Friends in Bands: FiKus [VIDEO]

Artist Reviews

I am a northern New Jersey native, so the bulk of my friends reside in the tri-state area. A few months back, my band went through a “jam band” phase, and played several gigs with this awesome jam/funk/rock/dance group from Hilsdale, NJ called FiKus.

The first time I saw FiKus play was at a battle of the bands gig that I was enrolled in as well, and I was very impressed with their sound. Prior to that gig, I had never heard such an interesting mix of genres, and they hooked me in right away. Their show really sounds like one continuous song, very similar to the crazy techno music spun by DJ’s at a night club. However, the one huge difference is that it Fikus’ tunes don’t use the same pulsing beats over and over again. They create a very unique atmosphere with their music, one that I have yet to see replicated.

Even during a short 25-minute set, Fikus’s set seriously takes you on a journey across dozens of genres and musical flavors. Their songs are usually pretty long, but sound like they could be split up into 3-4 different songs if they wanted to. I love how each song provides continuous changes that keep me interested and wondering what will happen next. It is very much like sitting down and listening to a great vinyl record from start to finish.

For example, the song “Riding the Wave” was probably named for that very reason. This song starts out very quiet and mysterious, but builds into this epic dance tune with wailing guitar solos by guitarist Steve Malone, and screaming synths courtesy of John Schmarak. Between these climaxes, the song breaks down into an almost jungle-like beat, providing a completely new and exciting vibe that they jam out on for a bit.

The transitions between song parts are tight as hell, flawless, and sound spontaneous, yet structured. I’m addicted. Their songs are, for the most part, instrumental (e.g. Ratatat), but they do sprinkle vocal melodies throughout the course of their set. For example, in the song “Michael Phelps,” you can expect percussionist (not drummer) Pete Kozak to chant “Winning the gold!” during the choruses. Fans almost instantly catch on and help him out, creating an incredible vibe throughout the venue once the chorus hits.

And just when you thought that dance music was all these guys were made of, they hit you with a tune like “Marvin Gaye,” and knock your funky-colored, mismatched socks right off your feet. This appropriately titled tune just oozes funk, and really showcases each musicians’ individual talent.

FiKus group shot

Here is the lineup their currently workin’ with (left to right):

Pete Kozak – Percussion, vocals, and anything else that randomly sounds cool.
Kito Bovenschulte – Drums, vocals
Steve Malone – Guitar, vocals
John Schmarak – Keyboards, vocals
Travis Paparoski – Bass, vocals

FiKus is also notorious in the tri-state area for their huge catalog and knowledge of cover songs. Their interpretations of classics like “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” by Michael Jackson are just out of this world. They are constantly playing gigs SOMEWHERE in the world, so I highly recommend that you try and make it out to one of their shows. It is really an incredible experience, and opened my eyes musically the first time I saw them jam.

You can find a huge list of tour dates on their MySpace & Facebook pages, as well as a bunch of live tracks guaranteed to make you want to get out and dance it up with your friends.