2 New Releases This Week!

Instagon has 2 new full length albums that have been released this week.. First is the newest collection in the on-going "A Dozen Paths To Escape Complete Boredom" series..  this one is volume 5.   It features almost all LIVE recordings done during the May 2013 sessions.  12 new cuts.   Featuring Lob working with JOHN KEELING,  JOEY CARUSI, BOT, CHAD E. WILLIAMS, STEPHEN A. ELLIOTT, TONY PASSARELL, VINNY GOLIA, & JACK CHANDLER.  This series is part of the 12x12in12 on-line community project that Instagon became part of for 2013.   There are 4 previous volumes to this series.. and still 7 more coming.  This month's collection can be found at bandcamp.

http://instagon.bandcamp.com/album/a-dozen-paths-to-escape-complete-boredom-vol-5-12in12x12-series

The 2nd release this week is a collection of recordings from 2007/2008 released on Placenta Recordings called "Thee Start ov Thee End".  The cover art is by Lob.   This is a CD ONLY release, available in a limited edition of only 75 copies, housed in a DVD size package.    Players on this release include Chad E. Williams, Susan Hunt, Eric Putnam, Dr. Oblivious, Tim White, Ryan Tomesello, Mike Daddona, Dex Lopaz, Andrew Wayne, Jim Smith, Leo The Butcher, Matthew Lewis, Mara Arrowood, IDX1274, Don Haugen, Morgan Jaeckel, Scott McGahan, Robert Fisher, Rent Romus, Phillip Everett, Nick Avdienko, and Pat Riley.   This collection contains both experimental "noise" / sound art cuts, as well as musical garage jazz recordings..a little bit of everything.   This collection also includes the entire "Funeral For a Droid" suite in it's entirety for the first time...previously only portions of this have been made available on compilations.   This CD is available exclusively from Placenta Recordings.
http://placentarecordings.blogspot.com/2013/05/instagon-thee-start-ov-thee-end.html

New Reviews.. VITAL WEEKLY #877

VITAL WEEKLY is a weekly online-email publication that is generated out of The Netherlands by reviewer and sound artists Frans de Waard.   VT is the OLDEST source for music reviews on the internet.. and it tends to focus on the obscure and experimental genres.    Recently we sent 3 of the recent Instagon releases to VT for review and this week, in episode #877.. we got the results.   We believe this is the 2nd review from VT that has mentioned a comparison to Throbbing Gristle within some recordings.. which is sweet..   also its great that vocalist Jenn Rogar received a nod for the tracks she appears on on the "Jazz for a Lesser Deamon" release..     so here are the reviews.. and if you want to read more reviews from Vital Weekly.. they can be found on the interweb at    www.vitalweekly.net

Reviews originally appearing in Vital Weekly #877:

INSTAGON - THEE PERPLEXITY OV A SHRINKING STEERING WHEEL (CDR by Auricular Records)
INSTAGON - JAZZ FOR A LESSER DEAMON (CDR by Thee Instagon Foundation)
INSTAGON'S GREATEST HITS (compilation CDR by Thee Instagon Foundation)
Music by Instagon I surely heard over the years, and maybe even reviewed, but I don't seem to easily find that relevant information. But maybe these three will lead me to some coherent thoughts. Instagon call themselves an 'experimental sound art jazz jam band', whose membership is floating, but with a nucleus of Lob (lead bass, loops) and Chad E. Williams (guitar). Further instruments are drums, saxophone, trumpet, flute, keyboards and vocals, sometimes with multiple players on boards. Their releases count up to thirty in twenty years and are usually culled from live recordings from a certain period - although these concerts are sometimes sessions without an audience. The release on Auricular Records for instance has recordings from 2007 through to 2010 and show them in a more experimental mood, I should think. Jazz is a word that doesn't immediately come to mind when hearing this. It opens with the title piece which lasts thirty-five minutes, of which almost the first half is the band starting up with some vague rumbling before going somewhere. Spacious, drifting, but also not too well recorded. Much of this recorded with digital recorders with microphones attached to it, but to capture a band of multiple players, and their amplification is not an easy task, and not always the sound is very defined. That is a pity of course, but you could argue that the rawness of the moment is captured by this, and none is lost (nor enhanced). Its a long piece and spacious piece, just like the closing thirty minutes of 'Thee Sickness Ov Losing Friends Over Stupid Stuff On Facebook'. Spacious, drifting, not without a hint of very early Throbbing Gristle. In the two shorter pieces in between Instagon goes out to free jazz a bit more, with bass and drums freaking out, along with a marimba.
On 'Jazz For A Lesser Deamon', their 30th full length album, we find live recordings from 2012. It sounds different from the previous release, but that doesn't mean this should be discussed in terms of progress. According to the press release this happens to explore more the jazz side of the band. 'Garage-jazz sound' is what they call it, and perhaps that is a most apt title for these explorations in the world lo-fi recording. Lots of wind instruments along with bass and drums, all set the mode from free to very free. Maybe it's all too (free-) jazzy for me, these grandchildren of the Sun (Ra), with the big band playing, but I like the fact that it has a raw energy and some excellent tunes that could work, when recorded properly, work out as a fine soundtrack for a black/white film noir. The biggest surprise are the final two tracks which has Jenn Rogar on vocals. Although primarily a folk singer, she is more like scatting around here, and it makes things rather smooth. Now if progression is anywhere on the list for Instagon, I'd say this is surely one (alone with technical improvement on the recording side, like doing multi track recordings; this music surely deserves that).
Of course the twenty years of existence also prompted the release of a greatest hits compilation but then played by others, mostly friends I'd say from the west coast. I recognized such names as Nux Vomica, +dog+, Chad E. Williams and One Infinite Loop and none of the others - fourteen hits are to be found here. I am not sure, but that's perhaps because I am not that familiar with all of those thirty full length releases, if these are covers - playing their songs with your own instruments - or remixes, in which sound sources from Instagon are used to create new songs. I guess it doesn't really matter, and it's all more about doing a tribute. All of the band's interests drop by here: the jazzy bass lines, sampled rhythm patterns, noise, sampled melodies and all in between. I should think more remix than actual cover, but perhaps I am all wrong about this. Loud at times, quiet at others, maybe as diverse as the original bunch. Including also the musical qualities of Phog Masheen, Messier 7, Mile 97, Scott Heustis/Jeff Schwartz, Ogo Pogo, Corroded Master, Stephen E. Elliott, Chopstick and Urban Sherpas. Nice one, and perhaps a fine introduction also for some new names. (FdW)

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if you want information on how to GET any of these CD releases.. please contact instagon @ gmail.com

NEWS - NEWS - NEWS - NEWS

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)

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

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:



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

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.

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all photos by Yvette Lucas

LIVE AT TRUE LOVE - new CD from TIF

NEW RELEASE FROM TIF

INSTAGON - LIVE AT TRUE LOVE
Recorded in August 2008
limited to 50 copies
This recording of Instagon (477) was done during the IN THE FLOW Festival in Sacramento,CA in 2008. It features Lob playing with long time friend Chip Conrad (CMU, Christian Kiefer Band), along with Guitarist Chad E. Williams, and Davis,CA horn player, Jaroba. This disc was produced and released during the 2nd Annual IN THE FLOW Festival that happened this year, it was limited to 50 copies, and we are happy to annouce the release for sale of the remaining discs.
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

This show outside and it was a hot day. We played set of mostly improvisational free jazz with a couple of Instagon garage jazz standards thrown in for good measure. It was originally billed to be a trio with only Chip and Chad, but at the last minute we added Jaroba to sit in for part of the set and it was really worth it. This is one of the last great happenings that went down at the True Love Cafe at its K Street Location.