Liverpudlian prog-rockers AccidFerry released their latest single, “Monkey Dance,” on November 4th. The band describes the track as “a laid-back groove that [lead guitarist/vocalist] Krawczyk had hidden in his closet for 10 years.” It is all that and more.
According to AccidFerry’s Facebook, “Monkey Dance” will be used to kick off gigs, and I can’t think of a more perfect intro. The song hits the ground running, a simple funky beat setting the tone for what’s to come. Quickly joined by matching bass and guitar, the band builds a groove that is sure to get listeners moving.
The lyrics reiterate the statement the music seems to be making, encouraging the listener to move all night long and promising to “keep the groove alive” – a vow that is delivered throughout the entire 4:04 run time.
The standout portion of “Monkey Dance” for me began at 2:39. AccidFerry throws in a guitar solo, followed by a bass-heavy breakdown and a brief jam session to close out the track. I was definitely feeling the retro vibes for the final 1:25 of the song.
Overall, “Monkey Dance” is a fun and catchy track that will have you dancing and shamelessly singing along. The talent among this group of musicians is undeniable, and while the solo is the most obvious, there are a lot of interesting things deftly woven into the bigger picture. (Pay attention to that bass!)
You can listen to “Monkey Dance” on Spotify, or whatever your favorite major music platform may be. I’m also embedding the audio here, via YouTube.
And don’t forget to give AccidFerry a follow on their various socials!
Stickman is a Canadian rock band that consists of guitarist/vocalist Kim Whitford, bassist and backing vocalist Randall Taylor, and drummer Des Vegas. While their sound is heavily influenced by 90s/00s alternative rock and grunge, there is definitely an element of modern day hard rock, as well as nods to classic rock & roll.
I had fun interviewing the band. We discussed everything from influences to their songwriting process, what they love about playing live to their dream tour lineup. As you’ll see, the trio don’t always take themselves too seriously. Their talent and obvious enjoyment for what they do is what makes it work.
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Okay, first and foremost, how would you describe Stickman’s sound? If you had to actually use a genre label, what would it be?
Kim: Our sound is a blend of grunge, post-grunge and hard rock, with hints of 70s and 80s classic rock. Post-grunge is the label we identify with most.
Randall: Hard rock/Dad rock
How did the band form, and what’s the story behind the name?
Kim: Stickman was formed in 2017 by Randall and myself. Des joined in late 2017. All three members are long time school friends, who had either played in the same bands or bands that were associated with each other. The name Stickman came from a list of band names we were considering at the time and that was the one we liked best. Turns out the name is very marketable and well used, lol.
Randall: Kim and I have been in many bands together since the 90s. We had a new bunch of songs we wanted to record but didn’t have a drummer. Luckily, an old friend of ours from high school was jamming in the same rehearsal space and the space owners brought them together. Des Vegas joined and the “project” became a band. Stickman was on a long list of potential names. I just thought it looked cool to have a stickman as the “T” in the word, haha!
Who are the band’s main influences? I know late 90s/early 2000s, but who specifically?
Randall: KISS, Alice In Chains, Failure, Black Sabbath
Des: Deftones, Mötley Crüe, Crosses, AIC
So, for you personally, what inspired you to get involved in music?
Des: I was around 10 years old and my brother Aaron was playing drums. I idolized him and I wanted to do what he did. He was really the reason I picked up a pair of sticks.
Kim: I’ve had a love of music since my earliest memories. Listening to KISS albums and studying the artwork. As I got older, exploring and discovering all the greats from all genres.
Randall: Two words – KISS Alive.
What is your favorite thing about playing music?
Des: My favorite thing about playing music is that moment when you’re on stage with your boys doing what you love and the audience responds. It’s another level.
Kim: Getting to put “my take” on music and putting it out to the universe. If someone else likes it, that’s great! If not, that’s great too!
Randall: Interaction with the crowd and being onstage. I have a strong desire to be performing in front of people.
Tell me a little bit about the latest single, “Sacrifice.” What was the inspiration for the song? (And side note: how do y’all decide which songs to release as singles?)
Kim: Inspiration comes in many forms and from many different sources. Musically, most ideas just come out when I pick up the guitar and play. I try to keep the lyrics ambiguous so they’re open to interpretation. This song is loosely based on my feelings towards social media and the obsessiveness of it. How some people will go to great lengths to get likes and followers. We decide to release songs that “work” and we all like them. By “work”, I mean it all makes sense, musically and lyrically.
And, still on the subject of your songs, what is the song writing and recording process like for Stickman?
Kim: I will typically record every idea I come up with. If it moves me in some way, I will flesh it out a bit before showing it to the guys. I will record a rough draft, with multiple parts and typically with drums and bass and whatever else added. We will then tear it apart and build it back up from there. There is usually a melody in mind early on, but lyrics tend to take a while in most instances.
Randall: Kim comes up with the bones of the song and then we flesh it out together in practice until we’re comfortable with all the parts. We’ve recorded in professional studios, but for the time being, Kim is acting as engineer and we’re recording all our new music ourselves.
All of you mentioned the live element as part of what you love most about music. Can you describe what a Stickman performance is like?
Des: For me, each performance is an event. I play like I’m at a giant stadium playing the last show of my career.
Kim: Our shows are more about the entertainment side of things. We have songs “run” into one another and add bits of other songs in between. We try to entertain instead of just going on stage and playing each song.
Randall: Surprisingly energetic for a bunch of old guys! Also, we like to keep a tight set. One song will lead to another, and even things like the tuning breaks and crowd “raps” are choreographed. We try to minimize the dead air. Quick and exciting!
When you’re writing/recording, do you think about how the songs will translate live?
Des: Yes, I always try to think about how I’ll play live. I usually try to play more solid beats while we record, so by the time we play live, I can really ramp it up with that live energy.
Randall: I do for sure! I’m always thinking about how the songs will be played live and how they will translate to each other in the set.
Kim: Definitely. Especially the singing aspect of it. I don’t want to complicate the performance by having the singing interfere with the guitar playing I do.
What are the band’s plans for 2023?
Des: I’m very excited to say we are in the early stages of writing the next record, and a big part of the next year will be working on that.
Kim: Get back to playing live shows and writing and starting to record our next record.
Randall: To play shows whenever possible and record a new full-length album.
What do you feel is the ultimate goal for Stickman?
Des: I really love that I get to be with my brothers, writing kick ass music. We play shows where and when we can. People show up and dig it. Man, that’s all I’ve ever wanted. I guess I’ve reached my goal, haha.
Kim: To continue doing what we do and help keep rock alive!
Randall: A band with a reasonable following that can be trusted to play any show and entertain – and to continue to release interesting and fun new original music.
Is there any band/artist you listen to that you think would surprise people?
Des: I listen to everything from Deftones to SADE, so ya, there’s probably a ton of stuff people would be surprised I listen to, lol.
Randall: I still like Nickelback. There, I said it.
What is your dream tour lineup that includes Stickman?
Des: Wow! Not sure what that would look like, but I would have loved to have had the opportunity to talk with Chris Cornell and Layne Staley, among many others.
Kim: A touring festival. Take a look at our influences and put them on the bill with us!
Randall: I don’t even need to say some big market arena tour. I think I’d be just as happy with a club tour through western Canada and the Pacific Northwest with a couple of other local bands that we’ve befriended over the years.
And lastly, is there anything you’d like to say to your fans, both new and old?
Des: I honestly love that you dig what we do. I could never thank those who support us enough.
Kim: Thank you for taking the time to listen to our music and giving us the chance to connect with you through our music.
Randall: Thanks for listening! We really do it for us in that we’re not trying to write to a trend or consumer group, but it’s nice when other people dig it, too.
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I highly suggest following Stickman on Facebook, etc., as well as your favorite streaming platform; from all that I’ve heard, this band is getting better with each song they release! I can only imagine what is coming in the future.
Viktor Vetika is an artist who enjoys several creative outlets. Starting in thrash/metal bands, he has since ventured into writing a comic book, making music videos, and fronting a more rock-oriented ensemble that bears his surname. It seems he can do it all!
I had the fun of chatting with Vetika about music (mostly), though we did touch on the subject of his other endeavors. Read on to learn more.
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Thank you so much for talking with me! Let’s start with my standard opening question: what made you want to pursue a career in music?
VV: I was at the end of a relationship after college and I was really depressed, this was 1992. I was listening to a college radio station and heard a song that was very powerful called “Inner Conflict” by Carnivore, and it hit me differently than any other song I’d ever heard. I made a decision right after that song that I would start singing for a band. I knew I couldn’t sing to save my life, but I knew I could shout and scream like Peter Steele in Carnivore.
How did Vetika get its start?
VV: I’ve been in many bands since the early 90s. Each band I’ve been in has been a headache. I got divorced and stopped playing in bands in 2010 to get my life back on track. I enrolled in a masters in fine art degree and achieved it in 2015. Then I was slowly feeling the music bug again in 2017. I decided this time I would be the boss and enlist musicians and play in the direction I want to go rather than letting the fate of a democracy make the decisions. I’m drawing a comic book called “United Forces” and one of the main characters in the book is me. So to push my comic, I named the band Vetika, my last name.
I’ve had 7 guitarists for this band so far, starting with Tom Wills with a thrash song. Then Angel Lee, the singer/guitarist of Devils Envy, wrote a few of the songs off the Skull with Magic EP. Then there was Brian Ballas and Jeff Fernandez. They wrote songs for the EPs She is Magic and Power of the Pit. My old bandmate, Jason Parke, shot me over some songs, and I’m still working with him. I worked on one cover song with Ben Johnson. I have a new guy, Neid, who’s been writing songs for this newest EP.
You’ve been doing this a really long time, then. How do you stay inspired? What keeps you excited about what you do?
VV: The creating aspect of making a song, and making a music video. Every band you make music in is going to be different. I knew this would be the case for this band. I’ve worked with different guitarists in this band and each time there’s a new sound, it inspires me.
I’m also an artist, and the new thing about my musical career is the technology I haven’t had in the past to create music videos affordably. Since making music videos during Covid, I wasn’t able to bring my band mates together to film, but I did have myself. I painted a wall in my living room green for a green screen and started filming myself as different Vetikas. In the music video “One Regret,” there are multiple Vetikas, and this started an idea that has even crossed over to my comic book “United Forces.” Using this idea of the multiple Vetikas, I incorporated the idea into the music videos “Power of the Pit” and “The Sunrise of Nothingness.” There’s a good Vetika, a bad Vetika, a scared Vetika, you get the point. Some are in this dimension, some are in other dimensions.
In the “The Sunrise of Nothingness” video, Vetika is walking through this foreign land. The foreign land is photos of ripped foam laying on a styrofoam sheet I bought from Joanne fabric, lol. The video making really gets me off. I’m not too fond of the filming and acting out parts of the story, but I love editing and seeing the story come to life. My barometer for if the music video is working or not is when I laugh out loud at how silly a part of the video is, when I do that I know I’m on the right track. After shooting this video, I took a photo of myself in the foreign land to create the album art.
Another area that keeps me inspired is that I’ve been inviting musicians from the central Florida area to collaborate with us. I’ve had Bobby Koelbe (Death), Ken Andrews (Obituary), and Adam Phillips (Indorphone, Pro-Pain) play solos on songs; Meka (Meka Nism) sing a duet with me in a song, and Angelo “Crisco” Miceli (Seven Nations) and Kevin Collado (In This Day) play drums on a few songs. Currently working on a few songs with Russel Ray (Reddstar), who is a drummer/producer. The Vetika camp keeps growing.
In your own words, how would you describe your music? If you had to categorize it, what genre would you be?
VV: The first few EPs started off as thrash/metal, but I’ve recently been slowing down and trying to sing a bit and go in a hard rock & classic rock direction.
What bands/artists inspire you?
VV: I listened to unsigned bands from the 90s when I was starting, which inspired me because those bands were coming up with their own thing and learning how to be a band. Their music is unorthodox. Bands like Dissolve, Implode, Shaman Mary, Sheldon, Nothing Face, and Stuck Mojo. These were bands I saw live when they were just starting.
I’m also inspired by top 40 ’80s music because it sounds nothing like what’s being made today. The funny thing is, I grew up in the 80s and hated top 40 then, but have a huge appreciation for it now.
That happens. I like alternative rock from the 90s much more now than I did when living through it. Still on the subject of what youlike,is there anyone you’re a fan of that you think would surprise people?
VV: My newest song “The Sunrise of Nothingness” was inspired by David Gilmour’s guitar playing. I love how he plays guitar. Go have a listen to his album About Face. It’s amazing.
What is the story behind that track?
VV: It’s about contradictions and hypocrites.
Tell me a little about your songwriting process. From where do you draw your inspiration?
VV: My process is I hear a song that I like, and it inspires me to write one that is similar. Now that I’ve put out a good supply of songs, I’m leaning more on the mix/master part of the song production, which I hadn’t really focused on before. I’ve been inspired by the mixing of these newest songs and listening to the richness of the production quality.
That leads directly into my next question.What has been your writing/recording process for the tracks on this new EP?
VV: My process is always hearing a song and telling my guitarist this is what I want to do next. He’ll take the idea and make it his own. He sends me a sample and I’ll tell him if he’s hit the mark or not. If he hits the mark, I tell him to keep going. If he misses the mark, I’ll give him directions on what to do next. When we’re done, the songs sound nothing like the songs I got the inspiration from.
This has been the most rewarding band for me because of what I mentioned already and technology. Every band I was in up until Vetika we could never record easily, it took a lot of money. But with technology now I can get my guitarist to put together a few riffs and plug in some electric drums, get my bassist to record his tracks and then I sing over it at my house on my computer. Send it off to get mixed and mastered. I come up with the music video ideas, film them, and edit them in Adobe Premiere Pro.
What is coming next for Vetika, and what is the ultimate goal?
VV: I’ll be putting out the next music video “Overturned” and wrapping up a few other songs for the The Sunrise of Nothingness EP. My ultimate goal is to play some shows and get word out about the band to more people. We were about to play live, and then Covid happened. I currently have a drummer and bassist from a previous band I was in, but the guitar part is hard. The guys I’ve been using are not able to play live, so I’m trying to recruit some guitarists.
What would be your dream tour lineup?
VV: Play with Metallica. Why not play with the best to get the word out.
Is there anything you’d like to say to your fans, new and old?
VV: If you’d like to know more about me, pick up the comic book titled “United Forces” at www.monarchcomics.com. The main character is myself and Phil Foulder. Also watch my music videos on viktorvetika.com. They tell my story as well. For the foreseeable future, all of the music videos will be about me in an insane asylum, making music videos in my head.
And by all means, send me fan mail. It’s lonely in the asylum. My email is victor.vetika@gmail.com
Last, but certainly not least, where can my readers get their hands on your music?
VV: All streaming services.
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It seems that Viktor has his proverbial plate full, his excess of creativity finding its outlet on multiple fronts. Be sure to check out the comic book, stream his music, and follow his socials for news on all his endeavors!
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