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

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

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

NEWS - RECENT INTERVIEWS - PaperCuts & (dis)perse

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

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

 

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

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

 

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all photos by Yvette Lucas

poster by Blame Betty crew

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

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

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)

 

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all photos by Yvette Lucas