Artist Information
Biography
With often dark and introspective lyrics draped over eclectic guitar riffs, The
Instruction (a fivesome comprised of Blake Sakal, Stephen Wolf, Jeremy Stein, Andrew Cheyne
and Landon Tompkins) has made its mark through relentless and energetic
live shows, sharing the stage with everyone from The Black Keys, The Black Crows,
The Features to Thao with the Get Down Stay Down, Mc Chris and These United States.
The Instruction have had their songs songs Stray and You're Mine featured in
the MTV series Sixteen And Pregnant as well as their Into The Tomorrow video played
on Fuse On Demand Tv. With their SonaBLAST! Records debut, Failure by Design,
which is played frequently on Louisville's own 91.9 WFPK radio, the group is ready
to move forward into the rest of the world.
Hailing from Louisville, KY, home to such enigmatic and diverse musical icons as
Slint, Will Oldham, My Morning Jacket, Rachels and a wide array of 70s punk bands,
it shouldn't be terribly surprising to find The Instruction's sound as something
fresh in the face of an oversaturated indie rock market focused on gimmicks. This
is perhaps never more true than with songs like Mayday, Hello Darlin & Into the
Tomorrow, which display the kind of raw emotion that would be right at home in both
the indie charts and commercial radio. While you can sometimes feel vague nods to
their influences, Failure by Design is at all times their own, dripping with eclectic
guitar riffs, pinpoint transitions, pumping bass, and infectious choruses. The Instruction
is founded on Stein and Tompkin's hermetic rhythm section with guitars that are
abrasive in all the right ways, and at the very core of their sound is Sakal's vocals,
which bring to mind the grit and masculine sexuality of Jim Morrison. Tight production
and years of playing together complete the package, and with a new release, a new
record deal, a solid fan base and a series of music festivals on the bill, The Instruction
is going to surprise and enrapture you. Listen, Learn, Love.
Instrumentation
Stephen Wolf - Guitar, Guitar/Noise Maker
Blake Sakal - Guitar/Vocals
Jeremy Stein - Bass Guitar/Backup Vocals
Andrew Cheyne - Guitar/Keys
Landon Tompkins - Drums
Discography
Failure By Design on sonaBLAST! Records- Available for Purchase 7/12/09. Extensive
radio play on WFPK 91.9 in Louisville and recieving radio play in national markets.
The Instruction Ep Recorded at Deadbird Studios in Louisville, Ky and Mastered at Georgetown
Mastering in Nashville, Tn is the Second release from The Instruction and includes their new
single Monster Maker. Release in May 2013."