deege (1996-1998) litany
And so it was said, in December of 95' a chance meeting occurred in the Kansas City bar that David and Eason once worked. That meeting would serve as the launch pad for the two year musical journey that would ensue. It should be stated upfront that deege the band, as it was once known, is no longer a working entity. This site is a memorial of the events and work that was created in those 2 years and a vehicle to get the limited recordings "out there". Enjoy! "The Tape" - (Jan 96') a cassette was mailed to Eason shortly after the meeting containing 25 songs that David demo'ed independently from his then working band "The Chaney's". Each of the songs were presented to David's Chaney band mates band but were subsequently rebuffed deemed not of the "Chaney sound". "The Session" - (Mar 96') Eason flies to LA to lay down tracks with David and Drummer Greg Levine. The song "Lion's Den" was recorded in 1 take. The impromptu conclusion of the song was a spontaneous moment that captured a fresh spirit of fun and excitement in the music along with the trip. All of the songs were recorded "Live" , additional musicians came in the months following to add final touches to the demo. "The Band" - (Jun 96') David remains in Hollywood, The Chaney's disband and the recording of his demos facilitate the creation of deege. The name deege is a derivative of David's name - (David George) and though perceived as narcissistic by some , it served as a true generic moniker allowing music to be created free of labels. The band was assembled with LA friends Mark Esquere, Mike Morris and Opey. Eason remains in KC vowing to continue his college education. "Say, Hey Mr. Superstar" - (July 96') released as a 7 song EP and placed into limited mid-west retail record stores. "Party of Five" - (Nov 96') David's work relationship with the show's music coordinator Val Joseph yields a 2+ minute spot in an episode of the Fox show's second season. "The Tours" - (Nov 96') Mark and Opey bow out, Mike and David fly to KC rejoining with Eason now playing drums to start the first of many shows in the mid-west and eastern areas. The shows took place in KC, Columbia, MO., Lawrence, KS., Atlanta, GA., Baton Rouge, LA., and Louisville, KY. <<(Feb 97') Mike Morris- out, Eason travels to LA to kick off the second wave of shows taking back the bass playing responsibilities. David, Greg and Steve Norton from the original "Say, Hey" recording fly back to KC to initiate the 2nd phase of mid-west shows in the previous markets. Additional stops included Warrensburg, MO., where the light show consisted of a single desk lamp placed strategically on stage. Louisville, where they were screwed out of our money and finally St. Louis. A bold move to break into the ' Louis music scene prompted the band to charter a bus and carry 50 drunken friends/fans across the state of Missouri. The trip was a highlight for the band and is still regarded by its participants as "one helluva great time." A segment of St. Louis video is offered on the listen page. "Red House Demo's#1"- (Apr 97') David fly's to KC to join Eason and his one-time former band-mate, Jerry Bayton to record two songs written as a collaboration between David and Eason. The song, "Wish You Well" would see life again on Moaning Lisa's 2000 CD "Wonderful". "Deege moves"- (Jul 97') David decides to relocate to KC alone joining Eason to make deege a fulltime endeavor. Jerry Bayton, now added permanently along with Dan Putman completed the KC lineup of the band. "Red House Demo's#2"- (Nov 97') 4 more songs were recorded with one to be submitted to "Party of Five" once again. "If I should Cry" was accepted. In anticipation of the show a full-page promotional interview was written in the Kansas City Star by music critic Timothy Finn. At the last minute the song was left on the cutting room floor, never making the episode - the article ran regardless leaving readers to wonder "which song was yours exactly"? "Spinal Tap"- (Jan 98') Jerry -released, David and Eason lock themselves in the rehearsal space, within the course of a week they emerge with five of their best songs. Original Drummer Greg decides to relocate to KC by the first of Feb. "The buzz?" - (Feb 98') over the next two months, record scouts would fly to KC and watch the band play their favorite haunts. These auditions set the stage for an invitation to the 98' SXSW conference held in Austin. "SXSW" -(Mar 98') A late slot, filled room, horrible sound and an un-tuned guitar were the critical elements that led to Jeffery Katzenburg's early departure from Deege's Texas debut. Katzenburg (Dreamworks) came by the urging of one of his A+R reps who had flown to KC a few times to see Deege. Less than impressed, he leaves after two songs along with most of the crowd in reaction to his departure. "Quiet Phone"- (Apr/May 98') The heartbreak in Austin would be the death Nell in the band's quest for the "Brass-Ring". Although the phone was quiet, the band ironically would now be playing to new markets, higher paying gigs and in front of more people during festival shows. "The Last Dance" -(May 98') Insurmountable debt, disappointment, personal differences, and life changes brought with them the end of the band Deege. Eason and David broke their partnership, Dan was let go and Greg is left waiting to see how long the silence would last. Deege's last "official show" was held at the Hurricane in KC on May 30th, 1998. ...........Since that time Greg moved back to LA to start his family, Eason remains in KC and continues to build his. David and Eason collectively buried the hatchet soon after and continue to support one another's musical endeavors. David still plays fulltime with his band Moaning Lisa. By catching a ML show, you'll still hear the collaborative work of David and Eason - Deege music continues to breathe on...........
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