmas tune "Carol of the Bells" and it was the funniest thing he remembers ever happening during an Instagon... and we indeed continued on and played Carol of the Bells... as well as Little Drummer Boy...just to be sure everyone understands that the Deamon has xmas spirit damn it! Because it was the holidays, this show was played to nearly an empty bar..probably under 10 people witnessed this glory...the sounds of frogs and crickets you hear on the recording are put there.. We used to run this looping track of that audio behind us during shows like this just to add to the empty atmosphere as a joke. This show has been digitally remastered from the original recordings. It was previously released as TIF058 a 2CD package .. limited to probably 10 copies or less. This show as also dedicated to JOE STRUMMER (of THE CLASH) who passed away on the day of the show. Lots of great riffs.. first time songs.. songs we don't play any more.. and fun times in this Players Choice. Click the link above to download or stream this show.

Players Choice #5 (tie)
for Robert Fisher

session #173
Sept. 12, 1998 - PCH CLUB, Wilmington,CA
http://www.archive.org/details/instagon1998-09-12.flac16

The P.C.H. Club was a run down shack of a warehouse space in the industrial area of Wilmington, CA. near the waterfront on Pacific Coast Hwy. It was a DIY Punk venue that was run by a number of local Long Beach/San Pedro punks and was able to house shows for a few years before it closed or was shut down..I cannot really remember...but it WAS a place where a LOT of really great 1990's hardcore and indie punk shows happened in So Cal..it also was friendly to grindcore, noise, and just about everything else. It was across the street from an oil refinery that had flames bursting from the top of it continually around the clock..so the place for sure had that underground, anarchistic hidden clubhouse feel to it.. it was perfect. Instagon only played the P.C.H. Club 4 times, this was our 2nd visit. The line up was amazing for an experimental show at the time.. opening the show was PARAMECIAL WEDDING from Los Angeles (Joseph Hammer, Mitchell Brown, Tom Grimley!), followed by Huntington Beach locals THEE AHMISH (featuring Charles Ardinger,& Dr. Oblivious), and also the power of San Francisco's SUB ARACHNOID SPACE.. one of the greatest west coast space rock bands ever. Instagon also was happy to be including Mason Jones from SAS on guitar joining the band as well as EDDIE NERVO (DOG,DESTROY DATE), BRETT RUBIN, and also 2nd guitar ROBERT FISHER. Even though we are long time friends, this show is one of only 2 sessions that Mason Jones (Trance,SAS,Charnel House) has played (as of yet) with Instagon.
Robert said this show has always stuck with him as just being super spacey and groovy and a fun time..it was very lo-keyed and fluid and we just jammed hard. The first half of this show (up until "Forward") was full improvisation and without boundaries. Its not the longest show in the archive.. nor is it the shortest..but its very very spacey and worthy of your adventurous ears.
click the link above to experience this show.

Remembering Scott Wannberg 1953-2011

2011-08-22T00:21:00.000-07:00

photo by Mark Savage

Electric.
There are many words i would use to describe Scott Wannberg, but the one that i keep coming back to is Electric. He was a poetic Tesla Coil..he transmitted word energy.. when he came into a room.. you KNEW he was there.. when he took a mic into his hand.. your attention was commanded ..when he did the wiggly dance .. all the hippies swooned. When I was hosting poetry readings in 1993.. i became familliar with the Carma Bums and invited them to appear at Jam's Coffee House...right away when I met Scott we got along because we are both Deadheads..so we had that Jerry Garcia bond of life that Deadheads have.. and we were instant brothers. I had the pleasure of seeing Scott read numerous times and the honor of inviting and having him appear with Instagon .. twice! At the news of Scott's passing this past weekend, we decided that it would be the honorable thing to do to post these shows up to share them with those that are also feeling this horrible loss.. and also to share with those that may not have had the opportunity to experience the great mountain of a man that was as warm as sun-rays and as kind as music in the morning dew. Both of these shows are now posted and available for free streaming and downloading, just click the links below.

Session 194
June 6, 1999, Club Mesa, Costa Mesa, Ca
THEE WORD THING featuring Scott Wannberg & Raindog w/ Instagon
http://www.archive.org/details/instagon1999-06-09.flac16

Thee Word Thing started in 1993 at Jam's Coffee House in Huntington Beach,CA. it continued on thru various changes and locations to become one of the longest running poetry series in Orange County history. In 1999, Thee Word Thing was happening on Wednesday nights at a great bar in Costa Mesa, CA called CLUB MESA.   We had a great stage, awesome sound, a beautiful bartender, and a great place for fun and poetry.   On a night in early June of 1999 the featured poets scheduled to appear were SCOTT WANNBERG of the Carma Bums, & Raindog from Lummox Press. .with music provided by INSTAGON.

The reading begain with Raindog doing a long reading first.. then a short break while we set up musical instruments on the stage.. Raindog also brought a Yamaha Electronic Saxophone that he had played with Instagon previously.   Scott read next and Raindog accompanied him with the electronic sax.. Scott read 2 of his poems "Scarecrow" (for Matthew Sheppard), "No Mercy"...and then slowly as they continued on together..the rest of the Instagon band players appeared on stage behind him.. and then we were off together.. like Peter Pan on the wind.. nothing to hold us back. Instagon slowly crept into the stage and presented the Deamon Crawl.. and Scott dropped words about the monkey's in the brain of the president...and the "Crawl of The Monkeys In the Presidents Brain" was born..
This track appeared later that year on the Instagon "SPACE 1999" CD release...but that is not where this adventure ends.. Scott also goes on to drop something involving Radioactivity in the Lunchboxes of the Poor during a great version of "Forward".   and then lays down lyrics, Ginsberg style, over "Orgone Collector" about how Strom Thurman Came Thru his Chimney last night!    ALL of these recordings are seriously classic Wannberg..true word slinger, slinging words and not holding any verbs or punches at all. ..The evening closes out with a slow moving rendition of a Pink Floyd riff "One of These Days", and an improvisational excursion called Heavy Mental (only time played) Band players included Lob, Brian Comerford (guitar), Cary Pealer (percussion), Brett Rubin (drums), & R.D.Armstrong (electronic sax)

Session # 256
March 21, 2011
Club Mesa, Costa Mesa,CA
http://www.archive.org/details/instagon2001-03-21.flac16

Still going strong in 2011, Thee Word Thing invited Scott Wannberg & Raindog back for a second round of poetry and musical interaction. This time around however, no recordings of the poetry readings were made, and the band's set was not mixed very well and the vocals sorta are lost in the music...they ARE there. But for sure, there is no mistaking the voice of Scott Wannberg has he pierces thru the evening's chaos and groove searching with words and hidden political agenda. This show, poetry wise, is not as strong as the 1999 show., but the music is pretty strong and so we wanted to share it anyways. This session features the first time Instagon attempts to play Hendrix's Manic Depression. As well as the only appearance by local OC musician George Fryer, who created a new riff for the night we called "Red Spokes". Also included in this session Lob & Cary Pealer. Click the Link above to reach hear/download this show.

Instagon 577 at Vega's Nightclub, Old Sacramento

2011-08-21T18:59:00.000-07:00

Instagon
Aug. 19, 2011
session #577
Vega's Nightclub, Old Sacramento,CA
http://www.archive.org/details/instagon2011-08-19.flac16

Instagon played a SMOKIN' show to a room of a few friends and lucky peeps who happened to have stumbled upon it this past weekend in Old Sacramento for our friend Rick Vega of Vega's Nightclub. The session players consisted of long time friend Robert Fisher(Gospel Swamp Blues Band) from Huntington Beach (who happened to be in town with his wife and could play a show), Chad E. Williams, Tony Passarell, D.Ray Grisham, and local drummer Joe Carusi(Fish Cat Fish) playing his 2nd show with Instagon. This show was pretty amazing all around.. A new riff called "Obliviate" made its debut.. as well as a floppy excursion into The Dead's Shakedown Street (last time played 8-3-03 ses#352...225 show!) ..Brainwashed Love & Jazz for Satan were both pretty outstanding.. and a great version of Pink Floyd's Set The Controls (Robert's request) was also let loose....The night closed with Robert Fisher's traditional rendition of the blues classic "Cocaine (runnin all in my brain)" which had not happened since session #406 (171 shows) in November 2004. Click on the link above to hear this show. Free streaming and downloads are available

photo of Instagon577 by Tracy Fisher

archives: Players Choices #3 & 4: Opus23 & Dr. Oblivious

2011-08-17T23:08:00.000-07:00

As we continue our collection of favorites from the top players choices.. we move on to the number 3 & 4 positions.. and CURRENTLY at this time, they are a CLOSE race!!.

Players Choice #3
for Opus23

session #27
February 18, 1994, KUCI FM, Irvine, CA
http://www.archive.org/details/instagon1994-02-18.flac16

Opus23 (aka Justin Cline) was one of the early conspirators involved with the expanding the Instagon project into the hands of reality. He was involved with the planning and booking of the first live public performance. Currently Opus rides the #3 position of those that have played the most with the Deamon.. having appeared in 69 separate documented sessions.. and probably some that are not documented. He was a major player in the early days of the project and the many wild and crazy "conceptual" performances that Instagon did in those first 3 years were due directly to Opus' influence on the Deamon. He has not appeared with Instagon since Eugene Noise Fest in 2007. He currently lives in Seattle,WA with his wife and child and runs a wonderfully successful Ice Cream parlor called "Full Tilt Ice Cream". When contacted and asked about what his choice for his most memorable adventure with Instagon ..he choice a show from the early days that has become known to the initiated frequencies as "NIRVANA".
During those first few years of Instagon we were very lucky to meet and befriend a local OC collage radio DJ named Brian MacDonald (who also happens to live in Seattle now). Brian was hosting a 3 hour late night weekly show called "%$#&YER&*%TV" (Yer TV)..it happened on Friday nights from 2am to 5am.. it was live...and it was pretty much anything goes. Brian was open to having live sound artists come and do odd sounding weird stuff on his radio show.. and when we found out about it.. well, it seemed like a match made by destiny!

Instagon made 4 separate appearances on Brian's show and he pretty much handed over the show to us and let us freak out in the studios and halls for KUCI, with as many people as we wanted, for the entire time the show was on air for each of the times it happened...it was RADIO CHAOS.. and we enjoyed the hell out of it.. it was one of those experiences that helped to establish the "no boundaries" attitude that Instagon developed as a growing Audio Deamon. Session #27 (aka Nirvana) was a live on air performance over the FM airwaves of KUCI at the University of Irvine in Irvine,CA. It was the 4th and final appearance of instagon on Brian's show. It lasted 2hours and 40mins and was epic.. This recording is sometimes hard to listen to.. but its also really amazing the things we did for fun in 1994.. boys up late at night.. with radio waves to entertain an audience that may or may not even be there. As we were loading in for this show around midnight.. we heard drumming coming from across the college campus.. and upon further investigation found 5 guys playing big Japanese style Taiko drums.. so we asked them to join us on the radio and they agreed. So this session now had 5 drummers, Lob, Opus, and also the late Rev. Andy Warthog, Wm Rage (BlueSabbathBlackCheer), Daniel Bremmer, Dan Young, Christoher Bradbury (aka Xtopher Robin) (who also now lives in Seattle.. what is this a conspiracy??), & Brian MacDonald...and we were chaos incarnated over the air for hours. Towards the later part of the session.. there was a moment of vocal interplay between Lob & WmRage.. and one of them said the word "Nirvana".. and this led into a frenzy of sillyness surrounding Nirvana..
and making fun of the band, the members, in a very very childish way and it was very fun and infectious.. by the end of the night we were all screaming and yelling "Nirvana" like it was some crazy drug.. we left the studio and defaced the office, hallways, & elevator at KUCI with black markers.. leaving the Instagon symbol, the number 23, psychick crosses, the word Nirvana.. and Opus even signed it.
It was not a very nice thing to do..but it WAS loads of fun.. and the following Monday we were called and told we had to come back to the college and clean up our mess. I asked a photographer friend, Alexis Grimler, to join us and she documented some great photos of our chaos and shenanigans. At least one of these photos appeared inside the debut CD by Instagon later that year.. and the title of that CD was also taken from this "clean up" session....While we were cleaning up our tagging.. a well dress woman walked by and stopped to look at us.. we asked her what she thought of our art? she replied.. in a slight English accent that "It was the most creative thing she had ever seen.."

So.. this session..has TONS of history and story behind it.. Rage & Lob still joke about the "Nirvana Incident" occasionally to this day.. and the track "Nirvana" itself later appeared on the "THIS IS INSTAGON" collection released later in 1997 on cassette. This recording is the ENTIRE performance as captured AT the station to cassette using their equipment...the tapes were transferred to large audio files and all of the titles, EXCEPT for "Nirvana" were created for this digital remastering in 2011 for this etree posting to make it easier to explore.
[All photos from session #27 by Alexis Grimler-Donato]

Players Choice #4
for Dr. Oblivious

Session #136
February 2, 1997
The Chameleon, San Francisco,CA
http://www.archive.org/details/instagon1997-02-02.flac16

Dr. Oblivious (aka Alan Urbany) is right behind Opus in regards to the number of sessions he has played since his first appearance in 1995..which is currently 68 sessions. But he has played as recently as 2010 and is scheduled for an appearance later this year... so his numbers are likely to change before the end of the universe (towards the end of next year supposedly...). Dr. O was a gift given to Thee Instagon Foundation by the late Reverend Andy Warthog (RIP) and to this day, continues to be one of his greatest gifts every given to the Deamon's cause. Dr. O is very much a part of the "NOISE" personality of the Deamon Instagon.. and this too adds to his race with Opus..as they are both probably the players with the most "noise" involved Instagon shows as their accumulated appearances. Dr. O was also one of the FIRST RESPONDERS and so his FIRST choice was a show that was already previously posted..this is his 2ND choice we have taken for his Player Choice pick.

Session #136 happened at a bar in the mission district of San Francisco called The Chameleon, it has closed long ago. This was a late afternoon session..Lob & Dr.O were on Instagon's first Tour or Northern California and playing shows with people from the cities they stopped. This was Instagon's first public appearance in the San Francisco Bay area. For this session we enjoyed the company of Crow Mayhem, of the band GALAXY CHAMBER, (who was an old friend from OC), also Wm.Rage (BlueSabbathBlackCheer), Gravity Goldberg ..who attempted jumping rope with a live mic cord during the appearance.. and who also played accordion.

This was Gravity's ONLY appearance with Instagon, although she was a very close friend to the original crew and still remains a good acquaintance to this day. This show also happened to fall on the 4th birthday of the deamon Instagon.. it being the 4 year anniversary of the first ritual in Fullerton,CA. This show was attended by many friends from the bay area from 23rd Current and TOPY circles. The session was just under 40 minutes long.. it consisted of 3 improvisational drone based sound sculptures..2 of which were named by members of the audience upon request and these requests can be heard on the recordings. This was Dr. Oblivious' 2nd choice from the year 1997, so it seems that was probably a good year for noise. These recordings are the best available using the equipment that was on hand to capture and document the event.

[session #136 photos taken by Unknown person]
-/\-

"Scary City" review from Vital Weekly

2011-08-17T21:03:00.000-07:00

VITAL WEEKLY is a weekly journal of reviews of audio releases by experimental sound artists. In issue #793, released this week.. they had mixed comments to say regarding "Scary City"... read for yourself... do you agree? have you heard Scary City yet? what are your thoughts??

http://www.vitalweekly.net/793.html

archives: Players Choice #1 & 2: Cary Pealer & Chad E. Williams

2011-08-14T16:18:00.000-07:00

as stated previously.. we will continue on with the aforementioned plan and postings of sessions from the Deamon's Archives. ..for the next series of sessions to be posted we thought it would be nice if we asked the individuals who played the most shows what their choices were? ...seemed like as good as an approach as any other.. i mean we are dealing with over 550 recordings spanning 2 decades and on at least 3 different formats!! So we bring to you now.. the first 2 in this series of 10 ..the Instagon sessions as chosen by the players who have played the most Instagon sessions! (not counting me - Lob)...
CLICK LINKS BELOW FOR STREAMING AND DOWNLOADING OF THESE LIVE RECORDINGS.

Players Choice #1
for Cary Pealer

Session #243
November 1, 2000 - Club Mesa, Costa Mesa, CA
http://www.archive.org/details/instagon2000-11-01.flac16

Cary Pealer has been a repeating player throughout the history of the Instagon experience.. currently, at the time of this posting, our data shows Cary with 150 sessions with Instagon.. that is over 25% of all Instagon sessions.. and gives him the extreme distinction of being the top session player for Instagon...Cary is a drummer.. he currently lives in Riverside,CA, He has played drums for a band called Punk As A Doornail for nearly 10 years...and has a new project forthcoming. When asked what Instagon show stands out in his mind as exceptional and worth being shared with the world before any others.. Cary's choice was this show from a Wednesday night in Costa Mesa,Ca. Club Mesa was home to a weekly drunken poetry/spoken word open mic type happening on Wednesday nights hosted by Lob (me) .. and so Instagon would make regular appearances.. This occasion was during a featured reading appearance by a good friend whom is no longer with us, Mr Gary Tomlinson (RIP)...who also played the hammer Dulcimer on this recording.. which IS one of the reason it stands out. Besides Lob, Cary, Gary & his Dulcimer.. Robert Fisher played guitar for this session.. and when asked for HIS choices.. this was ALSO his choice!..(so he got to make another pick...more on that at a later time...) Both Robert & Cary had the same thing to say.. that it was the only time they had ever gotten to play with someone playing a Dulcimer.. and it was so unique and had such an interesting sound.. it remained a really strong and fun memory. ..and I really cannot agree with them more. Check this show out and you can be your own judge.. near the end of this show.. we tried to play the song "Speed"..which normally would not have really been a problem..but something went wrong and we fell into something else.. and the first "Speedwobble" was born.. and this version, the first version, is amazing...and this riff went on to appear many more times in the session sets.

Players Choice #2

for Chad E. Williams

Session #515
September 12, 2009, Flux 53, Oakland,CA

http://www.archive.org/details/instagon2009-09-12.flac16

When Instagon moved to Sacramento area in 2005, Chad was one of the first musicians that was interested in finding out more and how to become involved.. here we are 6 years later and currently Chad has accumulated the 2nd most number of sessions on record with Instagon. He has currently played 73 shows (just under half of what Cary has played!)..and he continues to play regularly (even will be playing with Instagon at the end of next week.) Chad is a staple in the CURRENT revolving roster of players for Instagon ..and has been the "go to" guitarist for the past few years.. He is an amazing guitarist with a flow and tone that strike thru the deamon's grooves and accents the sessions he appears on every time. In 2007, Chad was part of the founding of GARAGE JAZZ ARCHITECTS ..a sort of Instagon side project that has taken on a life of its own!! When asked what HIS choice for an Instagon that he remembers as being powerful.. he responded with a request for this show from Oakland in 2009, session #515.

In 2009 Instagon appeared on a CD compilation on Edgetone Records called MUDWAGON VOL. 1. .. this Oakland show was a release party/event for that CD. There was also a group art show that featured original work by our good friend C.J.BOROSQUE. Instagon played very late and many were tired...(but we woke them up hehehe)...the ensemble featured Free Fargo on drums (from Vernian Process), Rent Romus on sax and electronics (Lords of Outland), and Chad E. Williams on guitar (Garage Jazz Architects).

The band made it to the stage and sonically took off and right away was breaking new territory.. an new riff was born at this show as well called "The Flux" and it too has continued on to appear on future set lists..the energy was super high...and the musical connections on stage were powerful. Free mentioned before the show that his drums had been in storage and this was the first time he had played them in over a year!! It hardly showed at all. on fire and really using the silent space more than he regularly does ...this show ranks up there and you should take the time to really check it out.

Next Players Choice postings to be from OPUS23 and Dr. Oblivious! We supposed this COULD be taken as some sort of warning.. so there you have it.
-/\-

FIRST RESPONDER'S CHOICE SHOWS

2011-08-12T09:30:00.000-07:00

so, as mentioned in the previous blog we have begun a new archive for live shows.. the question was put forth to the fans of our facebook profile for what Instagon performances would they like to have first available.. ..the first 3 responses have been posted, and we would like to give a little back ground on those shows here.

The first three shows that were requested (in order) are:
session #568 - 4-30-2011 @ Poo Frog Ranch, Clipper Mills,CA (requested by Matt Conklin, Sacramento,CA)

session #76 - 3-25-1995 @ Club Sin-a-Matic, Hollywood,CA (requested by Sharon444, North Hollywood,CA)

session #141 - 5-2-1997 @ Impala Cafe, Los Angeles,CA (requested by Dr. Oblivious, Phoenix,AZ)

Poo Frog Ranch
http://www.archive.org/details/instagon2011-04-30.flac16

Show #568 was late at night.. Instagon played the headliner spot of the Saturday night in the 2 day musical event that happened over May Day weekend at the Poo Frog Ranch. PFR is a place in the mountains outside of Marysville,CA...sorta between Marysville & Grass Valley somehow...They have a nice big piece of land & have built a very cool stage to invite bands to appear on. Because we played last on Saturday night...and there were issues during the early part of the show with time scheduling.. we played really really late at night.. and it was rather cold for those left in the crowd to hear us...many had already retired to their sleeping bags to await the warmth of the sun. This was a large ensemble with 2 drummers (Mark from GJA, & Moe from Set Theory), 4 guitars (Chad from GJA, John Keeling, Stephen Elliot, & Gary Piazza from Redding) and a trumpet! (Nicole from Upwords Movement) ..it was really great to see Gary.. we met him a few years ago when he toured with Greg Ginn's band...the last time he had played with Instagon was for show #500. We started the set very psychedelic by flowing out of the Invokation into a cool version of Dripfall.. the recording really features the trumpet.. as it was turned up a little louder than everything else it seems. Over all its a pretty smokin' performance. The stand out track for me on this is the version of "The Sound of The Night" which just tore it up, features lyrics (rare) and Gary Piazza's opening guitar work is outstanding. (great choice Matt!)

SIN-A-MATIC
http://www.archive.org/details/instagon1995-03-25.flac16
session #76 is probably one of THEE most unique shows and recordings of Instagon..which is saying a lot actually..i mean we ARE talking about Instagon. This show is a dance show.. a techno dance show.. 40 mins of blistering beats pumped by DJ OSST and pounded on by tribal drums and guitar assaults...it was at a really popular industrial dance club in Hollywood at the time and it was PACKED! there were probably 300-400 people there that night to boogie to the deamon grooves. Tribal drums were provided by Sharon 444 and members of the Drums of Pangia, and the guitar work was from Opus23 and the late Rev. Andy Warthog. This show also featured a dancer girl in a bikini wearing a Nixon halloween mask (Gretchen Del Villa, who has also passed away since then) .. it was a visual and sonic spectacle....we are lucky to have this soundboard recording.. if only personal video was happening in 1995! This one is like NOTHING else you will hear in the entire Instagon archive.. we promise..
(thanks to Sharon for the request)

IMPALA CAFE 5-2-97
http://www.archive.org/details/instagon1997-05-02.flac16session #141 this is a noise show.. its not a great recording.. but its all the documentation that we have. Instagon played a number of really great noise and live sound art collage type shows at the Impala Cafe during the time it was open. Dr. Oblivious is a toy collector.. and so for this show we let him bring toys.. he brought a zube tube, and other fun weird little wind up and electronic noise making toys. This show also features the only appearance with Instagon of local Orange County filmmaker and straight edge music enthusiast, Evan Jacobs. (Evan returned the favor later by including a short interview with Lob in one of his films on OC hardcore music!). This show has some really sharp moments of feedback and super heavy sonic drones laid down by this trio. An odd choice.. but not so odd when you think about it coming from Dr. O. (thanks for the pick!)

so these are the first 3 shows, as requested by the Facebook fans of Instagon.
they are now available for free download and streaming..

the next group of shows that are going to be posted will be the PLAYERS CHOICE picks.. and we will ask the 10 individuals who have played in the most Instagon shows over the years what their picks are.. first up Cary Pealer.. next Chad E. Williams.. followed by Opus23.. stay tuned in .. more great moments in the archives are coming soon. -/\-

NEWS - NEWS - NEWS - NEWS

2011-08-09T10:09:00.000-07:00

SO.. did you miss the Tube? its only been 4 months since the last pathetic posting,..no comments?   Facebook has seemed to become our most active outlet for sending out news and information.. so if you are not a fan there.. you should sign up..

INSTAGON HAS BEEN VERY BUSY this has been a fairly busy year so far...we have played 22 shows so far this year.. and there are another 5 or 6 already confirmed as coming!   the schedule on this blog has been updated.
There have been 2 new releases so far this year.. and there are 3 more that are forthcoming.. TIF released "Thee Speed ov Infection" a studio CD.   LOVE EARTH MUSIC released "Scary City" a collection of live recordings with a poetry book by Lob. .. coming soon there will be "Pink Eye" from Placenta Recordings, a split CD with The Transhumans from Ventura,CA on Paper Cuts Records, and a full length CD on Aurricular Recordings as well.. so its a busy year!

also we have been doing some networking and building the web presence up a bit.
you can now find Instagon on Facebook, Twitter, Bandcamp, Soundcloud, Myspace, SongKick, & Reverbnation.

ALL of this news and these links can be found at the instagon web page menu

http://www.tif.org/instagon/menu23.html

but the BIGGEST NEWS is that INSTAGON has joined the etree at archive.org!!
a collections page HAS been posted for LIVE RECORDINGS of full shows by INSTAGON for streaming and download.. the floodgates have opened.. and the sounds of the deamon are flowing.. select shows are beginning to be posted by Lob.. as well as others that have live recordings.. this can be found here

http://www.archive.org/details/Instagon

INSTAGON will appear at CURTISFEST (9/10), NORCAL NOISEFEST (10/1), & IAMINDUST FESTIVAL,SF (Nov)

Slack!

2011-04-18T10:02:00.001-07:00

so.. our apologies for the slack in updated and up keeping this blog.. we have been pre-occupied with life and playing shows.. the most current show was session #565 that happened this past weekend in 29 Palms, CA for the Wonder Valley Experimental Music Festival.. it was fun.. and we WILL have more to write about soon.. we just wanted to say hi.. we are not gone.. just busy.. the best and most up to date information can ALWAYS be found at www.instagon.com or on the Instagon profile at facebook.. more soon.. thanks for your support. -/\-

Set List - session 557 - Vega's Nightclub, Old Sacramento, CA - 1-29-2011

2011-02-06T00:52:00.000-08:00

Instagon #557
1-29-11
Vega's Nightclub
Sacramento, CA

Once again we return to Vega's nightclub in old town Sacramento for a night of good times and grooves for all. This time around we brought our friend DOOFY DOO out to open up the festivities and seriously he stole the show.. Doofy Doo is a solo project with loops and live beats done by Drew Walker, it was a fantastic show and comes highly recommended to any that like improvisation and fun time grooves. We also played our first show with another Sacramento instrumental band that we just recently came in contact with called Set Theory916! They are a large ensemble that plays with a DJ ..it was very funk and groove oriented with serious deep sessions of the JAM! They were the bomb.. seriously.

photo by Yvette Lucas

Most of the previous incarnations of Instagon at Vega's have been really large ensembles that were somewhat out of control at times. This show as not like those, and featured a pretty solid 5pc ensemble that rocked hard and played well together. Drew Walker was on the drum kit, John Keeling was on the guitar, Drew brought a friend that had not played nor really heard Instagon before, his named was Barry McDaniel and he was a pretty smokin' guitar player we were really happy to have him along for the ride and will probably invite him out to try the demon out for another excursion sometime in the near future.

photo by Yvette Lucas

Also joining us for this session was Andrew Wayne of Chopstick. This was Andrews' first time playing with Instagon in over a year, since Dec. 2009! It was great to have him back and joining us once again for chaos and audio alchemy.

Instagon #557
Jan. 29, 2011

Vega's Nightclub
Old Sacramento, CA

photo by Yvette Lucas

Invokation>
The Little Turtle
Deamon's Tube
Sleepwalking
DUST
Buzzkill
Sound ov thee Night
Space Walk
Echophobic
In The Key of Y
(52:00)

LOB
DREW WALKER
JOHN KEELING
BARRY McDANIEL
ANDREW WAYNE

Instagon 557, photo by Yvette Lucas

Set list - session 556 - Access Sacramento Studios, taping for Listen Up Sacramento - 1-11-11

2011-01-27T18:24:00.000-08:00

photo by Michelle Barbaria

Instagon 556
1-11-11
Access Sacramento Studios
Coloma Community Center
Sacramento, CA

This session was a live in-studio appearance by Instagon that was taped for a Sacramento local cable access TV show called LISTEN UP SACRAMENTO hosted by Erika Kjelstrom on the Access Sacramento Network. The show airs twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, at 11pm. It airs locally in Sacramento on Comcast channel 17, and streams online as well via the page linked above. Our show will appear in February, which week in February has yet to be announced.. we will post it on our facebook page when we know. The session was a quartet.. a larger ensemble was planned but was decimated due to illnesses. The band that arrived to play included Drew Walker (Doofy Doo), Chad E. Williams (GJA), and Kevin Ian (The Common Men).. and the jams were thick and gooey.. There were a couple of great untitled improv jams that happened during the sound checks...and the session that was on camera was smokin' too!.. Look forward to announcements regarding this upcoming viewing experience that is coming your way!!

INSTAGON 556
1-11-11
ACCESS SACRAMENTO STUDIOS
COLOMA COMMUNITY CENTER
SACRAMENTO, CA
taping for "Listen Up Sacramento"

off camera:
SOUNDCHECK JAMS
Invokation

on camera:
Cosmic,
Sleepwalking,
Echophobic
Orgone Collector
Speed of Light
Space Walk
Pink Panther

LOB - lead bass/vocals
CHAD E. WILLIAMS - guitar
DREW WALKER - drums
KEVIN IAN - guitar

Set list - session 555 - Luna's Cafe - 1-10-11

2011-01-27T14:36:00.000-08:00

Okay.. so I am gonna try to play catch up so we will be on target for next week.. here is the first post of a couple regarding stuff that has already happened this year..

INSTAGON 555

1-10-2011
Luna's Cafe

Sacramento, CA

Once again back at Luna's Cafe for the NEBRASKA MONDAY Series that is hosted and organized by Ross Hammond. It had been nearly a years since we played this space last (session #527), & this was Instagon's 14th appearance at Luna's Cafe.
Playing the early spot was a trio called NICE RUG, that was made up of players that have all been part of Instagon in the past (Tony Passarell, Stefano Zeroli, Wayne Sheats). They played some really awesome free jazz with a really low and mellow vibe to it. Instagon included Jon Bafus on drums, a horn section of Michael Otwell & D.Ray Grisham.. and we invited local guitar hero Victor Contreras from Nagul to hold down the six string duties for the first time.. we had a great time playing. It was awesome having Victor out to enjoy the fun of garage jazz.

Instagon #555 - photo by Yvette Lucas

Instagon 555
1-10-2011
Luna's Cafe, Sacramento, CA
Nebraska Monday's Series

Invokation>
The Flux,
Brainwashed Love
Triple Nickel [special riff for this show only]
Sleepwalking
Trip 23
Undoing
Cosmic

Lob (lead bass)
Michael Otwell (sax/flute)
D.Ray Grisham (trumpet)
Jon Bafus (drums)
Victor Contreras (guitar)

also NICE RUG
=====================================================
video "Trip 23" from Instagon 555

video footage courtesy of Ross Hammond

Session 554 set list - last show of 2010 - very late posting

2011-01-21T17:41:00.000-08:00

OMG.. so so tardy..
just sorta got carried away and forgot to reflect here at the Deamon's Tube.. it happens.. the holiday season usually is this way.. and we apologize for seemingly vanishing.. the illness that was mentioned in the previous posting, also added to this as well.. but no excuses.. here is the late news.

INSTAGON 554
12-16-2010

Fire Escape Bar & Grill
Citrus Heights, CA

Session 554 happened in mid December at the Fire Escape in Citrus Heights.. it was fun night with great bands all around. but the attendance sucked because it was cold and rainey.. and also because the Citrus Heights Police Dept. decided to run a sobriety check point RIGHT IN FRONT of the venue we were playing.. so with flashing red lights chasing everyone away.. it was a drag.. but we played hard anyways.
Instagon featured a core that was the GJA trio.. plus Dan Quillan (Art Lessing), and Steve Coolidge from Volcano School playing his first set with the Deamon. We played a 45min set to open the evening .. it was a good time...because of SICKNESS this show ended up being the last show of 2010.. it was not planned that way.. but that is the way the deamon seems to have wanted it.

photo by Yvette Lucas

INSTAGON 554
12-16-2010
FIRE ESCAPE BAR & GRILL
CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA

Invokation>
Red Planet Landing>
My Little Red Planet,
Dripfall,
Buzzkill,
Deamon's Tube,
Sound ov thee Night [new song, first time played]
Spider
Set The Controls* [Pink Floyd song, last time played 5-8-10 (17 shows)]
(45:00)

LOB - lead bass/vocal*
CHAD E. WILLIAMS - guitar
DAN QUILLAN - guitar
MARK HALVERSON - drums
STEVEN COOLIDGE - keyboards

also Fish Cat Fish, Step Jayne, Art Lessing(solo)

on this weeks cancellation..

2010-12-30T18:21:00.000-08:00

So.. earlier this week Instagon canceled its first show in nearly 5 years (at least as far as I can recall...I am open to be corrected) due to my being really really sick.. i had something evil. probably food poisoning.. could have been my medications for Diabetes..who knows.. but something made me terribly nauseous and sick to my stomach all day on Tuesday and into the evening, and so about 2 hours before the show I pulled the plug on the session as I was not physically able to pull it off. I apologize to anyone that did not get the message before hand and went out expecting to see the Deamon. I also apologize to the other guys that were supposed to play in the session.. Dex, John, & JD...i hated to pull the rug out from under them as they were getting prepared to come out. Lastly i wish to give personal and honest apologies to the venue the Press Club.. and Adam and J.P. who helped to set this show up..you guys really went out on the limb to add us ..and we dropped the ball.. it was not intentional in any way.. hope we get the chance to make it up to you some time.
That show was set to be the final show of the year.. so thats it for this year folks.. come out to see session #555 at Luna's Cafe on Jan. 10.. next year.. the year of Garage Jazz!!
- Lob
12/30/2010 Sacramento, CA

Setlist - session 553 - 12-9-2010 - Live In Studio A, KDVS, Davis, CA

2010-12-19T17:36:00.000-08:00

Instagon #553
December 9, 2010
KDVS, Davis, CA

KDVS is a radio station on frequency 90.3 FM originating from the basement floor of Freeborn Hall at University of California at Davis. (UCDavis) that also streams at www.kdvs.org. It is a VERY independent radio station with a "free-form" format, it also has the largest indie FM transmitter on the west coast, making it pretty special. Every Thursday night at 11pm (PST) they invite a band into their studios to play live over the air for an hour from Studio A. This show is called L.I.S.A. .. Live In Studio A. Instagon has previously appeared on the L.I.S.A. show doing a noise set as part of promotions for past Norcal Noisefest events..but this was the first time that Instagon had played the weekly show as a band for the entire hour.. which is also pretty interesting due to the fact that we have recorded in this studio 2 times previously and have 4 releases that were from those sessions!

For this session a quartet was assembled to play for an hour, live over the air.. the band consisted of Lob with John Keeling on guitar .. someone that has been playing consistently with Instagon throughout this year.. also Drew Walker on drums.. and Matt Conklin on keyboards.. all three of these guys have been doing shows with us this year.. (John, Drew, & Lob had previously appeared earlier this year as a trio (session 545)) For this set we tried to focus on staying in the groove and feeling of the new CD "Sleepwalking" as to try to promote this release (the Sleepwalking CD was recorded at KDVS in Nov.2009) An amazing version of the song "Sleepwalking" was part of this session, but there were some pretty smokin' jams as well like the band classic "Deamon's Tube" (see below video!). There was a couple of short improv jams.. one of them was titled "Umbridge Study Hall" and can be heard as part of the Fresh Cuts series on Bandcamp.com .. funny story..

As we were setting up our equipment for this live radio session at KDVS, a short blondeish woman, with obviously too much time on her hands, appeared out of nowhere to tell us we were NOT supposed to be here and that there was a "24 study group" happening upstairs and she was promised there would be NO live music from the Radio station to disturb the students.. she was very determined and name dropping the name of "UC Aggie Regents" like it would have some magickal powers over us.. but in the end it did not.. we ignored her and played a great set..but in response to her very Umbridge like character, we dedicated a song..

INSTAGON 553
12-9-2010
KDVS FM 90.3, ,Univ.of Calif., Davis,CA
(live on-air broadcast)

Invokation>
Dripfall,
Cosmic
Deamon's Tube,
Sleepwalking,
Procell*,
My Little Red Planet>
Umbridge Study Hall*,
Space Walk,
Trip 23,
Echophobic,
The Sickness,
Orgone Collector,
Forward
(60:00)

* new improv riffs, first time jams

LOB - lead bass
DREW WALKER - drums
JOHN KEELING - guitar
MATT CONKLIN - keyboards

-----------------------------------------------
INSTAGON 553 VIDEOS:
PART ONE - Introductions>Invokation>Dripfall

PART TWO - Deamon's Tube
VIDEO LINK for "Deamon's Tube" from session 553 by Instagon.

big thanks go out to KDVS for letting us come and play.. Fenris Wulf for another amazing job of engineering and capturing the deamon.. John, Drew, & Matt for playing.. and everyone else that listened.. this was a really special session for sure.

--------
Instagon group photo taken by Fenris Wulf

Setlist - session 552 - Dec 3, 2010 - Vega's Night Club, Old Sacramento, CA

2010-12-18T18:38:00.000-08:00

flyer design by Lob, art by Dolo

Instagon 552
December 3, 2010
Vega's Nightclub & Bar
Old Sacramento, CA

photo by Bob Scott

Okay..so the last time this blog was updated was nearly 2 months ago..and well I am apologetic and feel bad, but I have been a little busy with various projects.. which I will NOW attempt to catch up on.. there were no shows in November.. but there were 2 new releases...and there have been 3 sessions in December already! So the Instagon Deamonic Viral assault continues as we try to bring our grooves and good times to you and you .. and you too ! SO.. we will start with THIS show.. and then try to catch up with more blog entries as the weekend progresses.. its a cold rainy weekend here in Sacramento right now.. so lets hope that gives me more opportunity to catch up with you that might actually care.

DECEMBER 3rd was also a rainy night.. but not too rainy.. and it was wonderful for Rick Vega to invite us back to his club. This was our first show back there since the spring time when we played with Greg Ginn & The Texas Currogators. (session #531)
This time around a locals show was planned..but at the last moment a traveler was added to the mix. So the show started with our new friend from Oklahoma named CHRISTOPHE playing a short set of songs.. mostly originals ..in the mood of early Social Distortion with that lonesome Johnny Cash angst.. he also did a cover of a Misfits tune.. it was fun. next up was ODD MONIKER the solo project of local musician Matt Conklin .. I have seen Odd Moniker play previous to this, and he is really a strong songwriter with a great voice and catchy hooks.. good stuff.. unfortunately the CAPTAIN called me outside and i was pre-occupied there and missed 90% of Matt's set. It's all good..I apologized, and Matt understands these things. Next up was a local band that I had not seen before called LITTLE BLACK BATS..and they were pretty good...they had some really great guitar work and cool songs. .they have only been playing together for a short time & are nice guys and we hope to play with them some more in the future. In the honey spot was our new friends STEP JAYNE who are awesome and steal the show every time I seem them.. for this show they added a new member on keyboards and odd metal percussion.. and off they went! a GREAT set from Step Jayne.. look for more posts with them involved... more shows together are planned,. closing out the night was INSTAGON..

photo by Bob Scott

for this excursion we were happy to invite for his first time with us, KEVIN IAN from THE COMMON MEN.. and Kevin was on FIRE.. it was smokin' right from the launch.. the session also included Stephen Elliot from Karmada on Keyboards.. Dex from Chikading on drums, and Chad E. Williams holding down the solid guitar leads.. the set was shredding. .. I really enjoyed "Buzzkill"..but everything played was pretty solid..

photo by Bob Scott

INSTAGON 552
12-3-2010
Vega's Night Club
Old Sacramento, CA

Invokation>
Jazz for Satan, [video! click here]
Buzzkill,
Spider, [video! click here]
Electric Funeral*
Deamon's Tube,
Little Turtle,
Cambodian Holiday**
Pink Panther***, [video! click here]
Shut Down
(52:00)

* Black Sabbath riff, dedicated to Ozzy on his 62nd Bday.
last time played 9-28-03 (191 shows)
** Dead Kennedys' riff
*** classic Mancini, last time played 6-27-09 (45 shows)

LOB - lead bass/vocals
CHAD E. WILLIAMS - guitar
KEVIN IAN - guitar
DEX LOPAZ - drums
STEPHEN ELLIOT - keyboards

photo by Cynthia Jones

A recording of "The Pink Panther" from this session will appear on the Placenta Family Tree Volume 5 compilation from Placenta Records coming in early 2011.

set lists/recap - October 2010 - Shows 548-551 Norcal Noisefest & more..

2010-10-30T00:19:00.000-07:00

NFXIV logo

October was a fun month.. we had 4 shows lined up..all of them were pretty different.. and so it was gonna be a good time.. the month seemed to get away from me.. and so i neglected to get this blog updated.. but here I am now to do just that.. so.. October started with Instagon's annual appearance at Norcal Noisefest in Sacramento, CA. Instagon has appeared at EVERY Norcal Noisefest.. this one was #14. This year's Instagon set included Lob playing with members of Fraud, Cast Iron Sinks, Smegma, (waning), Delayed Sleep, Dental Work, & also included hidden imported elements of Return of the Jedi. The performance was to be a MIXER SET, one of a larger size than is normally done when Instagon does this sort of performance. We had a few quick technical problems..but they were just ignored and we were off.. the set was pretty awesome as far as noise sets go.. it was LOUD.. we were bombastic.. it was screaming with feedback.. and it was contained and creepy.. it was a pretty good noise set from instagon

INSTAGON #548
10-2-2010
Sol Collective, Sacramento, CA
NORCAL NOISFEST XIV

"Thee Return ov thee Loud Jedi's"

Instagon 548 was:
LOB
CHARLES ARDINGER
SEAN CAMPEAU
SUSAN HUNT
MATT KRETZMANN
PAT MABIE
JAY WATSON
DONKEY FLYBYE

photo by Yvette Lucas

Our next adventure in October happened the following weekend, when we played outside of a Log Cabin in Davis, CA and got to appear with a classic SF beat poet too! It was the Annual Davis Jazz & Beat Festival.. Instagon appeared this year as a follow up to our debut appearance in this festival last year. This year we had a smaller ensemble, and we were asked to play some music behind the poetry of Beat poet David Meltzer. Which was really cool and fun, I we we had had a chance to chat. He arrived while we were playing, and he left while were were playing.. and I never had a chance to say give a proper hand shake and hello.
It was outside.. on ground.. no stage.. to a handful of awesome listeners.. (most of the Festival goers were at the OTHER stage across the street where Mike McClure and Ray Manzarek were playing.) Instagon played about half an hour.. then David Meltzer joined us.. he finished and we closed with Echophobic. This show had a new drummer that had not played with Instagon previously named Graham Roggli... we all had fun.. i did not force him to play Insta-gadda-da-vida.

INSTAGON #549
10-9-2010
DAVIS JAZZ & BEAT FESTIVAL 2010,
Log Cabin Stage, Davis,CA

Invokation>
The Flux,
Spider,
Log Cabin Jam [improv, fresh riff]
Buzzkill,
Jazz for Satan> (no vocal)
Orgone Collector,
We Own This Corner,
poems with David Meltzer**>
Echophobic

** poems by David Meltzer

INSTAGON 549 was:

LOB - bass, CHAD E. WILLIAMS - guitar, JAROBA - sax
GRAHAM ROGGLI - drums, -- special guest: DAVID MELTZER - poems*

Photo by Yvette Lucas

On the following weekend we somehow were able to pull off one of the wonders of being Instagon.. and we appeared inside the center of the Downtown Plaza Westfield Mall.. outside, under the dome..in the middle of the afternoon.. with a full sound system on a nice stage.. it was very very wonderful.. this show was for the Sacramento News & Review's 3rd Saturday Art & Fashion show . Unfortunately someone forgot to explain that to the Fashion part... and they were a no show at the end of the day. but there was some great art.. I even bought some. .. and we were allowed to play 2 sets and enjoy our selves greatly.. at some point during out set the mall manager asked the sound man to turn us down, and he had to explain to them that this was OUR volume on stage.. not his.. we attempted to play at a decent level.. i guess we were still probably a little too loud for some people. In the first set Thruster was really really sweet.. and the Simpsons was also something pretty special and different this time around. The 2nd set opening "Trip23" had some great stuff and Cosmic was also very much so.

INSTAGON 550
10-16-2010
Downtown Plaza, Sacramento, CA
SN&R 3rd Saturday Art & Fashion Show

Invokation>Red Planet Landing>My Little Red Planet, Orgone Collector,
Deamon's Tube, Spider, Echophobic, Thruster, Simpsons
(42:00)
Trip 23, Forward, The Little Turtle, Cosmic, Thela*,
Jazz for Satan (backawards remix)
(38:00)

*last time played 2-16-08 (84 shows), riff by King Crimson

LOB - lead bass, vocals, CHAD E WILLIAMS - guitar,
JOHN KEELING - guitar, JON BAFUS - drums

photo by Yvette Lucas

Our last show of the month happened during the middle of the week in the East Bay city of Albany.. at a monthly happening called the HOOTANANNY. .. it is something organized by Suki O'Kane of the bay area.. and its a conjunction of musicians learning how to play and lounge together.. and is one of the funnest and most special happenings I have gotten to play at so far.. the line up I assembled for this set was comprised of member of OTHER projects that were already appearing that night at the Hootenanny. which was renamed the Shakenannny in tribute to the 20 anniversary of the bay area quake that damaged the bridge and stuff. Instagon was an amazing line up of really fun and special people.. this grouping was a one off happening.. and that it was captured and can be re-visited is simple bliss.. Thee Sickness was amazing.. just fucking amazing..

INSTAGON #551
10-20-2010
Kingman's Ivy Room, Albany, CA

Invokation>
The Flux,
The Sickness,
Orgone Collector,
Deamon's Tube,
Cosmic

Instagon #551 was:
LOB- lead bass,
MOE STAIANO - drums,
DARYL SHAWN - guitar and loops
LUCIO MENEGON - guitar /effects,
PHILLIP GREENLIEF - saxophone
JIM KRULL - saxophone,
WHEELCHAIR RICKY - vocals

photo by Chad E. Williams

THIS SESSION NOW AVAILABLE FOR FREE STREAMING AND DOWNLOAD
http://www.archive.org/details/instagon2010-10-20.flac16

courtesy of Michael Zelner

set list - session 547 - September 11, 2010 - CURTISFEST, Curtis Park, Sacramento,CA

2010-09-17T00:20:00.000-07:00

Instagon 547
September 11, 2010
CURTISFEST
Curtis Park, Sacramento, CA

It was a warm afternoon and Instagon was scheduled to close out the entertainment list for the 4th Annual CURTISFEST that was put together by the Curtis Park Neighborhood Committee, and well.. it was a damn fun time!

The day was like this.. 3 acts.. Mike Justis Band played from noon til 1pm.. they also brought a PA that that had to tear down and it took a little while for them to clear the stage area to make room for the next band.. the next band was Garage Jazz Architects...and well.. we (GJA) played short.. only about 30 mins.. but it was awesome! we had also played early that morning on the television news program Good Day Sacramento....so what im sayin' is that by the time Instagon was actually ready to start, i was pretty tired..and it was hot.. so it make it really FEEL like I was tired.

Instagon was scheduled to be a 6 pc ensemble.. with a trombone and trumpet that did not make it..but ended up a nice simple quartet.. well as simple as anything can really be when you have Tony Passarell playing!

Tony ads a flavor of his own to any group he is sitting in with. This was his 2nd time playing with the deamon..he brought a keyboard and a horn.. and shined hard on both at various parts of the jam.

On the drums for this session was local Sacramento percussion notable, Alex Jenkins...this was his first time playing with Instagon and it was really wonderful .. Alex is a great player and awesome to play with. Rounding out our quartet was our new friend John Keeling .. this was Johns 5th time playing so far this year, we like John.

The set was an hour long.. and we played a number of really upbeat jazz riffs that were just rolling scales of fun. The "Deamon's Tube" was nearly 10 mins.. it was cool. There was also something called "Jazz for Ra" that had teases and elements of Jazz for Satan inter-weaved within it. Near the end there was a really smokin' version of Echophobic, and a cool sloppy Shut Down too. We had a great time.. there were lots of vendors and people out with their families.. lots of art, and a petting zoo too! probably one of the more odd gig's that Instagon has played.. but easily one of the funnest.

Instagon #547
September 11, 2010
Curtis Park, Sacramento, CA
CURTISFEST

Invokation>
Running in the Park*>
Orgone Collector
Deamon's Tube
Little Turtle
Jazz for Ra*
Thruster
Spider
Curtis*
Echophobic
Shut Down (w/Pink Panther tease)

*fresh improv/new riff

Instagon 547 was:
LOB - lead bass
JOHN KEELING - guitar
ALEX JENKINS - drums
TONY PASSARELL - keyboard/horn

also Garage Jazz Architects, & Mike Justis Band

------------------------------------------------------

all photos by Yvette Lucas

NEWS - RECENT INTERVIEWS - PaperCuts & (dis)perse

2010-09-09T22:17:00.000-07:00

Just in the past month there have been 2 separate interviews published with me (Lob) regarding Instagon, AIN, Chaos, and musick.. they are both really great interviews.. the first one is part of the new issues of PAPER CUTS Magazine, issue #5..released from the Paper Cuts Records label.

Its an interview that was conducted earlier this year on line between myself and Justin Cassidy of The Transhumans. The magazine also features a couple of articles written by me, one that is a label spotlight and short interview with Steve Davis of Love Earth Music, and the other is a an article about Audible Disease Effect Pedals that also includes interviews with Bob Scott of Audible Disease..other interviews include Bob Bellarue, Chopstick, & Corpseboy/Justin Cassidy. The issue also features a 3" CDR with music from Chopstick, Justin Cassidy/Corpseboy, and Instagon. The track is the title track of the Echophobic ep. This mag is usually only printed in small runs 100-200 copies, so if you are interested.. you should order it.

This interview was done around the time of the Echophobic CD release that happened in the late Spring, also from Paper Cuts Records. And talks alot about that release. The release is limited to only 50 copies.. and is easily the most exquisite looking release Instagon has done since the debut CD in 1994. ..its very beautiful and highly recommended.

The next interview for your viewing pleasure is in a new online blog/zine publication that has come out from Auricular Records, and it is called " (dis)perse ". (This is a fairly new publication and they are looking for more submissions and writers). The interview featured currently in (dis)perse was done very recently over the net between myself and Alan Herrick of Nux Vomica. Some of the questions were very interesting and replies that involved talking about Instagon and chaos magick theory, my opinions on the noise scene and much more.. this blog can be found at

http://auricular.com/blog/

Both of these interviews are really swell and I hope you check them out and find them interesting.. dont forget to leave comments.. comments are the best thing the net has to offer! Happy reading! -/\-

set list - session 546 - September 2, 2010 - John Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA

2010-09-05T19:27:00.000-07:00

INSTAGON 546
September 2, 2010
John Natsoulas Gallery

Davis, CA

The last time Instagon played at Natsoulas Gallery for the Thursday night live jazz series was Sept. 3, 2009..(Session #513) so exactly one year since the deamon last visited the Natsoulas!! Last year was the Deamon debut for Mark Halverson (who now plays regularly as drummer for Garage Jazz Architects.) This year we brought out another new drummer to enjoy his virgin run with Instagon at the Natsoulas,

John Bafus, drummer for MUCKY THE DUCKY. John played with Instagon for this show, it was his first time playing.. and he was simply fantastic and really fun to play with....we are already looking forward to the next encounter.
Instagon was the only band booked to play this Thursday night happening.. so we were excited and planned to play 2 sets of music. Along for the ride this time with Lob besides John was Chad E. WIlliams on guitar, Jaroba on sax and clarinet (both of whom played the show last year too!) and Matt Conklin formerly of the band KARMADA on keyboards. It was a HOT day, and so as we were setting up to play at 6:45pm it was still in the upper 90's.

We had a short band meeting along the side of the gallery with THE CAPTAIN, and we were ready to play.. we planned to play a short warm up set.. then take a short break to get some water and rest as the sun went down a little more. This plan seemed to work just fine.

The first set clocked in at just under 30 mins and we found ourselves really excited..the initial energy between us was really amazing and we were having a great time as a group. The Spider in the first set was really very cool and groovy.. and the Thruster that closed the set was so damn surfy that the Ventures could have claimed they wrote it! (but they didnt!!)

By the time we got around to the 2nd set the sun had gone down as hoped, but that sorta left us in the dark... the gallery brought out a flood light that we pointed at the wall behind us to give us some light.. it was fine for us..but we probably looked like big shadows in the rotunda.

The 2nd set was a little longer and clocked in at around 75 minutes..we started this set around 8:15 and just played on into the night.. we were much more relaxed for this set and the grooves show it.. the entire set was really smokin' John Bafus is an amazing drummer.. Matt was really intuitive with his keys, Chad was up front and burning it up.. and Jaroba was wailin'! We could not have asked for a better line up to tear up an evening in the streets of Davis, CA. This set featured a couple of fresh improvisations .. new jams..one of them, Trip 23, is available for a download now thru the end of September.(see the link in the set list) Other great points in this set was the drum solo we made John play during Insta-gadda-da-vida, the song Dripfall is really progressing and this newest attempt was really sweet.. and Echophobic is continuing to be the strong set closer at this time.

Instagon #546
September 2, 2010
John Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA

set one:(29:00)

Invokation>
Red Planet Landing>
My Little Red Planet
Deamon's Tube
Spider
Thruster

set two: (1:15)
Sunlight In My Eyes
Bounced*
Evil Jazz23>
Speedwobble
Cosmic
Dripfall
Insta-Gadda-Da-vida
Orgone Collector
Trip 23*
Shut Down
Echophobic

* fresh riffs, first time played

Instagon 546 was:

LOB - lead bass & vocals
CHAD E. WILLIAMS - guitar
JAROBA - sax & clarinet
MATT CONKLIN - keyboards

JOHN BAFUS - drums

does any one read this blog?? leave a comment why dont you!!!!?!!

--------------------------------

all photos by Yvette Lucas

set list - session 545 - August 30, 2010 - The Hub Collective, Sacramento, CA

2010-09-05T17:50:00.000-07:00

Instagon 545
August 30, 2010
The Hub Collective
Sacramento, CA

This was a Monday night show with a history... Originally the guys from PHYSICAL DEMON (from Seattle,WA) contacted Bobby from LIVER CANCER asking for him to help set up a show with them and AL QAEDA... Bobby doesn't really set up a ton of shows..but he is a great guy and did not want to say no.. so he asked XOME to play too, contacted Andrew from CHOPSTICK to help..and a show was on.. during one of our staff meetings for Norcal Noisefest.. this show came up and Bobby asked if Instagon would be into playing a band set for this show? and also Chemical Angel was invited to play too.. so now the show had grown .. but it seemed that LIVER CANCER would not be able to play.. and in fact Bobby did not think he would even be in town to see this show due to work related scheduling...and so then the show was turned over totally to Andrew.. who went forward with the plan.. the room was booked.. the show was a go. On the day of the show word came that AL QAEDA were going to cancel due to one of their members going into labor the night before (babies and noise are not a good mix, and so this was for sure a valid excuse lol) .. and within minutes of this also CHEMICAL ANGEL canceled due to being called into work at the last minute.. and so SMITE! was called into fill the spot from Chemical Angel.. and we were preparing for perhaps an earlier night that planned.. but wait.. an hour before the show starts a call comes in that the other 2 members of AL QAEDA are on their way and play to play as a duo!! and so the show is ON. And it went down just like that. CHOPSTICK opened the show doing a set that was with a guitar and some effects...it was very reminiscent of Audioemetic... followed by a lengthy set from SMITE! ..who played nearly 10 minutes! .. 3rd up was XOME,.. Xome played to the largest audience of the night.. and he was amazing as always and actually broke the sound level at the Hub.. we were asked to turn it down by someone.. PHYSICAL DEMON played next and were very cosmic and dreamy.. AL QAEDA came on next with a 15 minute set of wicked noise and sonic sound sculpturing.
INSTAGON played last.. and we were originally set to be a 5 pc band.. with Shadow from Chemical Angel and a trumpet player too.. but Shadow did not make the gig.. and the trumpet player was too stoned at home and missed it too.. so we were the power trio.. and a power trio it was!

This time around was the 3rd round playing for Drew Walker.. Drew is the drummer for the local Sac. band THOUSANDS, as well as other projects around the grid. Drew is an awesome drummer that really has a good ear for fast paced improv. He also has some effects and triggers that he uses occasionally to spice up his sound.

Also on board for this show was John Keeling on the guitar.. this was John's 4th time playing with the Deamon this year.. we like John.. he is a fun player and really fills the holes well when the sonic chaos is brewing.. This was the first show that Instagon had played as a band without any pre-meditated theme or concept since May and so we were ready to let it loose..the show was smokin' from the very start of the Invokation.. the level of intensity in the room was high and every one was really ready to just punch it and let the chaos fly.. it was an rock power trio.. we tore it up for the short time we had to play.. the Jazz for Satan was particularly fun.. as it was not the standard swing rendition but something else completely different with a fresh bluesy approach. The entire set was really powerful and special for those that out on a Monday night to be touched by the Deamon..

INSTAGON 545
August 30, 2010
The Hub Collective, Sacramento, CA

Invokation>
The Flux>
Hubbin', *
Dripfall
Jazz for Satan,
Echophobic

* new riff, fresh improv

INSTAGON 545 was:
LOB - lead bass/vocals
JOHN KEELING - guitar
DREW WALKER - drums

------------------------------------------
flyer art and photos by Andrew Wayne

set list - session 544 - August 13, 2010 - Fire Escape Bar & Grill, Citrus Heights, CA - WEAVE Benefit

2010-08-30T11:50:00.000-07:00

Instagon 544
August 13, 2010

Fire Escape Bar & Grill
Citrus Heights, CA
WEAVE Benefit Show

In the early part of the Summer, Instagon was contacted by Brooke from the local rock band Blame Betty and asked if we would be interested in playing a benefit show for the WEAVE organization at Fire Escape Bar & Grill in Citrus Heights. WEAVE is an organization that helps provide services for battered women, so it was for sure a good cause and something we could support...and we had tried to book previously at Fire Escape with little luck.. so this one seemed like an easy way to support something cool AND benefit our desire to play a new room .. BUT there was a catch.. all of the bands that were asked to play were also asked to ONLY play songs from the 80's or songs that were made popular in the 80's! It was 80's night!! At first I thought it would be sorta odd, but then I started to think about it and well Instagon has a number of 80's tunes that ALREADY were in our arsenal of riffs and grooves.. so after the brief hesitation it was agreed that we would appear for this show.. Also on the show were lots of local Sacramento bands like The Common Men, Yes Sir, Breaking Glass, Jimmy Wah, Puke & Spit, Ventura, & Blame Betty. Everyone played great sets of awesome rad 80's songs.

For this session the band was given a group of songs that we were gonna play and told to familiarize themselves with them as homework. We did not practice or rehearse in any way for this show.. it was pure Instagon.

This time around the band was to be Chad E. Williams & John Keeling on guitars, Leo The Butcher on drums, and Lob on bass. The gig organizers provided drums and amps for this show, so with a back line already there, we brought our guitars and were ready to play. There was also a 80's costume contest and theme to the evening.. although none of the band entered the contest.. Lob did come in full 80's regalia.

The show started with a great set of pop punk classics from the band VENTURA.. followed by INSTAGON. . The Instagon set started off just a little bit off centered with an Invokation that lasted a few minutes while Lob started the ritual and then crept into a rendition of "Bela Lagosi's Dead" by the band Bauhaus. This was the first time that we had played this song since April 2009. This was followed by the expected "Rock Lobster" followed by the "Cambodian Holiday" that we have started to horse around with this year.. and then "Another One Bites the Dust" was on cue.. and the band rocked hard.. Chad E. Williams was on fire for this set shredding leads whenever the opportunity presented itself, and John Keeling was also on fire and adding great texture and mood for the set.
We closed the set with a riff by Metallica .. This last song was added to the set list the morning of the show.. and so no one really had the chance to study it that much.. but Leo held it down and we squeaked through it without too much mayhem.

Overall it was a really fun night.. all of the bands were really amazing.. there were surprizingly only 2 songs that were played more than once.. those were "Just Like Heaven" by the Cure, and "Blister in the Sun" by the Violent Femmes. Some of the high points of the night were The Common Men doing Ozzy's "Crazy Train" complete with biting the heads off of beanie baby bats.. and Yes Sir's version of The Cure's "Love Cats" (The Cure seemed to be the big covered band of the night). Oh. and worth mentioning was the totally WRONG cover of "I Used To Love Her" by Guns n Roses that Puke & Spit played.. I mean it was a benefit for WEAVE.. doh!

Instagon 544

August 13, 2010 (friday)

Fire Escape Bar & Grill, Citrus Heights, CA

WEAVE Benefit Show

Invokation>

Bela, (riff by Bauhaus)

Rock Lobster, (riff by the B-52's)
Cambodian Holiday, (riff by Dead Kennedy's)
Dust, (riff by Queen)
For Whom the Bell Tolls (riff by Metallica)

LOB - lead bass,vocals, costumes
CHAD E. WILLIAMS - lead guitar
JOHN KEELING - guitar

LEO THE BUTCHER - drums

-------------------------------------------

all photos by Yvette Lucas

poster by Blame Betty crew

set list - session 543 - August 12, 2010 - Luggage Store Gallery, San Francisco,CA

2010-08-21T23:13:00.000-07:00

INSTAGON 543

August 12, 2010
OUTSOUND SERIES

Luggage Store Gallery
San Francisco, CA

Once again.. another MIXER SET!!
This was our 5th time back to play in San Francisco for the OUTSOUND SERIES that happens weekly at the Luggage Store Gallery on Market St. This series is produced by Rent Romus from Edgetone Records and he does a great job of bringing in amazing eclectic jazz and experimental music every single week, and has for years and years now.. He deserves applaud where ever he goes!!
This time we were paired up with a guitarist from Paris,France named Richard Bonnet. A few week prior to the show Mr.Bonnet contacted me and ask if he could possibly borrow a guitar! I told him it was not a problem, and we arranged to have a guitar there for him to play. He brought his own effects pedals and did a very soothing, yet kinda lengthy set of solo guitar work.. the best part of his set was some things he was doing with harmonics and noise towards the end.. he did this while also running a small Slinky across the strings (which eventually became tangled).

Instagon followed with a rather large grouping for the evening.. this was to be a 7 person mixer set.. it featured Mark Wilson of Conure, Amar Chaudhary from Reconnaissance Fly, Alan Herrick from Nux Vomica, Martin Irigoyen from Vernian Process, Blanahillary from Holy Sisters of GaGaDada, and SF friend and ally Lena Strayhorn!.. it was quite a group.. and we had a very wonderful time..

Everyone that came to play brought very interesting approaches to the Mixer Set.. for some it was their first Instagon experience.. for others it was their 2nd mixer set this year!.. and for Alan, it was his first Instagon appearance in 13 years!!
As mentioned above this was a MIXER SET.. it was the longest Mixer set so far recorded..clocking in at around 35 minutes. I had a lot of fun playing bass within this set..

i told the players we were going for a droney and creepy feeling with this performance and they came ready to bring it. One of the most interesting parts of the performance was the involvment from Blancahillary.. who brought a roll of aluminum foil to the gig, wrapped her self up in it as the show started.. and then clawed he way out and shared parts of the foil with the rest of the ensemble..it was something special for sure.

INSTAGON 543

August 12, 2010

Luggage Store Gallery, San Francisco,CA

(MIXER SET)

The Perplexity of a Shrinking Steering Wheel

LOB - bass guitar, effects & metal

MARK WILSON - electronics

AMAR CHAUDHARY - keyboard & cell phone apps

ALAN HERRICK - laptop

LENA STRAYHORN - assorted acoustic items

MARTIN IRIGOYEN - guitar

BLANCAHILLARY - guitar, & performance art

all photos by Yvette Lucas

original hand bill design by Lob

Set List - Session 542 - July 18, 2010 - The Hub Collective, Sacramento, CA

2010-07-30T22:49:00.000-07:00

Instagon 542
July 18, 2010
The Hub Collective
Sacramento,CA

This show was something organized by Lob with the Norcal Noisefest Org. in preperation/promotions for the Norcal Noisefest happening in October. This is was the pre fest summer happening. Instagon appeared first in the line up, so thanks to those that came out early.. the plan was the MIXER SET !.. this time around the players included Stefano Zeroli from INK ON SUIT, Chad E. Willams, and Ryan Tomasello from BLOOD INTO WATER, who drove up from San Jose area to play!

The plan was simple.. to keep it moody and droney.. and so we did.. it was an excellent configuration of the MIXER SET.. and a great warm up for the BIG mixer set we have planned for NFXIV in October.

The rest of the evening was just splendid.. it featured the return to performance of klowd from Sacramento... it was his first time out in over 2 years... and it was great to see him play live again.. also Lucio Menagon, now a resident of NYC was in the room and did a shredding set of solo antics on the guitar .. SMITE! mixed some 80's dance beat into audio goulash ...Peter J Woods brought BIG speakers and leveled high volume violin noise that was squeaky terror...INSURGENT THEATER left us stunned after an hour long 2 person play regarding the rape and torture of the people by the corporate empire...and in the end MUCKY THE DUCKY came to tear it up, and did not let anyone down, we who stayed know what we got to experience.. thanks guys!

INSTAGON #542

July 18, 2010

The Hub Collective, Sacramento, CA

(mixer set)

"The Sickness ov Losing Friends Over Stupid Stuff On Facebook"
(30:00)

Instagon 542 was:
LOB (mixer contols/bass),
CHAD E. WILLIAMS (guitar),
STEFANO ZEROLI (synths)
RYAN TOMASELLO (laptop)

===================================================

all photos by Yvette Lucas

Set List - session 541 - July 5th, 2010 - On The Y, Sacramento, CA

2010-07-16T23:07:00.000-07:00

INSTAGON #541
July 5, 2010
ON THE Y

Sacramento, CA

this thrash metal show was originally booked to happen at the 16th Cafe ...and so it was originally an all ages show....but after a last moment closure of the 16th Cafe..a new location was found.. but the show was now 21+.. thanks so much to Grant from On The Y for allowing us to have this random monday night metal happening.. the line up was really great if you are into that sorta metal. Instagon opened this show.. and we were a trio of mayhem featuring Leo The Butcher on the skins and Jim Willig from (WANING) on the guitar. we tore up nearly an hour of time and had many fine words said to us after we finished.. even were given an extra pitcher of beer for our enjoyment .. Evangelists are a metal band from Seattle.. they are the ones that originally asked Instagon to play this show..and they were really great....also a duo called COMPETING played ..who are i think the same guys from The Wait but not the whole band.. who i guess couldnt make it. Virulent Death closed out the show.. they were smokin' .. it was a swell night of beer and metal.. no fireworks...just rock

INSTAGON #541
July 5, 2010

On The Y, Sacramento, CA

Invokation,

The Sickness,

Hand Of Doom**, (Black Sabbath riff)

Forward,

Cambodian Holiday, (Dead Kennedy's riff)
Deamon's Tube,

(For Whom The Bell Tolls Tease) (Metallica riff)

Jazz for Satan,
Shut Down> (Germs riff) O

Forward (reprise)>

Shut Down

** last time played 5-15-09 (39 shows)

also played "For Whom The Bell Tolls" as a sound check. 1st time played, no recording exists

Instagon 541 was:
LOB - lead bass
LEO THE BUTCHER - drums
JIM WILLIG - guitar

someone named Randy took this picture.

Set list - session 540 - June 25, 2010 -Terminal, Oakland, CA

2010-07-16T22:47:00.000-07:00

Instagon #540
June 25, 2010
TERMINAL
Oakland, CA

this show marks that time of the year when Instagon begins to play NOSIE sets and gives some attention to that paradigm.. and this was the first show of that kind for 2010.. a great line up in a swell space with lots of history for great noise shows. The plan was a 6 member Instagon MIXER set.. and that is just what happened. It was one long flowing sound collage that was conducted by Lob via mixer.. and it was very nice and lo-fi driven.. droney and moody.. dark and playful.. that is the best description that can be given for this set .. players included the one and only Dr. Oblivious, also Stefano Zeroli from INK ON SUIT, returning offender Free Fargo.. and 2 of his band mates from the VERNIAN PROCESS.. Martin & Bryan.. it was a good time.

INSTAGON #540
June 25, 2010

TERMINAL, Oakland, CA

" aboard thee early train to unknown locations "

performed by:

LOB,

MARTIN IRIGOYEN
BRIAN FIGEUROA,

FREE FARGO,

STEFANO ZEROLI,

DR. OBLIVIOUS,

set list - session 539 - Wischemann Hall, Sebastopol, CA

2010-06-22T10:58:00.000-07:00

Instagon #539
June 19, 2010
Wischemann Hall
Sebastopol, CA

This show was short and sweet, and a lot of fun. It was in a square-dance hall! seriously.. and it had beautiful hardwood floors and a natural echo to the room. We played last in a bill of 5 acts.. all of which were really good, but the show started about an hour later than it listed.. and one of the bands played twice as long as all the others, so as mentioned we did not play very long. The line-up for this ensemble included Cory Thrall from the band TROI. (he is how we got this gig, he asked us to play) also Leo the Butcher was already there playing with Cerebral Roil, and its always fun to play with Leo when we can.. (last time Leo played was the punk rock show in April at the The Stag), Chad E. WIlliams drove out from Sacramento for this gig in a caravan with Lob, and CJ Borosque from Lords of Outland rounded out the group coming up from the Bay area. The PA system was small.. but we were pretty loud.. the front mix was much louder from the PA than what we were hearing on the stage.. and so the experience for the band was much different than the experience for the crowd it seems. We also brought a wall of lights and were VERY psychedelic in our presentation.

Instagon #539

June 19, 2010

Wischemann Hall, Sebastopol, CA

Invokation>
Thee Sickness,

Cambodian Holiday (Dead Kennedy's riff)

Deamon's Tube

Jazz for Satan

(26:00)

LOB- lead bass, vocals

CHAD E. WILLIAMS - lead guitar

LEO THE BUTCHER - drums

CJ BOROSQUE - electronics/turntableisms

CORY THRALL - casio keyboard

also were Cerebral Roil, TROI, Moria Scar, & Prizehog

====================================

photo by Yvette Lucas

set list - session 538 - IN THE FLOW Sacramento Jazz Festival, Beatnik Studios, Sacramento, CA - 5-16-2010

2010-05-20T13:47:00.000-07:00

INSTAGON 538
May 16, 2010
Beatnik Studios
Sacramento, CA
IN THE FLOW FESTIVAL III

Riddled with obstacles.. but once again Instagon appeared at this 3rd annual happening presented by Ross Hammond and the Greater Broadway Partnership called IN THE FLOW FESTIVAL. .. We were a late addition to this event, not on the original press release, but generously offered a morning spot on the 3rd day of the event, which we gladly accepted. (thank you Ross!)..a Sunday morning..11am opening spot.. ( BROTHERS AND SISTERS.. please come in and sit your selves down and be ready for the morning revival of the daemonic chaos Sunday morning ritual and possession of the garage jazz virus..) So .. as i was saying...riddled with obstacles.. we arrived on time....a little after 10am for an 11am set... there was no one at the venue yet to let us in.. .we waited.. finally around 10:25 we were let in and started to setup.. about 10:40 we realized we had no snare or cymbals for the drum kit.. this was fortunately taken care of quickly by there luckily being another drum kit on site being used for the Festival. ..about 10:50..my bass was plugged in, and it did not work. ..we went frantic looking for a Phillips screwdriver to open the beast up.. and when we finally got inside, i had broken a connection wire.. an easy fix with a soldering iron .. something we did not have available.. a bass was borrowed from someone we are told was actually in Texas and did not know i was using his bass for chaosmagickjazzrituals.. so better not to tell him i suppose.. and after a quick visit by THE CAPTAIN we were off to feeling better about this whole thing and ready to pull some whoop-ass on the Sunday Morning easy vibe..
Joining us for this session were local favorites CHAD E. WILLIAMS, DEX LOPAZ, & D.RAY GRISHAM, who just tears up the wind with a trumpet in our mix.. Its great to be able to add that element to the shows lately...also playing horn, but Saxophone was our special guest of the morning RENT ROMUS (Lords of Outland) from San Franscisco! Rend came to play.. and play he did.. just taking the stage by storm and playing a firey set for such an early morning time window!
It was a short set by normal show standards..but it was a LOT of fun and some really awesome grooves happened.. the "Deamon's Tube" from this set is nearly 11 minutes and just MOVES!!.

this show is available for download for only $3

.. share it with a friend ...spread the virus..

<a href="http://instagon.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-flow-2010">In The Flow by Instagon</a>

INSTAGON 538
5-16-2010
Beatnik Studios, Sacramento, CA
IN THE FLOW FESTIVAL 3

Invokation >
In The Flow,
Deamon's Tube,
Undoing,
Orgone Collector
(40:00)

LOB - lead bass
RENT ROMUS - saxophone
CHAD E. WILLIAMS - guitar
DEX LOPAZ - drums
D.RAY GRISHAM - trumpet

--------------------------------------------------------------------
photos by Yvette Lucas
IN THE FLOW poster design by Lob

set list - session 537 - Body Tribe Fitness Parking Lot, Midtown Sacramento, CA - 2nd Saturday Art Walk- May 8, 2010 - Lob's Birthday!

2010-05-20T11:40:00.000-07:00

INSTAGON 537
May 8, 2010
Body Tribe Fitness Parking Lot
Midtown Sacramento, CA
(lob's birthday)

Every year Chip Conrad (Instagon Alumni!) owner of Body Tribe Fitness hosts an art showing turning the gym into a gallery for the monthly 2nd Saturday activities.. some art stays up all month...but most are for the single evenings event. the show is simply titled "THE BODY" and featured many amazing local

Sacramento artists. I (Lob) had a digital photo art piece in the show.. sort of a self portrait called "The Grateful Knee" that is the image you are looking at above. It is a 2 layer print of this image hand done, and signed. It measures 11x14 and is framed. It did not sell the night if this show and is available...just simply ask if you are interested in this or seeing any more my art. So, this year Chip's 2nd Saturday show event for "The Body" happened to fall on May 8th.. which is my birthday. Instagon was asked to play the event, that it happened to be my birthday was merely a fantastic synchronicity. As with years previously when the Deamon has played on my birthday, i usually invite a huge number of players.. some might consider it too many.. but i am personally all about the chaos and flow of a large number of musicians.. (i think that is my Sun Ra influence sneaking through again) so for this outing Instagon consisted of 2 DRUMMERS .(we sure did have fun with that in HB the previous week and well we had the room, so why not go there again), the drummers were

MARK HALVERSON (Garage Jazz Architects) and DEX LOPAZ (Chikading!)

both who have played a number of shows with the Deamon and who both had a GREAT time playing drums against each other.. there were also 3 GUITARS! CHAD E. WILLIAMS (Garage Jazz Architects) of course came out.. and he was screamin' the leads and laying it down in the streets of Sac that night for sure.. DAVE STONE (ThouSands) also came to play.. he was tearing it up and having fun.. this was his 3rd time playing so far.. a new friend STEVE CROWELL is a

blues guitarist we met via Craigs List.. it was cool of him to come out and jam with no notice and no idea what he was getting into.. another new friend of the day was PATRICK CLAYPOOL playing an Electric Violin!

Patrick found us via Facebook.. and he is the first one to come to play from that Frequency! It was gret to have him play and we look forward to more adventures with our new friends in the future.. rounding all of this out of course was the bass of the deamon rider. ..there was also a 4th guitarist that traded places with Dave Stone who came up in the middle of one of the sets.. his name was later told to be TYLER COOK. We played 3 sets.. each longer than the previous one.. we started in the evening.. and played into the night.. it was my birthday.. it was special

INSTAGON 537
5-8-2010
BODY TRIBE FITNESS, SACRAMENTO, CA

1:
Invokation >
Red Planet Landing >
My Little Red Planet,
Deamon's Tube,
orgone Collector,
Spider,
Undoing
(34;00)

2:
Jazz for Satan
Set the Controls (pink floyd riff)
Cows,
Echophobic,
Brainwashed Love,
Thruster,
Sunshine of your Love (cream riff)
(45:00)

3:
the Flux,
BuzzKill,
Speed of Light,
Space walk,
Rock Lobster, (B-52'S riff)
Black Knight* (Deep Purple riff, first time played)
Cambodian Holiday (Dead Kennedy's riff)
Cozmic,
The Day You Were Born,
Shut Down (Germs riff)O
(with Pink Panther tease)
(65:00)

LOB - bass/vocals
CHAD E. WILLIAMS - guitar
DAVID STONE - guitar
STEVE CROWELL - guitar
MARK HALVERSON - drums
DEX LOPAZ - drums
PATRICK CLAYPOOL - electric violin
TYLER COOK- guitar

-------------------------------------------------------------------

all photos by Yvette Lucas

set list - session 536 - Relax Bar, Los Angeles, CA - 5-1-2010

2010-05-20T10:36:00.000-07:00

Instagon 536
May 1, 2010
Relax Bar
Los Angeles, CA

Sorry this has taken so long to post. I will be posting all set lists today to bring this blog up to date with the most current show

I would like to start off by saying that the Relax Bar in Los Angeles,CA, that is booked by Eddie Solis of IT'S CASUAL and SOUTHERN LORD RECORDS, and holds a "weakly" club there called "CLUB MYWAR" should be avoided at all costs by anyone looking to have a good night out and enjoy themselves. Relax Bar is a TOILET of a venue, and i will never play there ever again without being given a blowjob and a thousand dollars in advance. If anyone ever claims to have had a good time at the Relax Bar in Los Angeles..they should be punched in the face and laughed at. Its not possible, The place is a shithole that give completely new meaning and definition to the term.

2nd, i would like to apologize to my friends that did come to this show.. I had no idea that this space was going to be such a shithole, or i never would have invited you to be there.. i would have liked to have spent more time with you and be in a better mood...i appreciate every one of you that came out to see this show.. it was awesome to have some support and love from good friends.. even though it was in such a horrible place..and i was obviously not happy to be there.

The night before while in HB, we got a call from Sarah, the band Mom for "Poop" who informed me that RIkk Agnew would not be appearing at the show for May 1st. Poop would indeed show and fulfill the obligation of the show that RIKK BOOKED!! but that he would not be there... it seems that May 1st is Rikk's Daughter's bday. WELL FUCK ME.. that would have been great for Rikk to remember when he booked the show with me for May 1st, back in March. To say the least.. i was not very happy with this call.. nor am i very happy with Rikk Agnew at the moment.. flaking because you are drunk and stupid somewhere is one thing.. but booking a show on your daughters 19th birthday.. when you KNOW when it is.. and then bailing out at the last moment and having someone else have to make the phone call for you and clean up your mess.. is weak, without honor, and pure crap.

With that said.. we arrived early to find no one there who spoke much english, or anyone who was actually involved with the show that was booked. I was not happy right away upon arrival.. i had sent the venue a dozen posters for the show, the confirmed receiving them, but there was not ONE anywhere in the entire club...this was my first warning flag. We went next door (which is actually part of the venue) and had some very kind Thai food. THAT was the best part of the adventure. A band called DIE LAUGHING from Las Vegas was added to the show at the last minute and they played first.. they were a hardcore punk/metal band.. they did not fit the show at all..but they were great guys and cool to hang out and talk about the old school scene in Vegas (which i was happy to be a part of for short time). Shortly after they played we were told we would have to pay $10 to park our van behind the venue...this was the 2nd warning flag.. GARAGE JAZZ ARCHITECTS were next.. we set up.. i got a beer.. it cost me $6!! no breaks for the bands. ..Eddie, who booked the show .. STILL had not shown up.. this was becoming horrible. GJA had a great set though.. and we were on and off the stage before anyone really even noticed.. Although a couple of ladies from Sacramento had driven down to see us.. that was nice. L.A.DEATH DOLLS were next.. this is a side project from the guys in REBEL REBEL (a legendary LA Scene band) and they basically played Stooges and Y &T covers for 30 mins.. it was fun.. at this point POOP was scheduled to play.. but they had not arrived yet.. it was at this point that Eddie finally arrived to HIS SHOW.. at about 9:30pm 3 bands in already...which, as someone that books shows sometimes, to me said that he didnt really give a shit. .. so INSTAGON went next . the line up finalized with DAN KAUFMAN (Mindrot, Eyes of Fire, Destroy Judas), & CARY PEALER (Punk as a Doornail) joining Chad & Lob in the Instagon ritual.. the set was really pretty good considering that they night had been really a joke..i bought another $6 beer.. so now with $50 for food.. $10 to park.. and $12 for beer.. i was out nearly $75 for this fucking show.. and guess what.. before we were even off the stage.. EDDIE LEFT!.. Not even a word goodbye.. or giving me any sorta understanding why the show was not promoted and no one had come to it....and not offering me ANY money.. when i brought 2 bands and traveled 400+ miles to be there. We had spoke previously that there was an overhead involved for he door security.. but to leave without saying goodbye, sorry.. or anything is beyond the weakest involvement i have had with a club anywhere in over 10 years. POOP closed the show to a room of consisting of me and 3 others.. because the venue had no sound man either, it sounded like shit and as too loud and drove anyone that was there back outside to hang out and not have their hearing damaged. We left and drove to Riverside where the GARAGE JAZZ ARCHITECTS did some studio recordings the next afternoon trying to forget that we were ever at the Relax Bar, and that it even exists.

here is a video that was shot by Brian Taylor of Atavus of Instagon 536 performing "THE SICKNESS"

"Thee Sickness" INSTAGON session #536 from Atavus on Vimeo.
------

INSTAGON 536
May 1, 2010
Relax Bar, Los Angeles, CA

Invokation >
Cambodian Holiday, (Dead Kennedy's riff)
The Sickness,
Echophobic,
Behind The Wall of Sleep > (Black Sabbath riff)
Jazz for Satan,
Dripfall,
Six Pack, (Black Flag riff)
Sex Bomb, (Flipper riff)
Deamon's Tube
(56:00)

LOB - lead bass, vocals
CARY PEALER - drums
CHAD E. WILLIAMS - guitar
DAN KAUFMAN - guitar

==============================================
photos by Yvette Lucas

setlist - session 535 - Blue Cafe, Huntington Beach, CA - 4-30-2010

2010-05-09T15:26:00.000-07:00

Instagon #535
4-30-2010
Blue Cafe
Huntington Beach, CA

Let me just start this blog off by saying straight up and off the top that INSTAGON LOVES THE BLUE CAFE! Okay.. now that I have that off of my deamonic chest we can move forward. This was our 2nd time at the Blue Cafe (1st time was session #500 last spring) and they welcomed us back with open arms. The staff and crew at the Blue Cafe know how to have fun and we enjoy working with them completely. This was the 2nd night of the mini-tour, and the first stop in So.Cal.
Back to the home turf and original stomping grounds of the deamon Instagon, Orange County, CA. We drove the 400 miles south during the day only to in So.Cal in the midst of rush hour traffic on a Friday on the 405 Freeway! It took nearly an hour to get thru LA and in to the OC. But once we got there we were happy.. the weather was kind, we were early enough to relax awhile, and so all was good. We checked into our room at the Ramada across from the venue and got ourselves ready for a night of chaos and deamon rock. This show was to be the BEAST...the giant insane incarnation of Instagon that the OC knows and loves.

The Garage Jazz Architects started off the night with a great set, followed by a band called Good Citizen from Long Beach. They were put on this show by the Blue Cafe booking staff, and so we did not know them or what to expect...they were amazing and great fun...they closed with a Pogues song and we were all drinking and having a great time. They were followed by the Gospel Swamp Blues Band..(our friends in HB who had shared the stage with us last year too) who tore up the stage with some hot blues and grooves. I (Lob) even played a little harmonica with them for the song "Hey You" ..an old blues standard.
Finally it was time for the Instagon BEAST to hit the stage. There were 12 players prepared, but in the end only 11 ended up playing.. and 10 of them at once time!

The invokation was lead in by Charles Ardinger, who was given the theme of
"SURF"
as the topic of the day.. the deamon creeped up behind him and we slowly brought the beast to bay.. and unleased into ORGONE COLLECTOR.. and then onward and Forward... The players involved with this session included ROBERT FISHER

& CHRIS McKINNEY from the Gospel Swamp Blues Band, MARK & CHAD from the Garage Jazz Architects, local OC jazz guitarist SCOTT HUESTIS, long time friend of the deamon , YOD on guitar too. JACK JOHNSON from the Taint played 2nd drums, and it was his first show since June 2004! MARTIN ESCALENTE played Sax and it was his first time back since Sept. 2002!, But the big stats to to JOHN PODDY from the punk band Smogtown..who hasnt played since March 1998 (the Instagon Tool & Appliance Orchestra) .. he joined us on Trumpet. The show was ROARING.. it was large and chaos filled with creamy good grooves. We closed with a riff by the Damned. The Blue Cafe still said they loved us and would have us back again.. and damn.. . we LOVE the Blue Cafe!

INSTAGON 535
4 - 30 - 2010
BLUE CAFE, HUNTINGTON BCH, CA

Invokation>
Surfing with Charles,
Orgone Collector,
Cosmic
Deamon's Tube,
Dripfall,
The Little Turtle,
Neat Neat Neat > (riff by The Damned)
Shut Down (riff by The Germs)O

(set length 62:00)

=========================================

photos by Yvette Lucas

there are more photos and videos available from this show at our FACEBOOK fan page.. look us up and LIKE us.

setlist - session 534 - 16th Street Cafe, Sacramento, CA - 4-29-2010

2010-05-09T14:36:00.000-07:00

Instagon #534
4-29-2010
16th Street Cafe
Sacramento, CA

This was the first night of our 3 day mini "tour" of shows with the Garage Jazz Architects and Instagon traveling together. This was the local show launching the adventure. This was also our first time at 16th Street Cafe since it had been renamed. (it was formerly called Java Lounge, and the last time Instagon

happened there was over a year ago) The Deamon was the closing act for a night of jazz... this was the JAZZ show of the 3 shows.. all were very different in style and structure.. but the chaos, as always was the same.. This outing featured the return of Michael Otwell playing Sax & Flute playing for the first time since July of last year. Also recent offenders returning for more were D.Ray Grisham (trumpet), Drew Walker (drums), & Chad E. Williams (guitar). This set had some truly amazing moments where the horns really hooked into some of the riffs and we just held on for the ride. The attendance was swell, the night was comfortable, and the jams were hot.
So hot we even got asked to play an encore!!

INSTAGON 534
4-29-2010
16th street cafe, Sacramento, CA

Evokation >
We Own This Corner
Spider
Brainwashed Love
Cosmik
Undoing
Cambodian Holiday (riff by Dead Kennedys)
Echophobic

E: Orgone Collector

D.Ray Grisham, Michael Otwell, Lob, Drew Walker, Chad E.Williams

=======================================================

phots by Yvette Lucas

setlist - session 533 - R5 Records In-Store appearance, Sacramento, CA - 4-24-2010

2010-05-03T22:33:00.000-07:00

Instagon #533
April 24, 2010
R5 RECORDS
Sacramento, CA
in-store appearance

Gosh it seems that this happened so long ago now, its nearly ancient history.. it was over 10 days ago now.. and well it was a really fun set..it just seems like we forgot to post up this information and stuff. so here is the news. This session featured local artist GREY CAT playing drums (he did the sculpture that is on the cover of the DEAMON ROCK cd), also returning for sophomore appearances was DAVID STONE (who played last month for Session #530) on guitar, and D. RAY GRISHAM playing Trumpet. (First time Danny played was in 2006!). Great fun, lots of friends turned out. We did however forget to play "We Own This Corner", which SHOULD have happened, but for some odd reason did not.

INSTAGON #533
April 24, 2010
R5 RECORDS, Sacramento, CA

Evokation >
The Flux
Deamon's Tube
Forward
The Little Turtle
Cambodian Holiday (riff by Dead Kennedys)
The Sickness

Lob - lead bass
DAVID STONE - guitar
GREY CAT - drums
D.RAY GRISHAM - trumpet

=======================================================
all photos by Yvette Lucas

set list - session 532 - The Stag, Woodland, CA - 4-3-2010

2010-04-12T16:43:00.000-07:00

Instagon 532
April 3, 2010
The Stag, Woodland, CA

I am not gonna ramble on too hard about this session, as it was already nearly 2 weeks ago.. I have slacked on posting this blog.. and so I will be brief and to the point. This was the 6 time we have played at the Stag in the past 4 years.. every time we play, it rules! We have the best time and get the best thanks from those that are there to see the band play. We love The Stag. This show, we were co-billed with 2 punk rock bands....ANTI-SOCIAL, an old L.A. punk band that has relocated to San Jose, and 5 FINGERS OF DEATH a newer band from Santa Rosa.. when they played you could tell that one was from the new school and one was from the old school.. both bands were really great, but Anti-Social were tight and powerful, heavy and relentless...just the way it should be.

Instagon for this outing played the early spot, and we recruited LEO THE BUTCHER from Cerebral Roil to play the drums, Leo has played the Stag with us previously, so he knew it would be a good time for sure.. also along for this ride was DEX LOPAZ from Chikading!.. playing some wicked Screamers-esqe keyboards..this was not Dex's first Stag show either...but for JOHN KEELING (Volcano School, Apo-Plex), this was his first time and he was prepared with some of the songs that i told him

that we might be trying to groove on..and it was awesome.. John really brought the night together.

You see.. I had planned that night to explore in true garage jazz fashion a collection of semi standard riffs from the genre of PUNK ROCK... and so that is what happened.. there was so forethought into this show, but for the most part it was the same flying from the seat of our pants that you would come to expect from the deamon anyways. Its a great set list.. i am trying to decide which song to post on the Facebook fan page..if you have a favorite of these you want to hear, cast your vote by commenting.

INSTAGON 532

April 3, 2010

THE STAG, Woodland, CA

sndchk: Thruster

Evokation>
Holiday in Cambodia,   (riff by Dead Kennedys, 1st time played)
Six Pack,               (riff by Black Flag, 1st time played)
Sex Bomb,             (riff by Flipper)
Neat Neat Neat,     (riff by The Damned, 1st time played)
Bloodstains,           (riff by Agent Orange, 1st time played)
Rock Lobster,          (riff by B-52's)
Under the Wheels>   (riff by The Damned)
Lust for Life tease>    (riff by Iggy Pop)
Thee Sickness,
Forward,
Goo Goo Muck*,          (song by The Cramps)
Shut Down                   (riff by The Germs) O

Instagon 532 was:
LOB - bass / vocals*
DEX LOPAZ - keyboards
LEO THE BUTCHER - drums
JOHN KEELING - guitar

================================================

all photos by Yvette Lucas

handbill design by Lob

set list - session 531 - Vega's Nightclub, Old Sacramento, CA - 3-27-2010 (w/ Greg Ginn)

2010-04-02T23:16:00.000-07:00

Instagon 531

March 27, 2010

Vega's Nightclub

Old Sacramento, CA

This was our 2nd outing to Old Sacramento and Vega's Nightclub. Rick Vega is a great guy and he runs a cool bar, its easily the most laid back and fun bar in the Old Sac area, no attitude, just good times. This was also one of those wonderful occasions I get to play with someone that recognizes what Instagon is all about, someone that GETS it and enjoys being involved and being a part of it, my friend Greg Ginn.

The night started out with an amazing set of total psychedelic jams and tribal grooves from Sacramento locals SAN KAZAKGASCAR. I had not seen these guys in nearly 2 years, and they have totally gotten their identity down solid. Somewhere between early Pink Floyd and Early Savage Republic is where you try to describe this band.. with a clarinet up in the front..they really bring you into their own zone

This year Greg arrived in Sacramento just within a week of the start of 40+ night tour across the country with his band The Taylor Texas Corrugators.

This time out the Corrugators consisted of Greg Ginn playing once again with his Norcal discovery, last years gold nugget guitarist GARY PIAZZA (from Redding,CA & the band The Incredible Sheep Shrinking Machine), and on the drums SEAN HUTCHINSON (from the band New Monsoon) together they are playing out as a trio and laying waste to all in their path. The Corrugators played a set of really intense heavy improv that could possibly be compared to what it might have been like to see Jeff Beck play a night of shredding guitar. Their first piece was a blazing journey of instrumental portions filled with ups and downs and final closing glory.. and it lasted over 30 minutes. .Gary Piazza is one of the wickedest guitarists on the west coast that you have never heard of .. and well you will be hearing from him, it's only a matter of time.

I (Lob) got to play some harmonica with them towards the end of their set and it was loads of fun. I could not hear myself very well, but I still had a great time.

Instagon took the stage at around Midnight after a night of amazing jams from 2 great bands, and it emerged in a field of sonic proportions and rose like a jet engine screaming across the night from depths of sea level thru the cobblestone streets of the original grounds of the once proud capitol of the golden state. Mark Rocha played the drums for this session and said it was his first public outing since the last time he played with Instagon..in January 2009 (show 489, 42 shows ago!) and he stepped up like it was riding a bike. Chad E. Williams also stepped up and shredded some amazing guitar licks that night, while being countered from the other side of the stage by Dan Quillan on guitar and his own creations. Dex Lopaz added some amazing tones and mood with his keyboards and Jaroba stepped up in front and totally stole the stage, even from Greg Ginn who joined us late in the set for the heavy wonderful roller coaster, "THEE SICKNESS" (which was Chad's request for the night btw)

INSTAGON 531
March 27, 2010
Vega's Nightclub
Sacramento, CA

Invokation >
In the Key of Y,
Echophobic,
Undoing,
Forward >
Evil Jazz 23 >
Forward >
Thee Sickness*
Deamon's Tube* >
Shut Down * (riff by the Germs) o

INSTAGON 531 was:
LOB - bass
CHAD E. WILLIAMS - guitar
DAN QUILLAN - guitar
DEX LOPAZ - keyboards
MARK ROCHA - drums
JAROBA - saxophone
* GREG GINN - guitar

===================================================
flyer design by Lob, original art by Sean Campeau
top band photos of Instagon by Yvette Lucas, arranged as collage by Lob
band photos of San Kazakgascar & The Corrugators by Chad E. Williams
bottom band photos of Instagon by Katie LeMer

set list - session 530 - IDES OF MARCH @ On The Y, Sacramento, CA - 3-15-2010

2010-03-20T19:07:00.000-07:00

Instagon 530
March 15, 2010
On The Y
Sacramento, CA

The IDES OF MARCH.. we got offered a gig.. and well i just could not turn it down.. lucky for us too.. as The Humans (from Reno) were a no call, no show.. and so we got to play extra long.. like a full 90 minutes extra long!!! Also, the deamon had new players for the mix that night!! new friends from the local Sacramento band called THOUSANDS , DAVE STONE, and DREW WALKER..joined Lob and DEX LOPAZ from CHIKADING! for a rippin' rock set at this local rock bar establishment. The set was SMOKIN' from the get go .. could have something to do with this bar giving us a pitcher of Arrogant Bastard Ale!!! It did not have a lot of people there.. but the people that WERE there really mattered and made it fun. As mentioned we played a long ass time.. unfortunately it seems that there were no photos taken. Thanks to Grant for giving us the spot and letting us rock out for so long.

INSTAGON #530

March 15, 2010

On The Y, Sacramento, CA

Invokation>
Joyride,
Speed of Light,
Deamon's Tube,
Jazz for Satan,
In Thee Key ov Y,             (fresh improv, new riff, 1st time played)
Echophobic,
Dust >                               (riff by Queen)
Insta-Gadda-Da-Vida,       (riff by Iron Butterfly)
Thee Little Turtle,
Undoing,
Thee Sickness,
Space Walk,
Brainwashed Love,
Shut Down                      (riff by The Germs) O

Instagon 530 were:

LOB - lead bass, vocals
DEX LOPAZ - keyboards   (Chikading!)
DAVE STONE - guitar        (ThouSands)
DREW WALKER - drums   (ThouSands)

================================

handbill design by Lob

setlist & details, session 529 - UBRADIO appearance / collab with Big City Orchestra - March 3, 2010

2010-03-08T23:38:00.000-08:00

Instagon 529
March 3, 2010
UB RADIO STUDIOS
Alameda, CA

UB RADIO SALON is a 2 hour weekly radio show that happens from a secret location in Alameda, California hosted by Ninah Pixie & dAS of Big City Orchestra that is broadcast live over the web via a radio server in the Netherlands. Its quite the technological feat actually, hosting a weekly show.

This was Instagon's 2nd appearance on this show (last was session 479), and this time out we brought Chad E. Williams with us from Sacramento.. and BCO brought Tom from UNIVAC ..and together we made a force to reckoned with. Chad and I drove from Sactown to Alameda thru 2 ugly rain storms.. and another one greeted us upon arrival and downpoured on top of us as we unloaded our gear.. Our studio space was warm and welcoming..

Ninah was already set up to play with her Alesis and so she was able to greet us and be a wonderful hostess. She offered us towels to dry off with..and some beverages.. she is always the best host. Tom was also already set up with his gear. The last time Instagon happened on UBRADIO, Tom also appeared and this was the first time we had seen each other since then.. it had been nearly 2 years! So it was great to have UNIVAC involved once again with our radio shenanigans..

Chad and I came in out of the rain as quick as we could and got our gear set up.. Chad had come with just his guitar and pedal board..so he was set up quickly.. I on the other hand came with a bass, a mixer, some effects, a set of marching bells, and a piece of metal that was salvaged from a Moe! Staiano performance..so I took the longest to set up.. which gave opportunity for everyone else to say hi and take these nifty pictures that you are looking at . The show was loosely based around the notion that I was gonna read some of my "kids" poems.. i did read some of my rhymes.. but we never ever got to a point where reading one of my children's pieces ever seemed like it would work.. i did read numerous poems.. probably the most poems in one sitting that I have read in over a year. I also played some bass, and made some noises.... and hosted the radio show.. the show was continuous for 2 hours.. there was short break at the half way point.. and then another shorter break while Tom did his monthly "science" spot for the show. So in all actuality there were 3 sets.. one long one. and 2 shorter ones. There was not really a set list in regards to the music.. it was very experimental and improvisational with what we had to work with., but there were appearances of a few standard Instagon riffs..

Instagon 529

March 3, 2010

UB RADIO STUDIO, Alameda, CA

songs:
My Little Red Planet,
Thee Sickness,
Echophobic

poems:

Where Are The Baby Pigeons,
Plastiphobia,
When Shit Becomes Food,
Have You Ever Smoked A Bowl?
I'm Stoned & This Poet Sucks,
Poodle,
I Could Have Been Hit By A Bus,
Lirbrary,
Waiting for a Ride,
Postcard from Italy,
Fidel Castro,
Whale,
My Favorite Song,
Jesus Has A Sampler

Instagon 529 was:
LOB - words, bass, metal, bells, shenanigans
CHAD E. WILLIAMS - guitar
NINAH PIXIE - Alesis Synthesizer
TOM UNIVAC - samples, keyboards, toys
DAS UBI - master control mixer, samplers

all words, original poems by Lob.

==============================================
photos by Chad E. Williams
Flyer art and photo of Chad by Ninah Pixie

Feb.2010 - 17 years of thee Deamon!, new releases, news and stuff..

2010-02-21T00:51:00.000-08:00

So.. its February 2010.. and Instagon has now reached its 17th year as a continual project.. can you believe it? 17 YEARS!...its almost old enough to vote!. Its amazing ! .. next month we will once again do a live web radio international broadcast collaboration with BIG CITY ORCHESTRA.. that will happen in the early part of the month.. and then the last weekend of the month we will host a show in Sacramento with our good friend GREG GINN and his Texas Corrugators.. should be good times for sure.

This month we released the 2nd installment in the FRESH CUTS series.. featuring new songs that have not previously been released on any other collections. The track is called "We Own This Corner", performed by Instagon Session 489, featuring Jim Willig and Susan Hunt from (waning), and Mark Rocha from the band SWIMS. It was recorded in January 2009 at Java Lounge,Sacramento,CA. Java Lounge (now called 16th Street Cafe) is located near the corner of 16th Street and Broadway in Sacramento. This is a very popular and busy corner, also on this corner, or near it are R5 Records, Records on Broadway, Tower Theater, Tower Cafe, and other places...we now play this song whenever we appear at any of these venues.. so far the song has been played 3 or 4 times since this appearance. This track is available as a FREE DOWNLOAD for a limited time thru the month end of this month, February 2010 from our page at bandcamp.com, (http://instagon.bandcamp.com) or via the link at the bottom of this blog.

also this month at the bandcamp.com page we have also released a full length live recording of INSTAGON from the Fall fo 2009 recorded outdoors in Sacramento,CA. GARAGE JAZZ AT HOUSE OV MU is a collection of songs taken from 3 sets of music played live by a trio (session 519) featuring Lob with Chad E. Williams & Mark Halverson. This trio was SO HOT during this performance that it has gone on to become the current and solid line up of the GARAGE JAZZ ARCHITECTS (another project that Lob & Chad E. WIlliams have dreamed up) This session rocks.. tracks that are stand out and worth every moment are "Cosmic" and "Deamon's Tube".. also a smokin' garage jazz cover of the main riff of the theme from The Simpsons, and the final epic track "Mu" is outstanding improvisation. This entire release, 12 tracks, over 60 minutes of music is currently available for FREE via our bandcamp.com site or this direct link:

<a href="http://instagon.bandcamp.com/album/garage-jazz-at-house-ov-mu">Invokation > Evil Jazz 23 by Instagon</a>
This release is also available now at all live Instagon AND Garage Jazz Architects performances for only $5.00.
As a special limited release in conjunction with Instagon's 17th Birthday this month, a VERY VERY LIMITED edition of 17 COPIES of "Garage Jazz at House ov Mu" have been created.

These limited versions are hand numbered with silver ink on the inside of the cover art. They also include a very limited edition signed and numbed art print of a piece by Lob called "Buddah in Snow". (show at right). This piece of art was released as a limited print in various sizes. Only 23 of them were made, each numbered and signed on the back by Lob. 17 of these were for this limited edition of "House of Mu" by Instagon, and the other 6 have been dealt with in other ways. Many of these have been given away as gifts to friends (after all it was for the Deamon's birthday!).. but a few are available for purchase or trade. If you are interested in this limited edition of the CD, with the art print, please visit the TIForg DistroBlog.

The bandcamp.com project will continue with a new FRESH CUTS track posted sometime in March, and also a new full length from the archives coming in April.

Placenta Recordings in Michigan has supposedly released a compilation called "Placenta Family Recordingd Volume 2" that features a live outsider sound art recording from Instagon done at Luna's Cafe in 2009, but we have yet to see this one.

1019 Records out of Santa Cruz,CA has also supposedly released a 60 minute cassette featuring 2 shows recording at Java Lounge in Sacramento during 2007. the release is called "Double '07" and is limited to 50 copies in a hand made paper package. We have yet to see this one too.. when we do, we will post a new blog with images.

Paper Cuts Records out of Ventura County, CA will be releasing the first recordings to see the light from the 520 SESSION done at KDVS in Davis,CA last Fall. It will be a 4 track, 30min CDep titled "Echophobic". It will be limited to 50 copies and it has some of the strongest recordings ever done by Instagon as a "band".

okay.. so that 's the news
oh.. sorry.. that link we promised.. it expired on Feb 28.

Set Lists - Sessions 527 & 528 - Double Dose Monday, - Feb. 8, 2010

2010-02-17T01:07:00.000-08:00

Instagon 527
February 8, 2010
Luna's Cafe

Sacramento, CA

Instagon Double Dose Monday!!

This was the first time that Instagon had been booked to play 2 shows in one day since 2005. Originally we booked this show to be our birthday show at Luna's Cafe for the Nebraska Monday weekly series, but then we got the opportunity for a 2nd show at the Press Club. We had not played the Press Club before, so we really could not turn it down... and the show was with UBERKUNST making their triumphant return to the performing stage, and a great out of town band.. but first lets recap on the first performance of the night and get to the 2nd one later.

Nebraska Monday's is a weekly series of jazz and improvisational music booked by local guitarist Ross Hammond at Luna's Cafe. Originally Ross had booked his trio to appear on this bill with Instagon, but as the date approached it was changed to be his band RACE!! appearing instead featuring Tony Passarell, Tom Monson, and others. The plan was to play Luna's early.. starting by 7:30pm, play a 30-40 minute set, and off to the next location. This plan was helped along by Tom Monson allowing us to use his drums for our set, but he forgot his rug and ran home to get it.. Tom rules, we were on the stage by 7:40pm.
This ensemble was a trio.. with an odd configuration.. bass, drums, horn.

On the drums was Dex Lopaz from CHIKADING!, who is a monster on the drums..all over the place.. hard to keep up with. His energy on the skins is just amazing and his wild time signatures kept Lob off balance for most of the show. On the horn was our new friend Marco Fuoco, playing various saxophones, and other instruments throughout the night. He also at one point broke into a political rant about artisans and the economy.

Overall the show was okay.. the begining was much stronger than the end. The first jam out of the invokation was something that just eneded up being called "527".. it was a free form improv with lots of energy. The Deamon's Tube was also really hot...but during the Joyride, Lob lost his timing due to trying to follow Dex and the deamon fell from the mark, and of course the clean up was quick and hardly noticable (except to those paying attention)

INSTAGON 527

February 8, 2010

Luna's Cafe, Sacramento, CA

Introduction,
Invokation >
527*, (improv free form jam)
Deamon's Tube,
Joyride,
Manic*, (new riff, first time played)
Marco's Speech,
Thee Little Turtle,
New Virus* >
Thee Sickness,
Deamon Panther (Pink Panther REALLY fast)

Instagon 527 was:
LOB - bass
DEX LOPAZ - drums
MARCO FUOCO - sax & other elements

====================================================

Instagon 528
February 8, 2010

The Press Club
Sacramento, CA

We were asked to play this show by friends from Boston,MA with the band PROBLEM WTIH DRAGONS. Robert from PWD had previously lived in Sacramento and played at Noisefest once with his project Jihad years ago. He had also been part of a band called SHIZMO or something like that that had played with Instagon during the epic Liquid Den residency in Huntington Beach from 2003. He also asked Sacramento legends of noise and mayhem, UBERKUNST, to play on this show.. they did not let anyone down.. they were full on KUNST.
By the time we left Luna's and headed for the press club it was raining..not really raining hard.. but raining none the less.. this was not a good sign for a Monday night show. But when we arrived we were pleasantly surprised to find a full bar of drinking people who were ready to rock and we came to give it to them. We were also totally blown away to find OUR name on the marquee outside of the bar.. not the headliner, nor the other band.. but us.. the opening band.. Instagon.
For this show, Instagon consisted of the same band that had played the earlier show at Luna's with the addition of Chad E. Williams on guitar... and Chad came to rock the house down. This performance was stellar. Instagon was in rare form and tore up the stage from the moment it was invoked. The Forward opener was shredding.. and the rest of the set was just as blistering. Jazz for Satan was the highest point in the set for crowd response.. but that is really no surprize. There was a calming point in the set where one of the new songs, "Sleepwalking" from the 520 session, was played live for the first time. It included elements of "Dripfall" in the starting parts, but that quickly faded away and the trance like flow of the riff took over the crowd. ..a run into Echophobic finished out the night.. and there was a funny joke of a tease for Speed of Light at the very end of the session. It was on fire.. there are no photos that we have seen of this live performance so far.. but there is this really cute group photo taken by Andrew Wayne of CHOPSTICK.

Instagon 528
February 8, 2010
The Press Club, Sacramento, CA

Invokation,
Forward,
Cosmic,
Jazz for Satan,
Sex Bomb (song by Flipper, aka the punkrock Freebird)
Rock Lobster (song by B-52's)
Sleepwalking
Echophobic
Shut Down tease (song by The Germs)
Speed of Light (blink of an eye version)

Instagon 528 was:
LOB - bass
CHAD E. WILLIAMS - guitar
DEX LOPAZ - drums
MARCO FUOCO - sax

======================================================

all photos of 527 at Lunas by Tommy VanWormer

photos of Press Club marquee, and flyer art by Lob

group photo of Instagon 528 by Andrew Wayne.

Happy Birthday to thee Deamon

2010-02-02T01:25:00.001-08:00

TODAY is Instagon's 17th birthday! All hail the lesser feast of Instagon !!

New Releases at Bandcamp !

2010-01-30T00:55:00.000-08:00

instagon.bandcamp.com

We have launched a new online site with streaming and downloads of recordings of Instagon thru the wonderful site called bandcamp.com
Our first release was a download version of the INSTAGON - LIVE AT TRUE LOVE title that came out on CDr last summer (limited to 50 copies).

In November, we released the entire live performance of the Instagon Noise Quintet from Norcal Noisefest 2009. This session features Blake Edwards from VERTONEN, Rent Romus from LORDS OF OUTLAND, Steve Davis frm +DOG+, and Mark Soden of PHOG MASHEEEN playing noise with Lob at NF13. Right away we had a few copies move from the bandcamp page.. it was a really great feeling to have music posted and purchased within a short time. thanks!

In December we released a digital remastered edition of an old title by Instagon, our first collection of live songs from 1999.

The "SPACE 1999: 10 year Anniversary Edition" features digital remastering of the entire original release that was before only available on cassette., plus a 20 bonus track, and extensive liner notes regarding each track. This is an amazing document of the early band recordings by Instagon ,and features standards like "Forward", "Orgone Collector", & "Joyride".. plus the debut performance of "Rock Lobster", and an amazing version of Bauhaus' " Bela". This release also marked the first in a series of FULL LENGTH releases planned for the bandcamp page to happen BI-MONTHLY. The next full length will be posted in February 2010 and will feature a live recording from Fall 2009 from Sacramento,CA.

for 2010 we also have unleashed the FRESH TRAX series which will feature a new song, EVERY MONTH available for FREE download. Each track will ONLY be available for a limited time until the end of each month it is posted. The track for January is a new track called "Dripfall" recorded at the UFO Club in Folsom,CA during the COSMIC HOOTENANNY (session 524). This track is currently only available for a limited time...now through Jan. 31, 2010. A new track will be posted a few days later.

At the end of the year all 12 tracks will be available as a collection with exclusive art work and probably a bonus track or 2.

Set List - session 526 - Jan 25, 2010 - Marilyn's On K St., Sacramento, CA

2010-01-27T14:13:00.000-08:00

Instagon 526

Jan. 25, 2010

Marilyns on K Street
Sacramento, CA

First just let me start by saying that we like Marilyn's!.. the sound there is great, Jeff, Jay, and everyone else there are really great people. They always treat us like friends rather than just another band thru the door, and that really goes a long way for sure. Instagon played a couple of shows last year at Marilyn's and like is said, we like it there, and so we were happy to be back in 2010. This show came together rather short notice, and the tails of the headlining band MOO GOT 2 from Arcata,CA. They are a cool jam band and had a show booked for that Monday, we asked if there was room and Jeff said we could play a 30 min. set. Then we got notice from the cool guys from MG2 that they wanted to let us use their backline, so we didnt have to bring drums or a bass rig.. and so it made the night way easy to deal with. Thanks again to the guys from MG2. It was a Monday.. and it was raining! so getting a lot of heads out was probably not gonna happen.. so we make the best of it and rocked hard for the people that were there.. it was a small crowd of about a dozen or so people, including our friend Stefano Zeroli (Ink On Suit), who came out in the rain to support the show... (thanks Stefano!)

We took the stage a little after 8pm and was told, to our surprise that we had til 9pm to play.. and we did!.. playing a 50 minute set! This ensemble had not one, but 2 new players in the Instagon mix for the first time.. John Keeling (Volcano School) who has seen Instagon a few times made his debut on guitar as player 537, and our new friend Marco Fuoco (Marco Fuoco's Illumination) came in to fill the horn position playing both tenor and alto sax throughout the set. The core was once again filled by the Garage Jazz Architects (Lob, Chad, & Mark). The show started a little wobbly.. the Invokation did not just melt into the first riff.. it was a bumpy jump off into the Joyride...but once it was going, the flow was on..the Deamon's Tube got great response from the small audience.. and the "Cozmic" was just ..uhm..out of this world..lol. The Little Turtle wasnt as jumpy as it has been recently.. but the Echophobic, was really very cool and had lots of great fluidity to it....Thee Sickness closer was a jazzy version of this riff, similar to the version from Davis Jazz Fest back in October (session #517). Everyone seemed to have a great time.. and then Moo Got 2 came on and played 2 sets of great jams and tight songs and got the small crowd off their feet and onto the dance floor.. even Stefano and Jeff were out there tearing it up!

INSTAGON #526
Jan. 25, 2010
Marilyns On K St, Sacramento, CA

Invokation >
Joyride
Deamon's Tube
Cozmic
The Little Turtle
Echophobic
Thee Virus >
Thee Sickness (with Pink Panther tease)
(51:00)

LOB (lead bass/vocals)
CHAD E. WILLIAMS (guitar)
JOHN KEELING (guitar)
MARK HALVERSON (drums)
MARCO FUOCO (tenor & alto sax)

=====================================================
photo by Jennifer Jacobsen
tour flyer from MooGot2

Set List - session 525 - Jan 23, 2010 - Vega's Nightclub, Old Sacramento, CA

2010-01-27T00:41:00.000-08:00

Instagon 525
January 23, 2010

Vega's Nightclub, Sacramento,CA

Well it was a cold and rainy night as the deamon descended upon Old town Sacramento for our first excursion there..but that did not prevent us from having a great night of fun and chaotic acid jazz in our new favorite place in Old Sac, VEGA'S NIGHTCLUB! The line up was set to be Chikading, followed by THE POLYMERS, and then Instagon, session 525. All of the early sets were really great. CHIKADING was a little more relaxed than they have been at recent past shows.. but they were still on fire as usual with their great new fusion grooves that they are getting a reputation for laying down. The POLYMERS followed with a great set of psychedelic edged garage pop.. great catchy riffs and awsome songs, plus some cool covers like "Quinn the Eskimo" and Pink Floyd's "Lucirfer Sam".

Instagon took the stage sometime around 11:30pm and played til nearly 1am.

This session was a 6 piece ensemble featuring the Garage Jazz Architects (Lob, Chad E. WIlliams, Mark Halverson) at the core of the beast.. and with Dex Lopaz from Chikading playing some keyboard... also Matt Kretzmann from DELAYED SLEEP came out and played guitar for this session. It was his first session since Jan. 2009 (session #490), over a year!.. and it after many times asking, but not having our schedules make it available, this session was the debut Instagon set for local jazz man Tony Passarell.

The set was really drenched in thick gooey chaos from the very start.. and it stayed that way throughout the adventure. Chad, Dex, & Tony were doing really great things between them and it was really awesome. Thee Sickness was probably the hot spot in the set.. but thats just from my opinion.. your could very.

INSTAGON # 525
Janurary 23, 2010
Vega's Nightclub, Sacramento, CA

Invokation>
The Flux,
Jazz for Satan
Brainwashed Love
The Little Turtle
Spider
Rock Lobster (song by B-52's)
Buzzkill
Speed of Light
The Virus>
Thee Sickness
Deamon's Tube
Echophobic

Instagon #525 was:

LOB (bass/ vocals)
CHAD E WILLIAMS (guitar)
MATT KRETZMANN (gutiar)
DEX LOPAZ (keyboards)
TONY PASSARELL (sax)
MARK HALVERSON (drums)

====================================================

photos by Yvette Lucas and Kathleen Le Mer

photo collage by Lob
flyer art by Lob & Kathleen Le Mer

2009 Statistics and retrospect

2010-01-17T09:29:00.000-08:00

Well, another year has closed on the Instagon history and data files and I must say that this has been a really fun and productive year. There were lots of shows in lots of places and lots of new and wonderful faces! I think my favorite show of the year was easily Instagon #500 which happened in the spring.. it was a clusterfuk of a good time.. It was great to play with so many old friends like Greg Ginn, Robert Fisher, Dan Kaufman, Scott Huestis, Zack Olsen, and of course Cary Pealer, and many others.. (Charles Ardinger opening the show was probably my favorite part of that night)..it was a great time and I have a scar on my knee from when I bashed it on the stage to remind me of it for the rest of my days. Also this year saw the re-birth of the GARAGE JAZZ ARCHITECTS project which had taken the shape of a trio and is moving along nicely.. so that is my new BAND.. its a real band.. we have practices and set lists and everything.. LOL. Cary Pealer also made a norcal appearance in the Fall when we recorded the new material at KDVS (Instagon #520).. those recordings done by Fenris Wolf at KDVS are amazing.. and we are currently shopping them to labels! All and all it was a great year.. it was the most shows we have played since 2004, and moving north to Sacramento.
2009 also saw the release of 4 NEW full length titles, 1 amazing re-issue, and 7 compilation releases.. we were busy.. the new titles were, if you missed them.. "DEAMON ROCK" - on Auricular Records, "Thee Scream ov Angels on thee Deaf Ears ov Man" on LOVE EARTH MUSIC, LIVE AT TRUE LOVE on TIF, and LIVE AT NORCAL NOISEFEST 2009 from TIF/BANDCAMP.. and the SPACE 1999 -10 year anniversary edition digital remaster on TIF/bandcamp is something very special
So here are the statistics for Instagon for the year 2009.. the deamon and I both thank you for your continued support. - Lob

Instagon 2009
TOTAL NUMBER OF SHOWS PLAYED - 35

number of NOISE shows - 9
(5 trios, 1 quintet, 3 mixers)

TOTAL NUMBER OF VENUES PLAYED - 24
(7 repeated)
festival appearances - 3

TOTAL NUMBER OF PLAYERS - 58
number of NEW players - 22

TOTAL NUMBER OF SONGS/TITLES PLAYED - 114
number of NEW titles - 64
number of NOISE titles - 13

NUMBER OF COMPILATION APPEARANCES - 7
NUMBER OF FULL LENGTH RELEASES - 4

Detailed information about every set from Instagon in 2009 can be seen at the Instagon web site and the data base for 2009.

if you need any further detailed info on anything mentioned.. please make contact.
============================================
photo of Lob by Yvette Lucas

Set List - session 524 - Jan. 2, 2010 - House on the Hill Cosmic Hootenanny, UFO Club, Folsom, CA

2010-01-05T21:12:00.000-08:00

Instagon #524 January 2, 2010
House on the Hill - Cosmic Hootenanny
UFO Club, Folsom, CA
(3 sets)

The UFO CLUB is an organization that was started in the UK in or around 1966 and was founded by the founding members of Pink Floyd. Syd Barrett's sister is still involved with the original group in England. A number of years ago a local man named James and his brother David began a project to re-create a version of the UFO club here in California.. they became involved with the UK group and opened an "official" West Coast chapter of this International collective for creative happenings in, of all places, Folsom, CA. ..the House on the Hill. Each years since its beginnings the West Coast UFO Club has hosted an annual end of the year celebration and party. This year marked the 10 year anniversary of the first West Coast UFO happening and a 3 day event was planned. Our good friends DELAYED SLEEP, played the festivities for New Year's Eve night.. and we were honored to be invited to play the closing night, Saturday Night, as the live band entertainment.. and so armed with Pink Floyd riffs we headed up the hill from Sacramento to Folsom ready to party

We arrived at the House On the Hill to find no one home.. not a soul.. the lights were on but no one was there.. we were at first sorta worried.. but then, after a phone call to Jimmie James , the event planner, we were told to hang on for a few minutes and he would be there to let us in. The band that was playing as Instagon for this session was all 3 members of the Garage Jazz Architects (Lob, Chad Williams, Mark Halverson) and also 2 of the members of Karmada (Stephen Elliot & Matt Conklin). This would be the 2nd time playing with Instagon for both Matt & Steve, but the first time Steve was on his main instrument, the guitar. (last time Steve played drums, Instagon #501). The house was a smallish house with old hard wood floors and lots of great visual effort to make it look like an old English party flat.. rounded archways.. hard color painted walls.. a mirror ball.. a liquid light.. and we brought trippy projections, and all of a sudden this show was a rainbow more colorful than Liberace throwing up on himself.

The first set was truly like an Instagon set from the past with the set list featuring songs that were played during the Liquid Den days & Lob even sporting his infamous "space pajamas" shirt . "My Little Red Planet," "Joyride", "Speed of Light", even Black Sabbath's "Behind the Wall of Sleep" (not played since NYE 2008, 36 shows). The only song that was something that has been added into the shows more recently was the theme song for "The Simpsons." That was mostly because that has become a GJA standard, and it was easy to make happen with the 3 of them all there. The set ended with a botched attempt into "One of These Days" by Pink Floyd that quickly went south and became closer to The Doors' "LA Woman". Also at this sets end, Stephen complained that his back hurt and took a break and so Matt was playing guitar for a short while.. and it was really cookin'! This first set lasted about 40 minutes.

The second was the shortest of the 3 sets we played that night, only about 30 mins.
It started with a new song "Dripfall" that was written in the studio this past Fall.. This was the first time it had been played out live...followed by another old school song, "Space Walk".. by this time the band was starting to calm into a place where really nice grooves and interaction between the players could happen..this "Space Walk" was really nice. Then, with twist of the old effects knob, Lob added this fat wah sound to his bass.. sounding like Jerry Garcia playing "Shakedown Street", and busted into a seriously funky version of "Thee Little Turtle".. deep disco dance version. After some boogie time, it was time for more Pink Floyd.. this time "Let There Be More Light" was the subject of the sonic garage jazz exploration.. it was a first time for this song to enter the deamon's realm and it was taken seriously.. finally to close the set we tore up a hot swingin' "Jazz for Satan" and then it was time for a bite to eat.

The 3rd and final set was the epic set of the night.. closing out at just around an hour, it started with more Pink Floyd with "Set the Controls...." we were at the UFO Club after all! This set was mixed with old songs and new songs.. and another first time Pink Floyd outing for Instagon with "Interstellar Overdrive". "Thee Sickness" was dedicated to Chad, who was ill but came to play anyway. The "Rock Lobster" brought down the house! This set was the sonic power set of the night.. all the way around great stuff. Only real moment worth mentioning was during the middle of the "Interstellar Overdrive"...it seems that the NYE weekend of party happenings got to Stephen and he fell asleep into a nod and a wall of feedback.. just nodded away.. to the point where Chad had to nudge him awake to cut the feedback from killing all of us.. it was something you seriously needed to see to believe it happened.. but alas.. it did.. supposedly there is a video that was shot .. maybe we can get to see that again someday.

All and all it was a pretty fun show.. there was some frustration and some chaos, but it was Instagon.. and the first show of the year too.. The deamon had a great time and looks forward to the next time we are asked to play at this interesting and special location.

Instagon #524
Janurary 2, 2010
House On The Hill Cosmic Hootenanny
UFO Club, Folsom, CA

set 1
Invokation>
Red Planet Landing>
My Little Red Planet
Joyride
Speed of Light
Behind the Wall of Sleep (song by Black Sabbath)
Simpsons (TV Theme song)
One Of Those LA Women* (Pink Floyd/Doors live mash up)

set2
Dripfall
Space Walk
The Little Turtle
Let There Be More Light**(song by Pink Floyd, 1st time played)
Jazz for Satan

Set3
Set The Controls (song by Pink Floyd)
Undoing
Spider
Echophobic
The Sickness
Interstellar Overdrive** (song by Pink Floyd, 1st time played)
Brainwashed Love
Rock Lobster (song by B-52's)

session 524 was:
LOB (lead bass / vocal )
CHAD E. WILLIAMS (guitar)
MARK HALVERSON (drums)
MATT CONKLIN (keyboard / guitar)
STEPHEN ELLIOT (guitar)
=======================================================
flyer art by Lob
group photo by Kati LeMer
all other photos by Yvette Lucas

thanks to UFO CLUB West Coast !

<a href="http://instagon.bandcamp.com/track/dripfall">Dripfall by Instagon</a>

Set List - session 523 - El Rincon, San Francisco, CA - Dec. 22, 2009

2009-12-24T18:27:00.000-08:00

INSTAGON #523
December 22, 2009
El Rincon, San Francisco, CA

It was a cold winters night in San Francisco.. no rain, just cold with some wind.. but not as cold as we had thought it was gonna be .. so I guess that's a good thing, right?

We arrived early to the venue, Bob from Xome had traveled with us and was going to be involved with the Instagon set that was planned so it was cool to have come as a group. Instagon was planned to be another mixer set and basically the same set that was played last week at Luna's Cafe, but obviously with different players. This time around we had planned to included Free Fargo from SF, but he declined. We also invited Cory Thrall from Shrew Florist & E-Yard to join in the festive fun.. he was very excited to play, it would be his first Instagon session. We also asked the project that played before us called Bonus Beast if they would like to be involved and so we grew to a 5 piece group with the addition of Ryan King and Josh Thomas

Tonight we started with "Foundation" .. as this was more as a NOISE show and not leaning on the season for its inspiration.. (the show last week had an xmas themed title)..it was really heavy and full of steam really early on. This piece has truly evolved since its first appearance in 2007 and this evening rendition and players were all on their game. Bob Scott was really watching Lob as he manipulated the mixer and found what channel he was on and really watched for moments he was being mixed forward in the chaos. We finished "Foundation" and the crowd cheered and thought we were done.. Ryan started to pack up his gear..and had to be stopped.. we announced.. "no no..its not done yet.. we are just getting started" .. a quick change of the cd for direction.. and we started into "So This Is Chistmas".. it was loud and over the top.. and went only about half way thru the actual foundation track of the 1994 original mix. . so this was a shorter live version of this song than the one played last week in Sacramento.

At the end of the set it was discovered that the audio recording device was unplugged at some point during the ritual and so no audio recording was captured. Jared from Shrew Florist made a video recording and so this is the only known documentation from this session that exists besides photos. Free Fargo, who came to support the show even though he did not play, mentioned that it was timely and it was happy we had played "So This is Christmas.." its nice to have someone give feedback for a change.. feed back is always welcome.

Instagon #523

December 22, 2009
El Rincon, San Francisco, CA

Foundation
So This Is Christmas...

523 was:
LOB
BOB SCOTT
CORY THRALL
RYAN KING
JOSH THOMAS

=============================================
photos by Yvette Lucas
flyer art art possibly by Grux
photo art by Lob

do you read this blog?? LEAVE A COMMENT...
We really would like to know if anyone reads this.. are you there? anyone?

Set List - session 522 - Luna's Cafe, Sacramento, CA - Dec. 18, 2009

2009-12-19T19:24:00.000-08:00

Instagon #522
December 18, 2009
Luna's Cafe, Sacramento, CA

'twas the NOISE before Xmas... at least that what it said on the flyer. and so it was.. it was a really fun show.. you should have been there! Those who were there got to see some really great sound art and noise improvisations. All of the sets that happened were really strong. The sound system hand some issued a few times, but we overcame them and moved forward with each set in a timely fashion, letting loose the audio brutality that we came to unleash.

By the time INSTAGON took the stage it was easily 11pm.. and that 'ole end of the show energy had taken the room by storm.. there were only a few die hards left.. you know who you are and you are wonderful for staying.. thank you! The set was to be a MIXER SET.. the 2nd one of this year. (the first one was session 512 earlier in the year, also at Luna's). The MIXER SET , involves each player giving a direct line feed to a Mixer.. no amps, no headsets.. and then Lob conducts the sound from the Mixer controls live... sonic sculpting the set as it moves forward. Involved in this set were CHAD E. WILLIAMS, WES STEED, ANDREW WAYNE (of CHOPSTICK), and STEFANO ZEROLI (Ink On Suit)...with special guest ART LUNA playing a blender!

(Art Luna of Luna's Cafe behind the counter)

Earlier in the week Instagon had released a download of a 15 year old track called "So This Is Christmas" . This track was an audio collage done in 1994 live, and then re-mixed in the studio. For this session (522) we used this collage as the foundation of the performance, with Lob then adding the performer's live noise and electronics on top of it, making for a really nice live re-mix of an old old friend. The last time this track saw any action was a radio broadcast at Xmas time in 1996.. previous to that the only other LIVE happening of "So This Is Chistmas" was the original performance from 1994.. Instagon session 64! But we did stop there.. we closed the set with a rendition of "Foundation" a piece that was written for the Mixer Set but had not been performed since session #473 (49 shows if your counting)...we figured hell, while we were dusting off old tracks.. why not play this one too! it was well worth it.. this version of "Foundation" was really hot with Lob adding bass lines as it progressed into the swirling chaos.

Instagon #522
December 18, 2009
Luna's Cafe, Sacramento CA

Ghost of Xmas Present Visitation / So This Is Christmas
Foundation

522 was:
LOB - mixer control, bass, metal objects
CHAD E. WILLIAMS - guitar
ANDREW WAYNE - electronics
STEFANO ZEROLI - electronics
WES STEED - electronics
ART LUNA - blender

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photos by Bobby Almon

Set List - group 521 - Cozmic Cafe, Placerville, CA - Nov. 28, 2009

2009-11-29T16:53:00.000-08:00

Instagon #521
November 28, 2009
Cozmic Cafe, Placerville, CA

A cold Fall evening in the town of Placerville, in the Tahoe foothills of California. We arrived at Cozmic Cafe really really early as we were asked to do, and arrived to find no one there that had any idea what was happening with the show. There was no door person, nor a person to run the sound. The kind hearted owner, Gayle, informed us that there was a beautiful sound system for our use and that "they" would be happy to help us with sound..but who "they" were was really not mentioned, nor was any real help offered. After a little time going by and frustration starting to set in, we set upon the job ourselves with the help of Chad E. Williams and someone else from the Noisepsalm crew of people we finally got a working sound system and we were ready for launching. it had now been nearly 2 hours since we arrived...and we were hungry. So a quick run to a fast food joint to get some fuel, and then back to the venue to invoke our deamon.

It was a really tough night on stage.. it was hard to hear as they had no real monitors on stage.. and Blake William, although a swell guitar player, is really loud. The set started off with a quick Invokation and dropped into the Red Planet Landing & My Little Red Planet. After a few adjustments to sound, we were off again running through a good selection of older Instagon riffs (Red Planet, Spider, Jazz for Satan, Deamon's Tube), some of the newer riffs (Undoing, Cozmic, Buzzkill), and some great garage jazz covers too (Simpsons, Rock Lobster). This was Skip Moriarty's first time playing with Instagon, and he seemed to really enjoy himself dancing and doing place kicks on the stage while we were rockin'. The audience really had a great time watching him. But the real core of this show was a semi-prepared concept (prepared as in everyone on stage had been forewarned) ..this was Instagon group # 521. ..with that number in mind we set into playing Five To One by the Doors.. with full vocals from Lob ! It was really something different, and very special. It was done for this show only, and will probably not be repeated. We played it upbeat and off key just like you knew we would. {grin}.

INSTAGON #521
November 28, 2009
Cozmic Cafe, Placerville, CA

Invokation >
Red Planet Landing >
My Little Red Planet,
Cozmic,
Simpsons, (TV Theme song)
Spider,
Jazz for Satan,
Five To One*, (song by The Doors, 1st time played)
Buzzkill,
Undoing,
Rock Lobster, (song by B-52's)
Deamon's Tube
(1:15)

521 was:
LOB (lead bass, vocals)
CHAD E. WILLIAMS (guitar)
BLAKE WILLIAM (guitar)
MARK HALVERSON (drums)
MATT LEWIS (keyboards)
SKIP MORIARTY (flute, tamborine)

A side note: Skip Moriarty used to be the flute player for the band STEEL WIND, and Blake William's dad was the guitar player in STEEL BREEZE. So this show had a lot of STEEL potential...just thought we would share that.

===========================================

all photos by Yvette Lucas

Recording Session Set Lists - group 520 - Lower Freeborn Hall -KDVS, Davis,CA - Nov. 21, 2009

2009-11-27T19:08:00.000-08:00

Instagon #520
November 21, 2009
Studio "D" Engineering Room
Lower Freeborn Hall, KDVS Radio, UC DAVIS
Davis, CA

This year Instagon supported KDVS radio by donating $200.00 to their annual fund drive in the spring time. For this we were given a generous gift of 8 hours in the studio at the station with an engineer. After months of planning and gathering the right people, the date was set and off we went into the studio. Joining Instagon for this adventure in exploration were the 2 members with the most hours involved with the Deamon, Lob on bass , and Cary Pealer (Punk As a Doornail) on drums. The classic rhythm section of Instagon. Also joining us on guitars were Chad E. Williams (GJA) and Dan Quillan (Art Lessing), Susan Hunt (waning), and Andrew Wayne (Chopstick)...and we were joined for the middle set by Jaroba for some great saxophone.improvisational interaction.
[Dan Quillan, photo by Lob]

[Susan Hunt, photo by Lob]

[Andrew Wayne, photo by Lob]

The first set / session started with a quick warm up of the song "Forward", before the actual recording machines were turned on.. then a little more tweaking of the space and getting comfortable , and then we were off. Cary had a hard time finding his studio legs and we all seemed a little off.. but listening back to the raw recordings we sounded really good, it just was hard to realize it because of the size of the space we were in. The Sickness was over 16 minutes long during this session and was just fantastic.
The 2nd set we were joined for an hour by Jaroba, and we played a couple of the songs again that we played in the first set. He tore some really great sonic holes into the stratosphere of that room and laid down some great horn. After the 2nd set we took a break for nearly an hour to get some food. After eating we all felt much better, even Cary, and we laid down some really great tracks of pure improvisation...new titles.. fresh riff rides.. the 2nd groove was particularly amazing..we named it "Freeborn" for the hall building we were playing in.
Here are the set lists and notes regarding who plays where and what cover songs we had fun with while in the studio. The engineer was Fenris Wolf, and we should be meeting again with him sometime very soon for the final mix down of these recordings.

soundcheck - Forward [no recording]

SET 1:
Sunlight In My Eyes, {original song by Communal Death Duck}
Echophobic (w/vocal),
Speedwobble tease,
Speed,
Thee Sickness (w/ vocal),
Cozmic tease,
Evil Jazz 23,
Buzzkill,
Undoing,
Speedwobble,
Sex Bomb (w/vocal), {song by Flipper}
Cozmic
[1:10]

SET 2:
Cozmic,
Mu
Jazz for Satan,
Brainwashed Love,
Speed,
Sleepwalking*
Disco Warm-Up*
Deamon Disco*
Echophobic,
Joyride,
Thee Sickness
[1:15]

SET 3
Thruster,
Freeborn*,
Cows, {song originally done by Murray}
Bela, {song by Bauhaus}
Cruise Control*,
Dripfall*,
Nebula Chaser,
Dust > {song by Queen}
Set The Controls > {song by Pink Floyd}
Rock Lobster > {song by B-52's}
Shut Down > {song by The Germs}
Found Wind# [noise piece]
[1:20]

* new songs, 1st time played
# noise piece

Instagon #520 was:
LOB (bass,vocals),
CARY PEALER (drums),
CHAD E. WILLIAMS (guitar),
DAN QUILLAN (guitar, deth cello),
ANDREW WAYNE (moog synth)
SUSAN HUNT (keyboards)
JAROBA (saxophone) [2nd Set Only]

=======================================
top photo by Andrew Wayne

Set List - show 519 - HOUSE OF MU, Sacramento,CA - Nov. 14, 2009

2009-11-15T20:45:00.000-08:00

Instagon #519
November 14, 2009
House of Mu, Sacramento, CA

set 1
Invokation >
Evil Jazz 23,
Simpsons, (TV show theme by Danny Elfman)
Joyride,
Cozmick,
Spider,
Brainwashed Love,
Deamon's Tube,
Echophobic,
Set The Controls, (song by Pink Floyd)
The Little Turtle,
Satisfaction (song by The Rolling Stones)
(56:00)

set 2
Red Planet Landing >
My Little Red Planet,
Rock Lobster, (song by The B-52's)
Undoing,
Love Cats > (song by The Cure)
Thee Sickness,
[Orgone Collector tease]
Jazz for Satan..So What?, (contains both songs intertwined) (So What by Miles Davis)
Eyes Have Seen You (based on riff by The Doors)
Mu *
(57:00)

* new riff, first time played

Instagon 519:
LOB - lead bass
CHAD E. WILLIAMS - guitar

MARK HALVERSON - drums

The main thing that everyone kept asking at this show was, "why haven't we done this before?".. and we really did not have an answer. In Sacramento, on the 2nd Saturday of every month there is this "Art Walk" that started a number of years ago and has since expanded into a free for all of creativity and shenannigans in midtown Sacramento. This leads to all sorts of fun things happening that go un-disturbed because the local powers that be seem to be okay with all of the artistic mayhem that happens in their fine city. SO this month, on the 2nd Saturday.. Chad Williams suggested that we should set up an Instagon happening in his front yard.. that the neighbors have parties all the time and they have no room to complain..so lets do it. and so we did.

As it is November here in sunny California.. the sun goes away early for some dumb reason.. and it gets dark by 5:30 or so. Because of this we set up around 4:30pm and got started as soon as we could.. and by the time we were ready to start we had already gathered a good little crowd of people that were ready for us! This was all because Mark Halverson is a PR pro and he got his posse to come make an appearance.

And he did not let them down one bit.. Mark was ON.. and so were Chad and Lob.. and the show just tore it up.. It started fun and groovy with the Evil Jazz 23.. and quickly moved into deep goove waters.. Cozmik was on fire.. and Set the Controls was really special for this first set. The Set ended with a really botched attempt at The Rolling Stones' Satisfaction.. (sorry) The first set clocked in at 56 mins.. it was really fun.

The 2nd set started on the Red Planet, and then took off with a Rock Lobster.. followed by the return of Undoing.. which was really amazing once Mark fell in the pocket and the groove took over. Then someone from the crowd asked about the Rock Lobster riff..and Lob played more into the 80's theme by taking off into Love Cats by The Cure.. but quickly changed direction and unleashed a loud and effects driven rendition of Thee Sickness. This set ended with a new riff that was let loose and it was given the title "Mu". (named for the house we were at), This song is EPIC.. this first time it came through at around 13 minutes. .. its something very special and will probably become a standard for the new year.

this ensemble actually was the current configuration of the Garage Jazz Architects appearing as Instagon. This core has played 3 previous times for Instagon but with others, always including a 4th or 5th player. This trio is smokin' and we look forward to really amazing things in 2010 from the GJA.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
all photos by Yvette Lucas

Thee Screams ov Angels on thee Deaf Ears ov Man

2009-11-10T21:40:00.000-08:00

new for 2009
FINALLY a full length NOISE release from INSTAGON.

This release was recorded at various locations during the year 2008. Most of these tracks come from "mixer sets" from the Deamon and include over 20 players throughout the 5 tracks. It has been released by our good friends at LOVE EARTH MUSIC. This is our 2nd Release on LEM Recordings (the first was "Survivors ov thee Psychick Conflickt" from 2006) The new release also features a cover art collage by Lob called "Monks and Angels" that is very beautiful.
This release came out a few months ago and we just didnt have time to blog about it..so now we are! This is the best noise release from Instagon to come in years. It has that old school feeling and raw energy of the early releases from Instagon (think "Methoozella" or "Thee Most Creative Thing in a Slight English Accent")
The guys at Vital Weekly compared this release to Throbbing Gristle jamming out.
you should get this release if you like noise from the low end.

Set List - show 518 - NORCAL NOISEFEST XIII - The Greens Hotel, Sacramento, CA - Oct 17, 2009

2009-10-27T22:34:00.000-07:00

Instagon #518
October 17, 2009
NORCAL NOISEFEST XIII
The Greens Hotel, Sacramento,Ca
[NOISE QUINTET]

Black October Samurai >

Spider With Sickness >
Return ov thee Samurai >

Illness >
Jazz for Satan

LOB (bass)
STEVE DAVIS (antelope specialist)
BLAKE EDWARDS (the minimalist)
RENT ROMUS (sax)
MARK SODEN JR (trumpet w/ electronics)

This marked the 13th that the Norcal Noisefest has unleashed its decibels and mayhem upon the good city of Sacramento. Instagon is part of a very elite club that has played every Norcal Noisefest. This was our 13th appearance at NF.

We were scheduled to appear in the 3rd session of 5 for this years 3 day event and had very good company with Vertonen and Xome closing the night after our set. Already this session had seen amazing performances from Nux Vomica, Lords of Outland, Dog, CJ Borosque, & XDUGEF.. and this was only the 3rd session!! The Instagon set that was planned was to elaborate on the NOISE TRIO concept that we have been doing for most noise appearances this year, to expand to a Quintet. The original trio that was planned for this show was to be Lob on bass, Moe! Staiano on the Antelope Specialist sign.. and Floyd Diebel on the box of toys and microphone.. but both of them skipped out on the idea and so Steve Davis from +DOG+ was recruited for the Antelope Specialist sign (his 2nd time doing it! see show 496). Its always great to play with Steve.. he is an old friend .. DOG and Instagon have a long interactive history..so its fun. For the other position BLAKE EDWARDS from VERTONEN was asked to sit in for his first Instagon experience playing the toys from the box.. the minimalist.

To grow the band into a Qunitet.. we added a horn section!! Featuring RENT ROMUS from LORDS OF OUTLAND on Saxophone.. and MARK SODEN from PHOG MASHEEEN on Trumpet with electronic.. and thus the stage was set for Instagon 518.. the NOISE QUINTET!

the group started off at a trot and quickly grew into a full run..playing wicked cool free jazz coming from all directions.. noise spattered with beats and rythyms inner moving with horns and grooves.. it was delicious. Probably one of the the best executed conceptual ideas for Instagon that has happened in quite some time. The entire show was improv on the spot. .. Jazz for Satan was thrown in at the end of the set just for good measure and fun. Spider With Sickness was very dark and contained parts of both Spider and Thee Sickness..hence the title.. Other 2 titles were named post the performance and were dedicated to the angry neighbor who for some reason saw it his right to attack the Noisefest with a Samurai Sword. Its true! This is how the night ended.. with Xome blowing the lid off of the room, a man with a sword at the door, and the cops coming to our rescue. Another Norcal Noisefest becomes history.. thank you Sacramento.

==============================================
all photos by Yvette Lucas

<a href="http://instagon.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-norcal-noisefest-2009">Intro by Instagon</a>