SikSik Nation

An eerie buzzing of guitar ambience emerges. A dancy drum beat joins in. Sean Morrow, SikSik Nation's guitarist and lead singer, lets loose his throaty, melodious vocals.

SikSik Nation's sound is composed of garage rock mixed in with bits of blues, dance, funk and pop .

"This leaves us with a sound that is dark yet danceable and fun at the same time," Eric Oppitz, the group's bassist, said.

Despite having only three members, the band has an immense drum and guitar sound. Influences can be found in groups such as Joy Division and The Who.

SikSik Nation is set to play at Ypsilanti's Elbow Room on October 21. Their songs contain socio-political messages but are presented in a fun, unobstrusive, manner.

The distinctive finish of "Reflection Romancers" is characterized by the solemn yet gritty humming of a catchy tune on top of a dim backdrop of drums and guitar.

"We expect people to take our music for what it is," Morrow said. If you just want to bob your head and tap your foot to the music, cool. If you want to break down the songs and analyze them, that's cool too"

Morrow and Oppitz came together in an online forum. The two began collaborating then tried out several drummers while developing their sound.

By chance, they stumbled across Rick Sawoscinski at the Blind Pig's Love Bang earlier this year. After their instincts decided he was a drummer merely by the way he walked, they brought him in as the final ingredient.

Later this month, SikSik Nation intends to record with producer Jim Diamond, whose credits include the White Stripes and Electric Six.

"We are all very honored to have the opportunity to work with a legend like Jim Diamond," Oppitz said. We are confident that he will refine our sound and bring it to its full potential."

As a live act, the band simply wants concertgoers to enjoy themselves.

"I know its a good show when I can look up from my drums during a song and see someone I don't even know bobbing their heads or moving in the crowd. That's when you know you've reached someone," Sawoscinski said.

A SikSik Nation show is an opportunity to chill, rock out and have a touch of intellectual stimulation, all in the same night.

Anyone interested in checking them out should go to the Elbow Room on October 21 at 9 p.m. Other acts include Radio On, The Stapletons and the DJing of Erno the Inferno.

SikSik Nation
Saturday at 9 p.m.
Free
At the Elbow Room, Ypsilanti - The Michigan Daily

The sounds, the tones and the lyrics sometimes conjure overtures of an apocalyptic society ...

“It’s imminent,” SikSik Nation singer/guitarist Sean Morrow nonchalantly shrugs, “but especially here in Detroit. There’s so much potential in this city, it’s just not happening. The adversity of what comes out of it is why we have such good music, but when you see what other cities have the potential to be ...”

Drummer Rick Sawoscinski chimes in on the huge dent the death of the auto industry is forming, and all of a sudden we’re not talking about music anymore.

Sean laments the “ethical dilemma” of No Child Left Behind, having to face it daily in his job as an English teacher in Livonia, and Rick recalls dual break-ins he suffered while attending EMU and then we’re onto the economy; but that somehow ties back to band life, having to compete with the high-gloss, pitch-correct, overly produced non-music of the mainstream. Truthfully, the band, rounded out by Eric Oppitz on bass, is a political outfit. “We spend an hour of practice discussing stuff like that,” Rick says, “on accident, sometimes.”

“A lot of people miss out on the camaraderie of being in a band,” says Sean, who undertook an arduous, trial-filled journey to form the band with Eric, mostly due to the nigh-impossibility of finding a drummer.

SikSik formed at the dawn of ‘06 between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. The trio draws from the roots of rock: a blue-collar solemnity mixed with a brooding aestheticism; a brit-pop sensibility mixed with feedback-heavy expressions. Sean will often wield his way into striking solos over swinging, proto-punk-informed percussion and grooving but edgy basslines.

Back to their political concerns: this is a band that will not, in fact, strives not, to stuff any of it down your throat.

“Nobody wants to be preached to,” Rick shakes his head. “It just gets obnoxious at that point,” Sean continues. “Indignance toward the system really drives the music, but you get to the point where you stop writing about girls. With music, you’ve got a forum to say something, but we like to keep it a bit ambiguous, it’s how you wanna see it.” | RDW

SikSik Nation • August 17 • Small's - Real Detroit Weekly

SikSik Nation is one of Ann Arbor's great new bands, combining dancey garage rock with their fun personalities to put on a great live show. Regularly appearing at the Elbow Room in Ypsilanti, they're a treat for those who needs to get over a hard work week or just for someone who wants to party. This guitar heavy band manifests more than the typical garage rock ideal. And if you're interested in politics, you're also covered. Their songs often lament the injustices of capitalism and impoverishment but in an irreverent, Dead Kennedys way. - Current

Ann Arbor’s SikSik Nation recorded this four-song EP with Jim Diamond, and it sounds like a perfect match. SikSik Nation’s straight-forward, retro-tinged, slightly dark rock are best complemented by Diamond’s dirty/plain approach.....a solid effort. - DM - Real Detroit Weekly

4 out of 4 stars

SikSik Nation
Eight Styles to the Unholy
Self-released

Surging bass lines and sinister-toned reverb guitars loom melodically over the blending of slamming live percussion with tight sequenced beats, as “Lady Lady” opens this strong statement of guttural, sweaty 'n' shaking rock. They take the dark and theatric feel of superfuzz, big-muff rock from grunge and the freewheeling, near-gothic overtures from early-‘70s hard rock — dashed with spacey glam. Check the bass grooves of "Grave Blankets," the visceral percussive explosions of "Power Couples" or the stellar psychedelic guitar hooks of the epic "Oh So Hazy." It's earnest, often politicized, but passionate rock from this Ypsi-based power trio. — JEFF MILO

http://www.realdetroitweekly.com/article_4281.shtml - Real Detroit

4 out of 4 stars

SikSik Nation
Eight Styles to the Unholy
Self-released

Surging bass lines and sinister-toned reverb guitars loom melodically over the blending of slamming live percussion with tight sequenced beats, as “Lady Lady” opens this strong statement of guttural, sweaty 'n' shaking rock. They take the dark and theatric feel of superfuzz, big-muff rock from grunge and the freewheeling, near-gothic overtures from early-‘70s hard rock — dashed with spacey glam. Check the bass grooves of "Grave Blankets," the visceral percussive explosions of "Power Couples" or the stellar psychedelic guitar hooks of the epic "Oh So Hazy." It's earnest, often politicized, but passionate rock from this Ypsi-based power trio. — JEFF MILO

http://www.realdetroitweekly.com/article_4281.shtml - Real Detroit

Trio SikSik Nation radiate raucous rock with a heart, a reckless sort of groove that you can feel, like the sweat of the sound’s forehead spattering down upon you. Their anthems have grit and fire, but also feel very organic, grabbing you and shaking you out of your complacency. Though they assuredly get you swinging, their jaunts are ripe with socially conscious cannonballs as singer/guitarist Sean Morrow howls harrowingly over the earnest, garage-informed swingability of Rick Sawoscinski’s skins and the tense, but freewheeling punk-grooves of Eric Oppitz’ basslines.

The band came to its current, solid structure in early 2006 and have already played over 30 shows around Michigan. They’re wise and worldly, meticulous and hungry…currently prepping for some out of state shows.

Before the rest of this wild world of internet-saturated music-consumers latch onto this glorious rock outfit, (who blend the coarseness of 60’s garage, Who-style declarative pop and their own unique flavor of a darkly, swingable rock,) you’ll get a chance to see them at the Lager House this Friday.

5-3 Dialtone recently rapped with singer Sean about the world, basement recording and the state of Michigan’s education system.

5-3: What’s the common tastes and preferred sounds that brought you together?

Sean: I’ve always been into just straight up rock n roll. I grew up with tons of classic rock and I went through my punk rock phase in my early 20’s, but Eric was more of an indie-rock kid when he joined the band and I think just being around what we were doing…we were into bands like Jets of Brazil, that was one band we had in common and we both really liked the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. I definitely bring the older influences into the band but i think the proximity of the whole situation kinda rubbed off on him (Eric.)

5-3: influences?

S: The first band that got me into music was Rush. We’re also really big fans of The Who, Jesus and Mary Chain…Doors, Velvet Underground, Beatles, Stooges, Bowie, the Cars is a big one…

5-3: I hear a bit of Alice in Chains on Sold Gold Souls

S: Hmm, I don’t know about that…that’s one of our more heavier songs, it’s got a lot of noise in it, someone said it sounded like Soundgarden.

5-3: So, to describe your sound, grunge would be the wrong direction.

S: I don’t know…I think we def. have a garage rock influence but at the same time we don’t want to sound so garage rock that we get lumped in with every single Detroit band, we want to do something just a tad different…
it’s kinda hard not to cite your sources, every band wants to say ‘were the most original fuckin band ever’ but at the same time, your influences really permeate through your music, I would say we’re kinda somewhere in between just rock n roll and…well, on the EP it’s not the best depiction of some of our more psychedelic stuff…but we kinda get into some noise and some pedal pushing.

5-3: I hear a lot of heart, a lot of earnestness…

S: I def. think there’s a soul element to our stuff, I’ve heard that from a lot of people, it’s very soulful…

5-3: Danceable drum rhythms, is that something you aim for?

S: I’ve heard a lot of people say that, we’re not trying to be the new wave or a dance band, but a lot of people said ‘your music has a lot of swagger.’

5-3: May just be a natural symptom of rock n roll…

S: I think so, it’s not like we’re aiming to throw the dance beat on the track…, we just try to feel it out.

5-3: You’re also a teacher?

S: I’ve been teaching 7th grade language arts and literature for the last 3 years in Inkster. Michigan is just so dependent on the tax dollars within which community you live, our kids are bussed in from Detroit, they don’t get any funding, they don’t get any funding there’s no technology to do what we gotta do…, and then they don’t pass the assessment so the state doesn’t wanna give us anymore money cuz we’re not showing any progress, it’s like a big perpetual cycle…, I think it’s derivative of a lot of things…

5-3: So, switching to political, where’s the band name come from?

S: We wanted something that kinda sounded political but kinda looked foreign and kinda sexy at the same time. We’re not one of those bands that’s gonna go around with crosses with NO-signs through them or upside down American flags we wanted it to be more of a covert kinda thing, yeah there’s def some political message that’s underlying in most of our songs and even the name but we wanted something that was kinda ambiguous at the same time, people wanna look at it for that reason that’s cool or if you wanna just bob your head and not think about it that’s cool too, we thought that was the best policy not to stuff it down people’s throats…

SikSik Nation, 5/18, Lager House - Five Three Dial Tone

SikSik Nation
A Home Of Their Own

I ask local trio SikSik Nation how they see themselves fitting into the expansive musical institution of Detroit and they say, ”We don’t fit in.”

“We’re a strange band,” said bassist Eric Oppitz. “We’re too garage rock or too rock 'n' roll to play with the indie bands, we’re too psychedelic or too strange to play with the rock bands. We’re kinda in-between somewhere, but hopefully we make our own scene.”

Even tracing the band’s “home” is difficult, as Oppitz lives in Ann Arbor, drummer Rick Sawoscinski stays in Ypsilanti and singer/guitarist Sean Morrow resides in Livonia. They are, for all intents and purposes, simply a rock 'n' roll band with thunder-drums and banshee-guitars and swinging-grooves and all the raucous shred and punch vigor you could ask for. Yet, they often send some ripples through typical back-of-the-venue debates because they linger toward a garage (or psychedelic) sound, or because they don’t run with any cliques or labels. “Do we wanna be an indie-pop band?” says Sawoscinski. “No, but we don’t want to be really obscure either, we want to be accessible. [But] it’s confidence, because we write the songs we want to write.”

“Just with the way the industry’s going now,” says Morrow, “you’re not gonna get rich, you’re not gonna get famous, you should be doing this because you love to do it.” “We didn’t have those ties,” says Oppitz of the progress, notoriety, recording and live slots they’ve attained since forming in early-'06. This is one of the most down to earth bands you’ll find — because they’re “out there,” on so many different levels: they don’t drag their egos with them, they don’t strut to show off their vintage jeans, they don’t bow to trends; with hearts on their sleeves, they pour out all of this musical passion onto the stage. Their debut full-length, Eight Styles to the Unholy, is available at shows and online. They’re currently writing their next album while gearing up for their upcoming shows. | RDW

SikSik Nation • 8/22 • Blind Pig & 8/28 • PJ's Lager House - Real Detroit Weekly

Dark but fun, Ann Arbor band SikSik Nation mixes garage rock, blues, funk, pop, noise and surf reverb into a savory cocktail of sound. A strong guitar and drum presence looms despite the group’s mere three members: guitarist Sean William Morrow, bassist Eric Oppitz and drummer Rick Sawoscinski.

Social messages favor SikSik Nation’s songs, which are sung in a sprightly and subtle fashion because they aren’t meant to come across as pushy. Some of Morrow’s inspiration for lyrics stems from his experience as a teacher in a low income area. While doing his best to teach his students, he feels that his impact is at times limited because the city’s indifferent education system can be murderous to their life progress, holding them captive in a prison of poverty.

“New Face” comments on commercialism — namely fashion trends and corporate radio: “Put on a new face / Every single second you gotta have a new taste / It’s safe to say that you joined the masquerade / So swing your hips now / To the blank airwaves.”

Speaking of radio, SikSik Nation’s “Sold Gold Souls” plays on WQKL 107.1 FM’s Homegrown local radio show, and was one of the station’s top 10 local tunes of 2006.

The ensemble recently recorded a four-song demo, Murders on My Lips, with renowned producer Jim Diamond, known for work with the White Stripes and Electric Six. Diamond’s expertise helped hone SikSik Nation’s recordings. “Jim was able to capture the gritty, raw energy that we have when we play live,” says Oppitz. SikSik Nation’s live energy blows audiences away. Performances tend to feature boisterous occurrences, such as Oppitz jumping from an eight-foot speaker at a Hamtramck show.

—Elyssa Pearlstein

SikSik Nation plays Friday, June 15 at 10:30pm at the Elbow Room, 6 S. Washington Street in Ypsilanti. Donations welcome at the door. For more information about the band, visit
www.myspace.com/siksiknation
- Current

Dark but fun, Ann Arbor band SikSik Nation mixes garage rock, blues, funk, pop, noise and surf reverb into a savory cocktail of sound. A strong guitar and drum presence looms despite the group’s mere three members: guitarist Sean William Morrow, bassist Eric Oppitz and drummer Rick Sawoscinski.

Social messages favor SikSik Nation’s songs, which are sung in a sprightly and subtle fashion because they aren’t meant to come across as pushy. Some of Morrow’s inspiration for lyrics stems from his experience as a teacher in a low income area. While doing his best to teach his students, he feels that his impact is at times limited because the city’s indifferent education system can be murderous to their life progress, holding them captive in a prison of poverty.

“New Face” comments on commercialism — namely fashion trends and corporate radio: “Put on a new face / Every single second you gotta have a new taste / It’s safe to say that you joined the masquerade / So swing your hips now / To the blank airwaves.”

Speaking of radio, SikSik Nation’s “Sold Gold Souls” plays on WQKL 107.1 FM’s Homegrown local radio show, and was one of the station’s top 10 local tunes of 2006.

The ensemble recently recorded a four-song demo, Murders on My Lips, with renowned producer Jim Diamond, known for work with the White Stripes and Electric Six. Diamond’s expertise helped hone SikSik Nation’s recordings. “Jim was able to capture the gritty, raw energy that we have when we play live,” says Oppitz. SikSik Nation’s live energy blows audiences away. Performances tend to feature boisterous occurrences, such as Oppitz jumping from an eight-foot speaker at a Hamtramck show.

—Elyssa Pearlstein

SikSik Nation plays Friday, June 15 at 10:30pm at the Elbow Room, 6 S. Washington Street in Ypsilanti. Donations welcome at the door. For more information about the band, visit
www.myspace.com/siksiknation
- Current

Deep Cutz
by Jeff Milo

Here are updates on two stalwart local bands: the rollicking-garage-rock of Ypsi-Detroit’s power trio SikSik Nation (Sean Morrow, Rick Sawoscinski, Eric Oppitz; pictured) and the grooving soul/pop quartet Freer (brothers Jeremy/Jeffrey Freer, Mike Latcha, Nick Von Beulow) documenting their respective recording efforts for upcoming albums.

“As a band, we have evolved through this process in attempt to create a unique style,” says Oppitz of SikSik’s Eight Styles to the Unholy (out in May). “There was a lot of pent up evolution that all of us, as a band, were going through and it all kind of exploded into a barrage of pedal pushing, upbeat, swing-your-hips-psychedelia.”

Meanwhile, Freer is changing directions from the all-encompassing dream-pop opera of their debut, with (currently titled) On The One, hitting soul and R&B grooves more heavily. “[Funk/Soul/R&B] are really our roots,” says singer Jeremy. “All of our parents raised us on that stuff. Punk rock and experimental music were a form of rebellion for us. But now it’s time to let it all have its place.” Freer hopes for a late summer release, with a single on the way.

Both bands play April 12: SikSik Nation at the Lager House, Freer at the Elbow Room. More info: myspace.com/freerdom or myspace.com/siksiknation. | RDW

http://www.realdetroitweekly.com/article_4023.shtml - Real Detroit Weekly

Deep Cutz
by Jeff Milo

Here are updates on two stalwart local bands: the rollicking-garage-rock of Ypsi-Detroit’s power trio SikSik Nation (Sean Morrow, Rick Sawoscinski, Eric Oppitz; pictured) and the grooving soul/pop quartet Freer (brothers Jeremy/Jeffrey Freer, Mike Latcha, Nick Von Beulow) documenting their respective recording efforts for upcoming albums.

“As a band, we have evolved through this process in attempt to create a unique style,” says Oppitz of SikSik’s Eight Styles to the Unholy (out in May). “There was a lot of pent up evolution that all of us, as a band, were going through and it all kind of exploded into a barrage of pedal pushing, upbeat, swing-your-hips-psychedelia.”

Meanwhile, Freer is changing directions from the all-encompassing dream-pop opera of their debut, with (currently titled) On The One, hitting soul and R&B grooves more heavily. “[Funk/Soul/R&B] are really our roots,” says singer Jeremy. “All of our parents raised us on that stuff. Punk rock and experimental music were a form of rebellion for us. But now it’s time to let it all have its place.” Freer hopes for a late summer release, with a single on the way.

Both bands play April 12: SikSik Nation at the Lager House, Freer at the Elbow Room. More info: myspace.com/freerdom or myspace.com/siksiknation. | RDW

http://www.realdetroitweekly.com/article_4023.shtml - Real Detroit Weekly