I first met drummer John Wicks when we were working on the same commercial shoot while both living in Seattle, then in our twenties, and making some cash as production assistants. And he was playing a gig one night so everyone was going. And you’re kinda thinking, “Yeah, another funny guy at another day job, who happens to be in yet another guy-from-work band.” I went that night and saw him play and quickly saw he has timing and talent beyond his years. One of those people you instantly surmise is either controlled by the spirits of dead Pueblo tribesmen or is simply an alien enduring the likes of us earthbound. One of the things I recall about the years 1995 and 1996 was that anytime i was depressed or uninspired, I would go watch John play drums and feel unbelievably better; he’s one of those musicians that is so good in ways that go beyond even the usual barometers of talent like meter and range and whatever. He lives in LA now and runs with Money Mark and is a session guru genius in deservedly high demand. But the best thing you can do in Los Angeles on any lucky night is walk into a little bar somewhere and get a chance to see him play; for the couple or few times I find myself in LA each year, its the one thing I try my hardest to schedule around. — DSK