Icarian Bird is an Americana Band with a strong base in traditional folk/country roots. Their band is full of multi-instrumentalists, J.D. Kuskie, (lead vocals, guitar) David Merritt, (keys accordian, violin, banjo) Brian McCue, (bass) Mark Bestul (pedal steel, guitar) and Eric Wickizer (drums, guitar). As a result of all of this switching around it gives them a pretty diverse sound while still sounding uniquely Icarian Bird.

SCS: How and when did Icarian Bird form as a band?

J.D.: February of 2004. I asked Eric and Dave to help out on some songs and it grew from there.

David: We formed a little under a year ago when J.D. had songs no one was working up.

SCS: What kind of effect has the recent addition of Mark Bestul to your lineup had on the band?

J.D.: He gives us some more options to fill in the gaps

David: It has added a layer of pure steel bliss. I also love him on the six-string on our newest work.

Mark: He’s a dick. We’re going to pelt him with bits of broken glass and large, heavy shovels onstage at Scenefest 3 but he doesn’t know it yet.

Eric: Pedal steel makes me want to cry. Also, Mark is mistaken, he will be pelted with rotten meat and monkey feces, he's right about the shovels though

SCS: If people come to see you what can they expect at your live shows?

J.D.:A variety of instruments.

David: Heads down. Concentration and wonderful tone colors of folk.

Mark: a true performance, absolute unity in mission to providing beautiful, heartfelt music to the folks that show up. A recognition of an enduring and endearing genre; recapturing it from the mainstream where it never belonged combined with a subtlemodern, creative bend on the sound.

Eric: We are nothing if not sincere when playing. Also, it's not often one can see a band with upright bass, Fender Rhodes, violin, accordian, banjo and faux snakeskin clad drums all on the same stage in Lincoln.

SCS: What types of music and which musicians/groups influenced the band members?

J.D.: Neil Young, The Band, Bob Dylan, Gene Clark, Townes Van Zandt, Nick Drake, Tim Buckley, John Martyn.

David: Okkervil River, Mother Hips, Hank Williams III, Steve Earle, Joni Mitchell, Gillian Welch, to name a very few influences.

Eric: I think the other guys hit most of the folk/rock/country influences. I would add jazz influences (for me at least) like John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, Stan Getz, and Charlie Parker. We all love music from all genres really and I think one can hear that in the songs

Mark: As a young kid it was Dylan, the Beatles, the Stones and the Hair Soundtrack, it then changed to the Clash, Bowie, Joy Division, then a “classic rock” phase, then I went back to Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Johnny Cash, and Hank Williams, Sr. and now it’s not a particular style or genre I like, just good songs with lyrics that make me want to cry or kiss someone.

SCS: Is that why you joined the band, so you could kiss Eric?

Mark: Yes!

SCS: How have you grown, musically and creatively, since the band first started?

J.D.: More instruments, more ideas

David: We practice often. We have added personnel and instrumentation. We surround ourselves with talented people and work hard. We also drink beer and wine, which inspires the work.

Eric: We have all gotten comfortable offering opinions while working out the songs and that lets the songs take new and unexpected directions. Also, I can finally pass for a functioning drummer.

Mark: I’m just so inspired and grateful to be playing with such talented people, I’m humbled and excited.

SCS: Yes, Mark, we can see you're excited, don't you have a notebook or something you can put in front of that? So who writes the songs, and how does the band work a song from the idea stage to a finished song?

Mark: Umm, Barry Manilow writes the songs that make the whole world sing. He writes the songs, he writes the songs.

David: JD Kuskie writes the initial songs then we hash them out over the course of the next couple of months in order to work up the various parts. This process is labor intensive and requires much repetition in order to perfect the finished product.

SCS: When and where was your first local show, and how did it go?

David: Knickerbockers on August 2nd 2004. It went fairly well for a first show.

Mark: (Referring to his own first show, not IB's – ed.) in my friend’s basement. He invited me over to “jam” when we were 15. I got there and every kid in the neighborhood was there and two of my friends. One with a bass, the other with a really cool old drum machine and old synth. This would have been 1985 or so. We had no songs worked out so we just started playing. I was into the pre-goth goth stuff then (Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy, March Violets) and I just broke into a strange, horrible version of “Bela Lugosi’s Dead.” We played it for about 20 minutes, occasionally chanting “Belaaaaaaa’s un-dead” and then quit and that was the show. All the 5-10 year olds loved it.

SCS: What was your most memorable live performance and what made it that?

David: Zoo bar, January 4, 2005. Much snow. We did well and met Mark B.

Eric: I second that. The weather was horrible, yet 25 brave (or foolhardy) souls paid to see us. The whole thing should have been cancelled but the show went on, we had a blast, Bugs Meany rocked, and thankfully, everyone made it home safely.

SCS: What do you like and dislike about the music scene in Lincoln?

David: Not enough publicity for local acts given by news publications (Journal Star sucks

Mark: I like SCS.com and love seeing all the familiar faces at shows; the support the community lends to each others’ projects. I dislike the under-appreciation and lack of notice most of the talented bands experience… certain bands should be packing the clubs to the rafters every time they play but there is a general disinterest in live music by the populous unless “Taking Care of Business” is sure to be played. I’m working overtime.

Eric: I like the support given by one band to another and from the friends/fans that come to the shows. I also appreciate resources like SCS, A Situation, and stores like Royal Pawn, Acoustic Music Plus, and Dietze that are populated with folks who love music, musical instruments, and support people playing live. My goal: I would like to reach the college students (before they view paying a cover to be in a bar with bands as a bad thing) but this seems to be the musical equivalent to finding the holy grail.

SCS: Have you learned anything in your experiences in a band that you feel newer local bands could learn from, or made any mistakes they should avoid?

David: Avoid individual agendas, always work as a team.

Eric: Remember that folks have a million ways to spend their entertainment budget so be sure to give them a good reason to see you the first time and to return.

Mark: Always have Brian McCue play upright bass in your band. If you can’t do that, then don’t bother

SCS: Who are some local bands or musicians that you admire or feel should be recognized?

J.D.: Junior Mighty, Simon Joyner

David: Suzy Dreamer, Mezcal Brothers, Junior Mighty, Forty Twenty.

Mark: I think Dan Jenkins should be a millionaire. Whether that’s through music sales or prostitution I’ll leave the choice to him. But seriously, whenever I see him play, either as Joe Buck or in Ideal Cleaners I am both inspired and discouraged. Inspired that someone around here can write such great songs. Discouraged knowing I will never be that good at songwriting. Also, I think Crush the Clown’s “Sick Love” is one of the greatest records I own. Period

Eric: I agree with the others and would add Honey Stump, The Terminals, and Bugs Meany from Lincoln and Mal Madrigal from Omaha.

SCS: Are you working on a new album now, and if so, when do you expect it to come out?

David: We will make no record before it’s time - Gallo.

Eric: We are working on the songs and once we feel they have matured a bit we will record them. I expect there will be at least an EP available this year.

SCS: If you could tour with any band in history, who would be your dream band to tour with?

J.D.: JD: Opening for Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue in 1975 or opening this show:
Oct. 1 1967
Saville Theatre, London
Pink Floyd / Fairport Convention / Incredible String Band

David: We would have done very well with Country Joe & The Fish.

Mark: Buddy Holly and the Crickets. Except not on airplanes.

Eric: I would do any of those or currently with The Magnolia Electric Co. and The Court and Spark.

SCS: Who was the first person or band you saw that made you want to play music?

J.D.: Peter Buck.

David: I saw the Lincoln Symphony perform as an 11-year-old boy and knew that I had to continue with music.

Mark: Live? Baby Hotline when I was 12 or 13. On T.V.? Elvis when I was 5 or 6.

Eric: Benny Goodman on a PBS program. I started playing clarinet soon after.

SCS: What's the best gig you've ever seen, local or otherwise?

J.D.: David Bowie-Denver (Sound/Vision Tour) 1990; Wilco-Dallas 1996; Smog-Madison, WI 2003

David: Ween in ’97 at The Royal Grove.

Eric: Bob Mould – Black Sheets of Rain Tour 10/90 at the Ranch Bowl. Together with Tony Maimone (Pere Ubu) on bass and Anton Fier (Golden Palominos) on drums – he burned that place down.

Mark: I saw the White Stripes a few years back. I reckon it was akin to seeing Hendrix live, the performance was just so full of energy and amazing, so much talent blasting loudly, chaotically, brilliantly through the hall. The ticket was pricey, one of the most expensive I’ve paid for, but worth it, my eyes still ring and my ears still weep.

SCS: Who do you think is the most underrated artist in the music industry?

J.D.: Tim Bluhm.

David: Will Robinson Sheff.

Eric: Jason Molina

Mark: Sting. No wait, you did say overrated, right?

SCS: What was the first album/CD you bought?

J.D.: J.Geils Band - Freeze Frame.

David: The 45 of "Green River" by CCR: 1974.

Mark: The first one I ever picked out on my own in a record store was London Calling. I picked it based on the cover. This was 1980 and I was 10. To this day it is still my favorite rock album of all time so I really lucked out and I wonder where I’d be musically if I’d have picked out some Olivia Newton John which, at the time, also had a nice cover but stirred slightly different emotions

Eric: 'Disco's Greatest Hits'. On 8-track.

SCS: The most recent?

J.D.: Tim Hardin - Hang on to a Dream.

David: Mother Hips - The Green Hills of Earth.

Eric: Magnolia Electric Co. - Trials and Errors

Mark: Crush the Clown - “Sick Love”, The Byrds - Sweetheart of the Rodeo, Okkervil River - Sleep and Wake Up Songs.

SCS: What other bands would you recommend people check out?

J.D.: Shearwater, Magnolia Electric Co., Anomoanon, Court & Spark

David: Ween, Gov’t Mule, Wilco, The Neon Judgment

Eric: Pinetop Seven, Calexico, Sun Kil Moon, Damien Jurado, Richard Buckner, Dolorean, Okkervil River...

SCS: What are your top records of all time?

J.D.: Today I'll say in no order: