El Kabong

(1999-2006)*

Check out El Kabong's recordings: El Kabong Media: Music

The beginning of El Kabong's formation in the spring of 1999 happened when Jay Anderson, Brendan Rogers, and Grady Truchelut, intent on forming a band, tried out a few lineups with different bass players and drummers. Leaving off after a couple of rehearsals, they abandoned the idea for a few months.

In May of that year, the group decided to ask ex-Beef Masters guitarist, Brad Woodard to come jam with them. Brad suggested Pat Nilsson to play bass and Pat brought Wil Wiloughby with him to rehearsals. Brendan soon brought in Russ McAllister whom he had met at a party one night.

The group rehearsed heavily, playing their first local gig in June of 1999 at Flashback Cafe in Nacogdoches, TX. The band built up a large local following by that fall and continued to play shows in Nacogdoches and surrounding areas with the original lineup. The original lineup lasted until Pat Nilsson's departure in late 2000.

During the 1999-2000 period, the original lineup played many gigs, in Lufkin and Nacogdoches primarily. They also entered Encore Recording Studio to record a 4 song demo/EP they called No Cervaeza, No Trabajo. The band would not release any recorded music officially until 2004's Pleasure Craft.

Numerous lineup changes followed over the next 6 years with Brendan Rogers being replaced by Heath Rogers and then Steve Nelson. Pat Nilsson was first replaced by Byron Reinhardt and the group began recording Pleasure Craft. Byron soon left the band and was replaced by Brent Patton who stayed with the group for the rest of their career. Wil left and was replaced by Russ for a time. Wil then returned after Russ left the band for a time before being replaced again by Ray Levitzki shortly before the release of Pleasure Craft in 2003. The various lineup of the band over the years is shown below. It is interesting to note that from 1999-2006, Grady Truchelut, Jay Anserson, and Brad Woodard all were consistently members of the band.

The final lineup of the band that included Brendan Rogers recorded a 2nd, unreleased album starting in 2005 and finishing in 2006 after Brendan's departure. Due to differences of opinion over the new album's material and Brendan's leaving the band, these recordings were never released officially. They did appear for a time on the band's web site before it too was taken down in 2009.

El Kabong Personnel:

1999-2000
Grady Truchelut-guitars
Brad Woodard-guitars
Jay Anderson-vocals
Brendan Rogers-keyboards
Pat Nilsson-bass
Russ McAllister-percussion
Wil Wiloughby-drums

2001-2002:
Grady Truchelut-guitars
Brad Woodard-guitars
Jay Anderson-vocals
Brendan Rogers-keyboards
Byron Reinhardt-bass
Russ McAllister-percussion
Wil Wiloughby-drums

2003-2005:
Grady Truchelut-guitars
Brad Woodard-guitars
Jay Anderson-vocals
Brendan Rogers-keyboards
Brent Patton-bass
Ray Levitzki-drums

2005:
Grady Truchelut-guitars
Brad Woodard-guitars
Jay Anderson-vocals
Heath or Brendan Rogers-keyboards
Brent Patton-bass
Ray Levitzki-drums

2006:
Grady Truchelut-guitars
Brad Woodard-guitars
Ray Levitzki-drums
Brent Patton-bass
Jay Anderson-vocals

*remaining members sometimes perform as Dragstrip Allstars