Instagon's Stockton,CA Debut!! Tomorrow!!

flyer by Marc Schneider

INSTAGON plays tomorrow for the FIRST time ever in Stockton, Ca.   It's cool to be playing at the Plea for Peace Centre..as that is the only really accepted honest venue that we have heard of IN Stockton..   There used to be a place called The Black Water Cafe.. but it is closed now (Garage Jazz Architects played there once..but no Instagon) ,, beyond those 2 venues.. we really have no real insight into Stockton at all.. we hope to really try to make some new friends.. it would be swell to get to come and make the deamon rise there more than just this one time.  The venue is run by a guy named Middagh, who is also part of the band NOVACAIN we are sharing the night with..  so it will be cool to meet him and co-conspire.   We have been told in the past that Novacain is a band that Instagon should play with ..so we are excited to see what they are all about.  Also on the bill are FORREST FRIENDS, who are on tour from Seattle.. also new friends that we have yet to meet.. and then a couple of old friends.. MEDICINE CABINET from Tracy (who actually got this show to happen!).. and BLOOD INTO WATER from San Jose.    This should be a swell night of noise and improvisational weirdness.   A few years ago Instagon played the POO FROG RANCH for their Mayday Celebration and we became friends with YELLOW DOT from Stockton.. they are our only real friends in Stockton and David Molina from Yellow Dot will be part of the Instagon session.. as will Chad E. Williams, Stephen E Elliott, & Ryan Tomesello (of Blood Into Water) .. it should be an interesting Instagon.   See you tomorrow.   -/\-

Instagon 20 Year Anniversary Show - session #623 - photos and Audio!

INSTAGON's official 20th Anniversary show took place on Feb. 2, 2013 at Marilyn's on K in Sacramento,CA.  We were joined for this occasion by local friends EGG, and from SF the LORDS OF OUTLAND once again joined us for our birthday.  It was a fabulous night of chaos and music with new and old friends. The Instagon performance included 17 various individuals as part of the group and included 3 of the original 4 members from Instagon's first invokation. (Lob, Peek, & Chris TM were all present.. only Myke Quest was not)

There are a number of photos from this event in the photo albums on the Instagon Facebook page.. if you have not "liked" our page on FB.. please to there now and do so, and check out the pics. 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Instagon/187238906980

More photos were taken by local Sacramento photographer Ed Goldthorpe. He has posted them up on a flikr account and you can find them here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7148421@N03/sets/72157632725872458/

Sacramento music magazine SUBMERGE also had a photographer at the show and included shots from it with a review & short interview with Lob and Leticia Garcia (past player..sessions #611 & 619) by writer Stephanie Rodriguez.
This piece in Submerge can be seen here:
http://submergemag.com/featured/the-mistress-band/7755/

LASTLY..  the SOUNDS.. 

We opened this show with an audience participation percussion "Instacabra"..and then fell into a nearly 15 minute version of Sun Ra's "Space Is The Place" featuring Laurie Amat (of The Residents) on vocals.  It was an exceptional show with lots and lots of friends and players.  You can stream or download the entire show from our page at archives.org.   here is the link... enjoy!!
http://archive.org/details/instagon2013-02-02.flac16 

Instagon #623 - Feb.2,2013, Sacramento,CA - photo by Ed Goldthorpe

This is a first in a series of "catch up" posts that I am gonna make here in the Deamon's Tube..  I am hoping to be back to posting CURRENT happenings by the end of April ..beginning of May.  Thanks for reading.. and enjoy the links. -/\-

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

 

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

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!"

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!  -/\-

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

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

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.

Instagon 577 at Vega's Nightclub, Old Sacramento

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

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

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.   -/\-

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

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 555 - Luna's Cafe - 1-10-11

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

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..

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

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..

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

1. Invokation>Red Planet Landing>My Little Red Planet, Orgone Collector,
   Deamon's Tube, Spider, Echophobic, Thruster, Simpsons
   (42:00)
   
2. 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

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