Portland-based progressive instrumental band Talkdemonic is more familiar with Baton Rouge than some might realize.
The duo, who will play at the Spanish Moon on Saturday at 9 p.m., played another gig at the same venue in 2008 during a previous tour. And it was a show to remember, according to drummer and multi-instrumentalist Kevin O’Connor.
“Last time we played in Baton Rouge, it was the best show of our tour by far,” O’Connor said. “We had a blast. We had no idea anyone was going to come.”
The large turnout and merchandise sales in Baton Rouge helped the tour succeed and the band to continue playing, he said. The group made a point to mark the capital city on its tour in hopes of another huge performance.
The band has been busy since 2008, releasing its acclaimed fourth LP, “Ruins,” in 2011 under Glacial Pace Recordings and finishing a tour with Modest Mouse.
Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse — who began Glacial Pace Recordings in 2005 — offered tips to Talkdemonic after they began working with the record company.
“Isaac always has really good advice for us,” O’Connor said. “He mentioned persistence of the band, and that’s the most important thing you should go on. Keep putting out records.”
O’Connor said that vision has paid off.
“We’re seeing some of the fruits of our labor on this tour so far,” he said. “More people are coming out. … The longer we stick around, the more of a chance someone will notice.”
Talkdemonic has also played with other well-known bands like The National, Twin Sister and The Flaming Lips.
“We’re very lucky we get to do these big shows where we open for an awesome band where people don’t know us,” O’Connor said. “We get to put a fresh impression on new people.”
Talkdemonic had humble beginnings. O’Connor developed an insatiable taste for hip-hop and electronic music after a long period of interest in indie rock. He instigated Talkdemonic as an experiment which explored instrumental hip-hop and electronic elements.
The band has since grown into seasoned veterans with multiple albums to showcase unique acoustic-synthesizer combinations and other innovative elements with energetic live shows.
“We definitely bring it a lot harder than we used to,” O’Connor said. “It’s a lot more intense, and our shows are a lot more raucous than they used to be.”
Before 2004, O’Connor performed his shows alone, but he eventually acquired viola player Lisa Molinaro as his bandmate.
“Back then it was just me, some synthesizers, my laptop and my drumset,” O’Connor said.
O’Connor explained his opportunity to see Molinaro develop from a timid performer to an outgoing entertainer.
Between shows with popular bands like Modest Mouse and tours that covered multiple regions of the United States, O’Connor said he feels Talkdemonic is on a good track.
“I feel like we kind of experienced all of it now,” he said.
 
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Contact Austen Krantz at [email protected]