EX-iGNOTA formed in the California coastal town of Goleta Isla Vista in 1994. Then known as iG-88, they resolved to create sounds that interrupted the monotonous hum of waves landing on the nearby shore. The musical intrigue began as many such endeavors do: five young men periodically isolating themselves in a garage containing drums, keyboards, guitars, microphones, a drum machine, a tape recorder, a sound sampler, and numerous amplifiers. The neighbors called it "barf rock", but that didn't stop the group from performing in living rooms, dining halls, film festivals, street fairs, radio stations, nightclubs, and even recording a five song demo tape, The Revolt of the Faceless Humanoids. The group quickly became recognized for strange and extreme live performances consisting of the members dancing and crashing into one another amidst sounds ranging from pounding chords, to gentle guitars, to Italian zombie movie soundtracks. The band seemed to like nothing better than to challenge each institution they encountered, and audiences were turned on. Around this time the group discovered that several other iG-88s were roaming around the United States. This simply would not do and the name was changed to EX-iGNOTA, words that arrived in a dream.

The band decided to go big in 1995. EX-iGNOTA went into the studio on Flag Day to record three songs for a split CD(!) with Uranium 9-Volt, and in November they laid down three more tracks for the Lazarus is back to report... sunny skies in heaven 7" single on Ebullition Records. Two of the songs from the split CD were re-released on a 7" record by Redwood Records later that year. Somewhere along the way fellow Isla Vista resident Jack Johnson (yes, that Jack Johnson) decided to use EX-iGNOTA as the subject of a short mockumentary film.

Amidst studio sessions and writing, EX-iGNOTA played shows all over California and, after acquiring a gold van and poor hygiene, expanded their travels to the Northwestern United States during the Spring of 1995 and 1996. On their second tour, the group joined forces with California contemporaries Torches to Rome and The Leadfoot Broadcast for an explosive seven evenings of big music in small rooms. Then, in the summer of 1996, they marched inside the van of gold for a journey across those United States and parts of Canada. With wheels on fire, guitars don't tire, and EX-iGNOTA hit town after town for six weeks. Though relatively unknown, the group consistently invoked intense head-nodding and excited chatter in its audiences. In between shows the band began plotting perversive ideas for an album and, upon returning to California, EX-iGNOTA recorded their first full-length, entitled Jammin' On The One. The studio visit was followed by one final show in that town of transgression where they first assembled two years before.

And what a show it was. Jammin' On The One is a versatile album; showcasing EX-iGNOTA's varied musical interests with thirteen exciting performances of energy and innovation in underground music. The band may never play again, but this music will continue to bless our ears for years to come.

6554 SABADO TARDE: Soon after forming, EX-iGNOTA started having shows in the living room of 6606 Del Playa Drive, a beachside apartment in Isla Vista that Scott, Jason, and Ben shared with Zach and Dan from ALO. EX-iGNOTA and ALO also shared a rehearsal space in the garage. Around this time MC Taylor began arranging hardcore/punk shows at the Annex, a UCSB on-campus dining facility. In 1995 the entire band plus Ryan Bishop, Josh Beckman, and Jang Kang moved into the 2 lower apartments of 6554 Sabado Tarde, a building that shared a parking lot with International Liquors. They started regularly putting on shows in the front apartment and rehearsing in the back apartment. Word got out about this space pretty quickly and soon bands were calling from across the country. The living room of 6554 Sabado Tarde was home to many amazing shows that year (a partial list of bands that played is over here). No one seemed deterred by the close quarters or the curse of the broken bass string that forced many a musician to borrow the "house bass", Jang's Ibanez Soundgear. In 1996 the torch was passed down the street to 6542 Sabado Tarde where Joe had moved with Mike Phyte. This location eventually became known as The Pickle Patch and is where EX-iGNOTA played their last show.