The Official History of Instant Dogma

(Woodrose, snakes & ladders, Freak Music,
Punk Rock Treehouse and everything else.)

                                                                                                       1997-1998                                 
                                   snakes & ladders            
                        
                    snakes promo pic
                                    Fall 1998                 
   
                                                           

Round about late November, I bumped into Dean, a feller who said
he played bass. I asked him if he wanted to start a band. He said sure.
Over the next month Dean, Greg and I worked up some new songs
and a few from my old catalogue. I chose the name snakes & ladders,
from a childhood game I played in England, and a line from
an Elvis Costello song. By spring of 1998 we were gigging.

    
snakes & ladders at Sir Morgans Cove

We conscripted Pete Zolli to help produce four songs
for our first demo and recorded it on March 11.
At the end of the session Greg told us his dad had passed
away the night before. He wanted to play in his memory.
That summer Dean moved into Greg's apt (above Toad Hall.)
We released the tape, reviews were mixed
and the strain began to show on Dean.
Also that spring Julian Russell began hanging out at Toad Hall.
He helped with tape machine maintenance, and in return
received free studio time. He recorded Steel String Classical Guitar
in May, live to two track with Pete engineering.
He also appeared on my second official solo album,
produced by Pete and featuring the Unusual Suspects
(Greg, Keith, Pete) as well as Bob Jordan and Bret.


Julian Russell and Greg
recording at Toad Hall summer, 1998

 

                              Available here                            

                






Steve, Bret and Pete

In May Bret told us he was moving to North Carolina.
We had a big ol' going away party for him, featuring The Cheagles,
Ed Barnett, Hipbone, Julian Russell and all kinds of musical mayhem.
All I remember is screwing up the tuning on my banjo
and having to transpose because of it.



go here to see some video.


Dean's Departure

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