Band Bio: Austin Texas is known around the world as a musically diverse mecca of talent, and no band captures that charm and chaos like the one and only Sick's Pack. Performing and perfecting their show since 2005, this lineup includes world class musicians, award winning songwriting, and comedy so subtly vulgar you won't want to miss a word. And yes, there is a family friendly version of the show.
As a genre, Sick's Pack is so difficult to define it's almost a game fans play with each other. Some may say "Thrash Folk", a term Sick's Pack enjoyed so much they chose it as a name for their debut release. Others might say Evil-Tango, or Gypsy-Grass, or Acoustic-Metal. Whether the song is funky, waltz-y, or just plain dixieland, one can always tell it's Sick's Pack by their trademark fiddle tone, jaw dropping solos, and quirky lyrics, sung often in three part harmony.
Sick's Pack currently has six musicians, several of whom are multi-instrumentalists. In a single hour, you may hear acoustic and electric guitar, violin, harmonica, brass, drums or garbage cans, musical saw, slide whistle, kazoo, accordion, tuba, the list is really endless. But strangely, the sounds they create resonate something familiar to listeners, like if The Rolling Stones had illegitimate children with the Soggy Bottom Boys, or Sir Mix-a-Lot produced the Squirrel Nut Zippers.
And of course, the focus and direction of the band is in the hands of their leader, namely Sick. He writes, arranges, sings leads, and plays a mean fiddle (guitar, mandolin, broken things in general). With all that and stage presence that can't be taught, Sick is a powerful force in the Austin scene, having toured with the Asylum Street Spankers for 3 years, and recording with acts like Matt the Electrician, 999 EYES Freakshow, Carousel Cabaret, and Guy Forsyth. Guy Forsyth even went so far as to release his own arrangement of Sick's original song "Teeth". That noteworthy song has found acclaim amongst several national acts who perform it nightly, as it's lyrics slander the bureaucrats who may or may not be accountable for the tragedy to New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina. But watch out, because just when you think he's getting serious, the music takes a huge turn to the silly (and often perverted).
The other members include Jimmie Dreams on guitars and ukulele, a young talent who also performs with the legendary Cyril Neville in the Austin band Tribe 13. Also on guitar and some lead vocals is Jonny Palmer, who first toured with Sick in a Bluegrass Punk band in 2004. On stand up and electric bass, Andrew Bergman, a world traveler with Jazz chops (and Bachelor's Degree) that boggle the mind. Spyder is the metronome of the line-up, with a unique arrangement of custom drums and percussion, and a back-beat as strong as a shotgun blast, not to mention amazing speed and precision. And finally, the only other original member besides Sick, is Michael "Please don't call me Mike" Rubin. Michael is hands down one of the most technically astute harmonica players in the world, boasting the ability to over-blow in pitch in every key on every harp. If you don't know anything about harmonica, just know that that is astoundingly difficult, and he makes it sound good. Also know that his stage presence is one of irony, with a real dry character which serves to accent the flamboyance and absurdity the rest of the lineup embraces.
So when you hear Sick's Pack, be sure to listen to several tracks before deciding if they're your style. Fans range in age from teens to our elders, metal heads to old timey pickers. One moment, a string quartet lulls you into a trance, the next is a 9 second punk explosion, all filled with catchy lyrics and melodies, and a troupe of neo-Vaudevillians that provides for a spectacle you can only expect from Austin.
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