It's 3:26 a.m. I'm home from the FiKus show, but in a lot of ways, I'm still at the FiKus show. I'm covered in sweat, not all of which is mine. The ringing in my ears probably won't subside until sometime tomorrow night. And above all else, I've still got that sensation in my bones that I feel whenever I've just seen this extraordinary band. It's a feeling that I will carry with me for as long as I can remember, particularly when I think of shows that turned my brains to mush and left me in need of a fresh pair of shorts.
Those were the words I wrote on this day one year ago, immediately after I returned home from my first FiKus experience. It wasn't my first FiKus show mind you - I had seen them perform an hour-long gig at an overcrowded, overheated hole in the wall in Brooklyn less than a month earlier; which in its own right compelled me to write about this fantastic performance band. Little did I realize at the time that I had yet to truly experienced FiKus. Fortunately for me, and for about a hundred other people, that experience would come soon enough - on July 11th, 2009. It was a night where I danced and rocked for over three hours. It was a night where I became a part of the FiKus family. And most of all, it was a night that would set the bar for all shows that seceded it.
But what exactly is Tuscany? To some, it's simply Tuscany Bar and Grille; a restaurant right across the New York/New Jersey border in Tappan. The loft upstairs, with it's artificial hanging plants, painted pillars, and over abundance of Christmas lights, had the right ambience, but didn't strike one as the type of place for a rock show. To a select group of people, however, Tuscany has an entirely different meaning. It was the most grandiose performance served up by a band that only knows how to put on shows that can be considered grandiose. Say the word "Tuscany" to anyone who was in attendance that steamy July night one year ago and the mock-orgasm sounds and facial expressions should give you a sense of its legendary status. For this reviewer, it was, without question, the most epic show that I've ever seen.
Steve, Travis, Pete, Jon, and Kito picked up their instruments promptly at midnight, and I soon learned a lot of the traits that have come to define the FiKus show. First, it's never over when you think it's over. The band finished the first leg of their set at 1:30 a.m. with Jackson Five's "I Want You Back," and I was relieved to find out that they were far from done. That leads me to my second point, which is that you have to be prepared to stay up into the wee hours of the morning, and third, which is that you had better bring your dancing shoes and your ear plugs. This might have been the first time I was drawn to the band, standing right in front of them as they played, but it wouldn't be the last. It was from this show that I learned how loud it can get when you're up front standing face-to-face with this incredible quintet.
Oh yeah, the set list; the one that I snatched from the floor that is still thumb-tacked to the wall in my bedroom. Every time I glance at it, I get flashbacks of this marathon performance. They opened with the crowd-pleaser "Latin" before jumping into a medley that included favorites "Dingo," "Disco," and their raucous cover of "The Bad Touch." Over the next three plus hours, the band whipped out instant classics "Michael Phelps," "Puddin," "Ride The Wave," "Marvin Gaye." and the list goes on. They threw in a variety of covers, from the Stones ("Miss You") to Michael ("Don't Stop Til' You Get Enough"). There couldn't have been a more welcome surprise than their rendition of Alice Deejay's "Better Off Alone," which caused everyone in attendance to erupt into sing-along. Even after the band had finished their set with one of their own (the wild "In Your Ear"), we were all begging for one more song. FiKus did better than that - they gave us two. First came their rocking cover of Zeppelin's "The Ocean," with Steve ripping it on guitar. Then came the show stopper - "1:13," which featured Travis on vocals and Jon on trombone.
FiKus, as is their nature, has put on plenty of memorable shows since - the second night of the first Meat Locker shows and Johnaroo come to mind. And, because they are only getting better, they will continue to put on amazing shows, so long as they stay a band. But on that particular night one year ago, the planets were in perfect alignment and the universe was in complete harmony as FiKus took the stage. For three hours, FiKus was everything that FiKus could be, which is the most exciting and entertaining live act in New Jersey. For me, I still hold dear every bit of that show - whether it be memories or pieces of neglected paper. One must when a year later you can still recall that feeling of euphoria that was accented by a buzzing in the ears and being covered head to toe in sweat. That's what Tuscany was to me.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
The Orgy and Buffet
FiKus.
NeveroddoreveN.
FiKus AND NeveroddoreveN.
The last time two such crowd-pleasing entities were combined to create one finely-tuned magnum opus was the invention of the bacon cheeseburger.
History lesson. June 13th at the Old Gallery in Brooklyn marked the first time I saw both bands share a billing. Though it was hardly the ideal spot for such an auspicious occasion - with barely enough room to fit a folk duo or a sound system that could handle the ferocity supplied by either band - both FiKus and NeveroddoreveN infected us all with their groove and rocked us to the very core of our beings. Heads were banged. Moves were busted out. Beers were drank. Good times were had. And despite the fact that the venue was congested and the locals were something less than hospitable, both bands recognized that their combined efforts would create something as powerful and potentially cooler than Voltron; and thus, a bond was forged. The inevitability that there would be future double-billings was agreed upon right then and there on a street corner in Brooklyn.
Since that fateful night in Brooklyn, the boys of FiKus and NeveroddoreveN have been making waves, climbing mountains, and doing all sorts of stuff relatable to geography metaphors. They toured nonstop. They appeared at such famed venues as The Stone Pony and Starland Ballroom. They played private shows, record release parties, battle of the bands, festivals, and charity events. An endless summer of hard work has paid off in dividends. The reward for the fans - all those FiKusfans and Neveroddheads out there - is that, all the while, these two really great bands got even better.
Naturally, however, a reunion of such caliber was not something that would occur overnight, particularly when given to how significant the occasion would be. The timing and, even more so, the place had to be right. Both bands wanted to play at a venue where they would be embraced with open arms and where they would have the freedom to play the kind of show they wanted to play for you.
November 12th, 2009. That is the date when FiKus and NeveroddoreveN will share the billing once again. The show will take place at The Crossroads in Garwood; nearly five months to the day since their last show together. And this is only the beginning. Both bands plan to play side by side on a regular basis, with shows already booked for Thanksgiving weekend and over the winter break. But there can only be one beginning. The show at Crossroads be the genesis of something truly special - a working relationship between two of the freshest-sounding acts in northern New Jersey. The anticipation for this show has been building steam like a downhill train for the past couple of months. They will both be represented by the diehard FiKusfans and faithful Neveroddheads alike.
The only piece of the puzzle that is missing is you - the person out there on the other side of the computer who has yet to experience either of these bands live. If you were the 1 in the 1,661 plays on Myspace who thought, Hey man, that song was pretty cool; if you became a fan on Facebook; if you waited patiently for one of the bands to book a show that never happened at that shitty bar down the road from your house, then now is the time to make the journey down to the Crossroads to get experienced. And that includes you too - those of you who came out once before and swiped one of those awesome free demos, which you proceeded to freak out to in your car twentysomething times before playing it for all your friends. Now is the time to round up all those people and introduce them to the music face to face. Hearing it is one thing. Seeing it is another.
It all takes place at the Crossroads in Garwood on Thursday, November 12th at 8 p.m. It is only $5 to see the best live act you can find in New Jersey on any night of the week. The chance to rock and rage has come upon us again. We encourage all of our old friends to come out and continue to support these two amazing bands. We welcome new friends to join in on the experience that we know you're sure to enjoy.
FiKus.
NeveroddoreveN.
FiKus AND NeveroddoreveN.
It will be the best bacon cheeseburger you've ever rock out to.
-----
For more FiKus: www.myspace.com/fikus
For more NeveroddoreveN: www.myspace.com/nooemusic
NeveroddoreveN.
FiKus AND NeveroddoreveN.
The last time two such crowd-pleasing entities were combined to create one finely-tuned magnum opus was the invention of the bacon cheeseburger.
History lesson. June 13th at the Old Gallery in Brooklyn marked the first time I saw both bands share a billing. Though it was hardly the ideal spot for such an auspicious occasion - with barely enough room to fit a folk duo or a sound system that could handle the ferocity supplied by either band - both FiKus and NeveroddoreveN infected us all with their groove and rocked us to the very core of our beings. Heads were banged. Moves were busted out. Beers were drank. Good times were had. And despite the fact that the venue was congested and the locals were something less than hospitable, both bands recognized that their combined efforts would create something as powerful and potentially cooler than Voltron; and thus, a bond was forged. The inevitability that there would be future double-billings was agreed upon right then and there on a street corner in Brooklyn.
Since that fateful night in Brooklyn, the boys of FiKus and NeveroddoreveN have been making waves, climbing mountains, and doing all sorts of stuff relatable to geography metaphors. They toured nonstop. They appeared at such famed venues as The Stone Pony and Starland Ballroom. They played private shows, record release parties, battle of the bands, festivals, and charity events. An endless summer of hard work has paid off in dividends. The reward for the fans - all those FiKusfans and Neveroddheads out there - is that, all the while, these two really great bands got even better.
Naturally, however, a reunion of such caliber was not something that would occur overnight, particularly when given to how significant the occasion would be. The timing and, even more so, the place had to be right. Both bands wanted to play at a venue where they would be embraced with open arms and where they would have the freedom to play the kind of show they wanted to play for you.
November 12th, 2009. That is the date when FiKus and NeveroddoreveN will share the billing once again. The show will take place at The Crossroads in Garwood; nearly five months to the day since their last show together. And this is only the beginning. Both bands plan to play side by side on a regular basis, with shows already booked for Thanksgiving weekend and over the winter break. But there can only be one beginning. The show at Crossroads be the genesis of something truly special - a working relationship between two of the freshest-sounding acts in northern New Jersey. The anticipation for this show has been building steam like a downhill train for the past couple of months. They will both be represented by the diehard FiKusfans and faithful Neveroddheads alike.
The only piece of the puzzle that is missing is you - the person out there on the other side of the computer who has yet to experience either of these bands live. If you were the 1 in the 1,661 plays on Myspace who thought, Hey man, that song was pretty cool; if you became a fan on Facebook; if you waited patiently for one of the bands to book a show that never happened at that shitty bar down the road from your house, then now is the time to make the journey down to the Crossroads to get experienced. And that includes you too - those of you who came out once before and swiped one of those awesome free demos, which you proceeded to freak out to in your car twentysomething times before playing it for all your friends. Now is the time to round up all those people and introduce them to the music face to face. Hearing it is one thing. Seeing it is another.
It all takes place at the Crossroads in Garwood on Thursday, November 12th at 8 p.m. It is only $5 to see the best live act you can find in New Jersey on any night of the week. The chance to rock and rage has come upon us again. We encourage all of our old friends to come out and continue to support these two amazing bands. We welcome new friends to join in on the experience that we know you're sure to enjoy.
FiKus.
NeveroddoreveN.
FiKus AND NeveroddoreveN.
It will be the best bacon cheeseburger you've ever rock out to.
-----
For more FiKus: www.myspace.com/fikus
For more NeveroddoreveN: www.myspace.com/nooemusic
Friday, October 2, 2009
Double-Stuffed: A FiKus Adventure
I'd do a FiKus show any day of the week. Friday in particular. But two FiKus shows on a Friday? It doesn't get much better than that...
Around 3:30 p.m. last Friday, I headed to Steve's house to meet the boys for our journey to Ramapo College and Pub 17 of Ramsey for a double shot of FiKus. Steve showed me his sweet lap guitar and we introduced Travis to Natalie Portman's career as a rap artist while we waited for the rest of the crew to arrive. We were on the road around 5, with the sweet sounds of Incubus' "S.C.I.E.N.C.E." as our soundtrack.
We were all excited to be at Ramapo College because they had a giant outdoor stage and a moon bounce, and nothing says cool like listening to FiKus while flying around shoulder blocking small children. But we were disappointed to learn that the band's performance had been regulated to a blacktop further up the mountain. And even though we were far away from the gravity-defying fun of the moon bounce and the chill in the air had become slightly overwhelming even for late September, the FiKusfive performed a blistering half-hour set that received considerable love from the Ramapo folks. We stuck around for a while longer to enjoy some free pizza and the sounds of Big Wilson River, who put on a hell of a show. The trailer was then repacked and we headed off to Pub 17 to warm our bones with some whiskey.
Pub 17 was a pretty sweet location for a FiKusfest. There was a dance floor with enough room to accommodate those of us who came to bust a move, and bust a move we did. Again, FiKus came on and played a tremendous set. This time, however, the boys played their normal 2 set show which went into the A.M. hours. The first set's covers included recent edition "Life During Wartime" as well as favorites such as "Superstition," "Another Brick In The Wall Pt. 2," "The Bad Touch," and "Miss You." The second set featured FiKus originals "Puddin," "Michael Phelps," "Latin," "Ride The Wave," and "Spoken Word" amongst many others. By the end of the night (and about six Jameson shots later), I was more satisfied than a sexed-up farm girl. The trailer was packed up once again, and we headed home.
Points of interest back at the Malone residence: Jon ate most of a sandwich and Kito located the glory hole in the trailer and proceeded to use it, though we still aren't sure who was on the other side.
Of course photographic evidence of most of this adventure can be found under Fan Photos on FiKus' Facebook page, so be sure to catch a glimpse of the action if you weren't able to come out (the album shares a name with the title of this little feature).
If you missed out on the action of last Friday, be sure to check FiKus out tomorrow night when they play 92 West in Allendale at 8 p.m. It should be another amazing show and all the FiKusfans are sure to be out in full force, ready to rage as always. I, unfortunately, won't be there, as I already have a previous obligation to get drunk somewhere else that isn't New Jersey (I'm aware of the fact that it won't be nearly as cool).
-----
Stayed tuned for next week, as I'll have something special for you FiKusfans to read.
Peace brahs!
Around 3:30 p.m. last Friday, I headed to Steve's house to meet the boys for our journey to Ramapo College and Pub 17 of Ramsey for a double shot of FiKus. Steve showed me his sweet lap guitar and we introduced Travis to Natalie Portman's career as a rap artist while we waited for the rest of the crew to arrive. We were on the road around 5, with the sweet sounds of Incubus' "S.C.I.E.N.C.E." as our soundtrack.
We were all excited to be at Ramapo College because they had a giant outdoor stage and a moon bounce, and nothing says cool like listening to FiKus while flying around shoulder blocking small children. But we were disappointed to learn that the band's performance had been regulated to a blacktop further up the mountain. And even though we were far away from the gravity-defying fun of the moon bounce and the chill in the air had become slightly overwhelming even for late September, the FiKusfive performed a blistering half-hour set that received considerable love from the Ramapo folks. We stuck around for a while longer to enjoy some free pizza and the sounds of Big Wilson River, who put on a hell of a show. The trailer was then repacked and we headed off to Pub 17 to warm our bones with some whiskey.
Pub 17 was a pretty sweet location for a FiKusfest. There was a dance floor with enough room to accommodate those of us who came to bust a move, and bust a move we did. Again, FiKus came on and played a tremendous set. This time, however, the boys played their normal 2 set show which went into the A.M. hours. The first set's covers included recent edition "Life During Wartime" as well as favorites such as "Superstition," "Another Brick In The Wall Pt. 2," "The Bad Touch," and "Miss You." The second set featured FiKus originals "Puddin," "Michael Phelps," "Latin," "Ride The Wave," and "Spoken Word" amongst many others. By the end of the night (and about six Jameson shots later), I was more satisfied than a sexed-up farm girl. The trailer was packed up once again, and we headed home.
Points of interest back at the Malone residence: Jon ate most of a sandwich and Kito located the glory hole in the trailer and proceeded to use it, though we still aren't sure who was on the other side.
Of course photographic evidence of most of this adventure can be found under Fan Photos on FiKus' Facebook page, so be sure to catch a glimpse of the action if you weren't able to come out (the album shares a name with the title of this little feature).
If you missed out on the action of last Friday, be sure to check FiKus out tomorrow night when they play 92 West in Allendale at 8 p.m. It should be another amazing show and all the FiKusfans are sure to be out in full force, ready to rage as always. I, unfortunately, won't be there, as I already have a previous obligation to get drunk somewhere else that isn't New Jersey (I'm aware of the fact that it won't be nearly as cool).
-----
Stayed tuned for next week, as I'll have something special for you FiKusfans to read.
Peace brahs!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Branching Out
Friends and fellow FiKusfans, as your resident wordsmith, this will be the new home for all future FiKus blogs and articles. Here you will be able to find my thoughts of forthcoming freakouts and memories of the events that were, as well as other exciting things from the perspective of yours truly. Of course, things can get a bit obscured when seeing things through the looking glass, but don't let that dissuade you from checking out this little blog. We're all family here.
Upcoming things to look for from the FiKuslog: I will have brief thoughts this week on Friday's trek to Ramapo College and Bar 17 in Ramsey. I will also have photographic evidence that the whole thing actually took place, though you might not believe that anything took place at Bar 17 because it was too damn dark to take pictures with my brick of a digital camera (I think Susan can help out in that department though). And stay tuned for next Monday, as I'll have a big special somethin-somethin for all you groovy cats and chicks out there to feast on. Stay tuned, and until next time, keep it real.
Cheers, John Mabery
Upcoming things to look for from the FiKuslog: I will have brief thoughts this week on Friday's trek to Ramapo College and Bar 17 in Ramsey. I will also have photographic evidence that the whole thing actually took place, though you might not believe that anything took place at Bar 17 because it was too damn dark to take pictures with my brick of a digital camera (I think Susan can help out in that department though). And stay tuned for next Monday, as I'll have a big special somethin-somethin for all you groovy cats and chicks out there to feast on. Stay tuned, and until next time, keep it real.
Cheers, John Mabery
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