Big Mouth
Mike Sitnik, ex-guitarist of Big Mouth
Big Mouth is undergoing some changes… Mike Sitnik has moved on to focus on his schooling as well as his fetish with a variety of hair care products and the band is looking at its options in the wake of his sudden departure. An awesome jam with Milan Starcic from Cortes Island (keyboards, and more) prior to Sitnik’s resignation may just be a sign of things to come for Big Mouth…stay tuned.
There was a need for a different sound on the islands… everyone enjoys a good CCR tune or Blues jam at the bar every now and again…but week after week? The Islands needed another option. A real rock show, with music that would make you move, get you to think, and entice you to let go and free your inner freak. Covering material that is not approached by any other bar band around the North Island while blending stylistic grooves like reggae, punk, funk and rock and keeping the crowd moving and partying is what Big Mouth is all about.
With Tom Skillman on guitar and vocals, Shane Hedefine on drums and vocals and Nick Richardson on bass, the band has a high energy personality and a tight, personal groove to their sound.
The band formed in the summer of 2004, in the wake of the tragic disappearance of their good friend, jam partner and sometimes bandmate Joe Skogan. Prior to the mysterious circumstances that led to his absence, they would have many jam sessions, that would feature Skillman on drums and Richardson on bass, or Hedefine on drums and either Skillman or Richardson fulfilling the bass duties. With Skogan’s absence, they were missing that key guitar player… so it seemed that the only way the three of them were going to be able to keep playing together was if Skillman picked up the guitar. The first year was pretty rough for the boys… a time to learn, to gel, and to heal.
The band continues on in his memory, and quite a few tunes they play were either favourites of Joe’s, or written by him.
Sometime in the spring of 2005 Mike Sitnik joined the boys to fill out the sound with a second guitar and voice. The band’s sound became heavier as they integrated the ideas and picks Sitnik brought with him. Sitnik is blessed with a beautiful singing tone and a joy for playing that allowed the band to fill in some holes and get ready to start playing live. Together with Skillman, they wove vocal harmonies and the band collectively held an energy that entertained. Their first gig was on Halloween, 2005, on Quadra Island, and it was a jam-packed house at the Legion.
The band has an open concept and loves to jam, and quite a few guest musicians have joined them on-stage, most notably Dana Gordon for some No Doubt, Duffy Frank (filling in for Richardson when he was in England on tour) and Paul Dowler, ex-frontman for Bonafide. Whenever Dowler is in the house, the band is sure to perform many (if not all) of Bonafide’s repertoire. (Dowler, Richardson, Skogan and Skillman toured B.C. as Bonafide in the mid-nineties and released one independent album, “Coming Down the Tunnel” in 1996).
Some of the artists Big Mouth covers are The Police, Rage Against the Machine, Seeed, Sublime, The Clash, James Brown, Helmet, Stevie Wonder, Weezer, No Doubt, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Beastie Boys and Jane’s Addiction.
Big Mouth also writes its own material, and avidly practices off-the-cuff improvised jam tunes… with one rule. Its gotta have a spontaneous and catchy chorus!
Shane Hedefine ~ drums, vocals, laborious fetishes
Tom Skillman ~ guitar, vocals, sound, irreverent sarcasm
Nick Richardson ~ bass, vapes, absolute theories
UPCOMING SHOWS
March 9th, 2007……Gorge Hall, Cortes Island, with Milan Starcic
Previous Shows
Oct 28, 2006…….Halloween @ the Legion, Quadra Island
Sept 23, 2006…..Heriot Bay Inn, Quadra Island
Sept 1, 2006…….Heriot Bay Inn, Quadra Island
July 22, 2006……Private Wedding, Quadra Island
July 15, 2006……Chelsea’s Birthday party, Quadra Island
July 1,2006………Canada Day Festival, (with Duffy on guitar, Tom on Bass) Rebbecca Spit Quadra Island
Dec 10, 2005……Heriot Bay Inn, Quadra Island
Oct 29, 2005…….Halloween @ the Legion, Quadra Island
on October 8th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
uhh I heard you guys are playing on Halloween. Is that true???