We never got around to asking Kikamora our #RoadToWildfire2018 questions due to the event being postponed. So before the year is out, we’re righting that wrong with a Band of the Day feature…
Wilf and Jimi met through mutual friends back in 2015, although back in the 70s both their fathers were friends and Bob, Wilf’s father, gave Jimi’s dad his first Black Sabbath vinyl. We kind of pinched Rob from a friend’s band in 2016 but we’d known him for years. Andy was also in the same band as Rob so when Rich left, we stole him too. Chris, the newest member of the band, was a fan of the band and started jamming blues with Jimi before he joined the band, so we knew were to go when the time came.
How long have you been playing as a band?
We formed in early 2015 and went straight into the studio that year to record demos. This line up of the band, have only been going since May. We have had quite a few line up changes over the years, but this is by far the strongest, most dedicated group of musicians we have had.
Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?
A Kikamora is a legendary creature, a mischievous female house spirit in Slavic mythology. I wouldn’t read into it too much, it was one of those things that just sounded cool and different when we were discussing band names way back.
What are your influences?
We have a very wide range of influences, Chris and Jimi are very much into the blues, Rob likes some extreme metal bands, but we are all massive fans of classic-era rock bands. Sabbath, Zeppelin, we’re all Guns N’ Roses fans.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
We were once described by someone as a hard rock band with a boozy rhythm and blues swagger, which we loved. I think it sums us up quite well. We are different from your average hard rock band on the scene, we try not to conform to the usual tried and tested song structures. We also have the addition of our saxophone player, Frankie, which is not something you often hear in rock music. We are planning to write more with her on the album.
Do you have any lyrical themes?
Every song is different, Wilf handles all the lyrics, he does a great job and I know he is very keen to make the lyrics suit the mood of the song. For instance on Masquerade the lyrics for “Wrong Place, Right Time” are much more upbeat than “Said & Done”.
What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?
I think we have average at about 40 a year and wave been going since 2015. The first year we played less, we were still making contacts and making a name for ourselves. With regards to our live show, it is changing all the time with the addition of new material. We always try and spice things up and give it our all! We are very energetic on stage.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
We once played a show with this crazy band from the southwest who chose to spit half a bottle of water over the crowd, who as you can imagine didn’t approve.
What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?
Our new EP Masquerade which came out on the 16th of November. It’s our strongest material to date and we are really enjoying playing the new stuff on the road.
What are your plans for 2018/2019?
We are excited about heading over to Europe to play our first shows over there! We have also just announced that we will be back at Hard Rock Hell. Apart from that we will have many more shows we are yet to announce. Amongst all the craziness we will need to start writing and planning a full-length album.
If you were second on a three-band bill, which band would you love to be supporting and which band would you choose to open for you? A chance to plug someone you’ve toured with, or a mate’s band we’ve not heard of before!
Our good friends Night laser from Germany and perhaps Glenn Hughes. That would be an awesome bill!
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