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SmoKing Bill returns to Moscow’s live music scene after having briefly disappeared following their 2007 Northwest tour to record their fourth studio album.
After finishing their latest recording, the band is charged up and ready to rock the stage once again at Hemp Fest and John’s Ally on Saturday.
Six year Northwest veterans, SmoKing Bill moved to Seattle in search of making it in the music business.
“It all started in the morgue behind CJs,” said Mike Niss, SmoKing Bill bassist.
Moscow’s city morgue was dark and filled with two inches of standing water at their feet.
“Crypt,” as it came to be called, was the band’s first home.
From there the band honed their sound influenced by They Might be Giants, Talking Heads, David Bowie, Tom Waits, Ween, and The Presidents of the United States of America.
With their own style of funk rock, ska, blues and rock, SmoKing Bill delivers a high-energy evening of Madness through music.
After playing many shows at John’s Ally the band moved to Seattle in 2005. “There is a lot of great memories in Moscow, the whole band is exited about the show,” said Brandon Kitts, SmoKing Bill guitarist. “We all grew up on stage at the Ally,” Niss said.
The current members of SmoKing Bill include Jesse Calixto, lead vocals, and guitar; Brandon Kitts, backing vocals, and guitar; Mike Niss, Bass; Erick Bell, drums, backing vocals, and Adam Bruno, trumpet, backing vocals.
With the upcoming release of the band’s new album, lead singer Jesse Calixto carries a charisma of madness and melody with him where ever he takes to the stage. “We bring not only great music, but we perform our hearts out on stage,” Kitts said.
The band members joke about their involvement with Moscow and other area bands. “We have become friends with a Seattle band Lazybones, who will play with us on Saturday, ” Niss said.
The sweatshop band from Portland was another group that SmoKing Bill befriended over the years, but has recently broken up.
“Some of the guys from sweat shop will be joining us as well,” said Niss.
SmoKing Bill has played Hemp Fest on two previous occasions, but this year they are the main attraction. “It’s great to be back in Moscow, our music has a real dance—ability and I think that everyone is going to dig it,” Kitts said.
“People can appreciate the music that we perform and if not we have some great lyrics that they can groove on,” Niss said.
“Mike is the pretty face of the band, not the talent,” Kitts said. “We put the pretty faces up front and the talent in the back.”
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