Sicbay's Nick Sakes is a cult hero to enthusiasts of underground Midwestern noise rock. He played guitar and sang for Dazzling Killmen and Colossamite, both well-respected acts who toured extensively and released multiple records on the Skin Graft label. Sicbay's sound combines the dissonance and rhythmic experimentation of Sakes' previous projects with a new focus on melody and concise songs. After the dissolution of Colossamite in the late '90s, Sakes began playing with a second guitarist, his longtime friend and fellow Minneapolis resident, Dave Erb. Ed Rodriguez, who played guitar in Colossamite and who has also played with Iceburn and the Gorge Trio, taught himself to play drums for the project, now known as Sicbay. The group recorded their debut album, The Firelit S'coughs, for Obtuse Mule Records in 2001 and toured with Jonathon Warnberg playing drums. Ed Rodriguez has since re-joined the band and is slated to play on Sicbay's second full-length, forthcoming on 54 40' or Fight! Records. ~ Hank Shteamer