January 2020 Instigator

Instigator rocked La Quinta Brewing Company

Friday January 3rd, a mostly black leather, black band t-shirt and denim clad group of fans gathered in a small warehouse room of La Quinta Brewing Co to hear La Quinta, California's own metal band, Instigator. There was a chill in the air and the smell of wooden pallets. A few scattered kegs for seats and bar tables were placed on the cement floor of the stock room which was closed off from the loading dock by large metal garage doors. Tall shelves with neatly stacked silver kegs lined the walls. The stage, which was just an area underneath a doorway to a large stock room, looked ready-a Marshall half stack on either side, a white Flying V guitar, a Gibson Les Paul, a black four-string ESP bass, and a white, five-piece Yamaha drum set were set up on the floor. The four were attending to a few last minute details before they were going to start playing. I waited with the groups of fans, excited for the show to start. After having heard of Instigator six months prior and seeing them live for the first time on Halloween, my expectations were high. I had been impressed by their expert level playing, high energy and showmanship. These guys were completely at home on their instruments, on stage and with each other. I had never seen such a young band that was so well rehearsed and yet so fun to watch. They were ready to open up arena tours for Metallica even though they had just graduated high school. With all four members of self-described “roots thrash metal band” Instigator in their late teens, they pack a punch of raw power and energy in their playing, that quickly makes an impression. More impressive though, is that these four have gained respect and admiration in the local metal scene for their expert level musical ability. Their precision, speed, and dexterity as well as their penchant for producing interesting riffs and well put together songs are easily on par with the greatest players and legends in metal. Their shows are unforgettable displays of technical prowess, flashy tricks and non-stop excitement. Brutal, thunderous, guitar and bass tones, lightning fast, masterful guitar solos, complex, high-tempo drumming, and heads of hair spinning in every direction, are all consistent aspects of Instigator’s live shows. The band plays all original music, that is well-crafted. Their style gives a nod to an array of metal, punk and progressive rock greats, like Megadeth, Metallica, Slayer and more, while still being their own. A sustained, heavily distorted guitar chord swelled through the warehouse. Ears perked up- among the small crowd of all-aged fans, some in Instigator t shirts. Rhythm guitarist/vocalist Jaxon Fischer (who looks like the lead singer of 90's rock band, Silverchair) made a joke about intimacy with a toaster into the microphone. The crowd laughed. After a quick sound check, the madness began. The first song "Slave" tore through the quiet audible anticipation like blades ripping through rusty car parts. Essences of Slayer, Motorhead and Van Halen were discernable through the sting of the loud clamor. Mark Wadlund, lead guitarist/vocalist of Instigator, fast picked a solo with an impressive ascent , smoothly racing up the neck of his white flying V. Bassist/vocalist Garrison Calkins yelled "Fuck" into the microphone. A brief mosh pit started at the outset of the first song, but never reformed despite Wadlund's later taunting the audience to "thrash". "Exothermic"-a song inspired by high school science class, was a roaring follow up. Fischer nailed an impressive guitar solo on his brown Gibson Les Paul. "The ballad of Esther Sanchez" was like a lovechild of Dead Kennedys and Metallica-that would make either band proud. "IT COULD BE YOU" bassist Calkins growled into the mic. The next songs were "Rudeboi", then "No Man's Land" in which they teased with a few beats of Michael Jackson's "Billy Jean" and then unrelentingly exploded into a song that reminded one, at times, of machine guns firing. The song was a symbiosis of chaos and brutality. "Power" followed and then "Stick it" which Wadlund explained, was inspired by the Jack Black movie School of Rock. The song is a celebration of nonconformity and defiance against authority. Wadlund wind-milled his long dark hair, reminiscent of the animated metal band Dethklock, as the blistering thrash song stormed the crowd's ears. Wadlund announced in his deep growl that they were taking a quick break. After about a ten minute water break, Instigator began again with "Atom", which featured a short bass solo. One was reminded of early Megadeth and of Metallica's Ride the Lightning album. "Necessary Evil" and "Metal Brigade" were both storms of epic proportions. "Tied Up" launched with an explosive intro, reminiscent of Nirvana's "Breed", then changed into a different riff-based groove . The song featured a guitar solo by Fischer that mimicked a laser sound. The highlight of the show, for me, was "Destructive Tendencies", a high speed, high energy, ripper with complex drum fills, and crowned with an eloquent harmonic minor guitar solo by Wadlund, that is perhaps my favorite one. The song's lyrics are about the human race inadvertently destroying itself. When they played the thrash/speed metal tune "Trills to Kill" I could sense all the atoms in my body dancing and smiling, banging their little atom heads in time. Calkins announced to a surprised crowd that it was Joe Boomer's last show. The crowd didn't react much, unsure if he was joking. The band then launched into "Haunting Chapels" which starts out with solo drums. After some joking by Wadlund about a two-hour guitar solo, Instigator played their last song of the night, "Evisceration". It started out unassuming, but quickly intensified with an early guitar solo by Mark, with squealies, a slow sludgy part, and couple bars of change to 6/8 time. The song ended with a tasteful guitar solo. The crowd gave applause and shouts. People started to mill about. Calkins came out to talk with and meet audience members. After greeting and snapping photos with Calkins and Wadlund, and buying the band t-shirt, I hi fived Fischer and told him his playing was epic. "I'm just doing what I love" he said, through a big smile. Instigator rules! These guys really know their stuff. They absolutely rip and are super fun to see live. I am thankful that Instigator is the future of metal. They have come to save us. The metal gods are pleased. Their future is bright.

Hopefully, they will release their follow up album to Built to Defy, soon!