Artist description SmokStik features the singing, songwriting and Warr Guitar pyrotechnics of the amazing VEGA$. In a duo configuration with a drummer, VEGA$ utilizes elements of hard rock, funk, jazz, rap and more to create a powerful and unique musical statement.

Music Style funk, jazz, rock

Musical Influences Primus, Beastie Boys, Soul Coughing, Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Public Enemy, The Roots, Ministry

Similar Artists Soul Coughing, Primus, MC 900 ft. Jesus, Red Hot Chili Peppers

Artist History SmokStik was started by Warr Guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Vega$ in 1995. SmokStik has been performing all over the Northeast region regularly for 5 years. The first SmokStik disc "Bugs" has received great reviews and gotten airplay on college and commercial radio nationwide. VEGA$ is currently working on material for the next SmokStik CD.

Group Members VEGA$- Warr Guitar and vocals and Smokin' Joe Meyer on the drums.

Instruments Warr Guitar, drums, vocals

Albums Bugs

Press Reviews CD Review from the Noise (Boston, MA) (2/99)SmokStik- Bugs (Supergod Recordings)As I have said before, SmokStik have a tendency for sounding a lotbigger than they actually are (only two members strong, John on Stickand Hillary on drums). Such is the kind of thing an instrument like theStick makes possible. Those that are unfamiliar with the Chapman Stick should know that it is essentially an electric guitar and bass puttogether, and it can do some pretty damned impressive things when played right. John Kiehne does some pretty damned freakin' nice stuffwith it on this, SmokStik's first album. The party starts with "So Alternative", a hell of a good song, with Johncrankin' up the distortion and drummer Hillary Koogler goingabsolutely apeshit alongside him. Did I mention the lyrics? "Hey man/Cool dreads/ And I'm really into those holes and rings and all that shit inyour head". God I love it. "Fish" gets a little funky and Primus-ey,with the tone of John's Stick shifting appropriately. From there it's"Trampoline", our first look at the dark side of SmokStik. This song isdefinitely something, breaking from lower-level whisperings to a full-force unleashing of the Stick's power. and then into a twisting,hellish upward noise progression, then back down to where it began. Cool. "Dinosaur" starts out with a little wah-wah funkiness while John tells the story of a big brother destroying his toys remorselessly, witha chorus that's got some of the coolest drum fills I've heard in a while.Again, something totally new. "Damn" returns us to the dark side,John brings yet another new concept out of his instrument and Hillarypulls it back to, I believe, mallets on toms. "Long" gives us somevibrato on the upper end with a cool bass line below, making for a niceneo-soul love trip. And perhaps the most fun, the last track, "Fuck", rips the whole goddamn thing apart with profanity and dissonance. Overall, John is throwing lots of cool ideas out of his Chapman Stick,an instrument on which many things are possible. The album does getpretty repetitious after awhile, however, I am confident that it's not thebest thing that they'll ever do. It's worth checking out.(Prof. L. P. Vitiligo)CD review from the Berkshire Eagle, Western Massachusetts. (1/25/99)SmokStik- Bugs (Supergod Recordings)SmokStik is unique in many ways: a rare rock duo, comprised of a girlwho plays drums and a guy playing Chapman Stick, sort of a combination of electric guitar, bass and synthesizer all in one. But thenovelty ends there, for in practice SmokStik is a funky, hard-rockingband with a great bunch of songs, alternately hardcore and jazzy,cynical and tender, loving and spiteful."Alternative" pokes fun at poseurs, while "Fish" finds solace in guppies. An album of extreme contrasts all around. (Seth Rogovoy)CD Review from the Spotlight weekly arts supplement from the Portsmouth Herald newspaper from Portsmouth,NH. (12/10/98)SmokStik-Bugs (Supergod recordings)Just how much noise can two people make? A hell of a lot apparently. Especially if one of them has a Chapman Stick. Huh? Sit tight. We'll get to that first. First things first. SmokStik are John Kiehne and Hillary Koogler, a pair of New Engladers who have been playing together for almost three years. Bugs is their first CD, an EP containing seven tracks of high-octane vibes. What kind of music is this? Well, imagine a bicep that's been injected with about 100 CD's of a battery-acid peyote cocktail and that's your visual. This is powerful stuff. Meaty/ Skating through a spectrum that runs from vintage Black Sabbath/Rage Against the Machine/ Suicical Tendencies through to, believe it or not, lickings of jazz and funk. But all with a trademark force not usually found in those latter forms. Mark that up to the players. Kiehne's Chapman-which looks like a chunk of floorboard with strings but yields sound like a bass guitar- is like a one-man onslaught. Koogler's drumming, meanwhile, augments the big Stick perfectly, filling and accentuating and daring Kiehne to go further all the time. Take a listen to the bitingly sardonic opening track "Alternative" and you'll get the message quick. The Stick roars like a beast while thelyrics snap fillings loose. Then there's the funky and kooky "Fish", the disturbing "Trampoline" and the jazz-laced "Dinosaur".Dark, psycho, witty, fun. Bugs is all that stuff and more. A yard glass of molten lava. But if you like the hard stuff, check this one out. They'll stick it to ya.(Adrian Zupp) Review from Warr Guitarist William Bajzek's tappingreview page (12/98)SmokStik-Bugs (Supergod Recordings)A ripping alternative/fusion/funk CD featuring some of the heaviest StickŪ you're likely to hear, courtesy of John Kiehne. Kiehne's a really impressive player, and writes pretty enjoyable songs. Fans of Tool and Glueleg will definitely enjoy this album, as will anyone elseinterested in hearing original music played in an original way. I'd also like to point out that John's bass tone is really wonderful, one fo the best bass tones I've heard from a Stick yet, and he's a very tight player. This is a very creative CD with a variety of music not normally heard from Stick Players. Definitely unique. (William Bajzek)

Additional Info The Smoky T-shirt! Get one for only $10 + shipping!

Location St. Louis, MO - USA

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