SI #2 This is Nik Barker | ex-Twelve Foot Ninja

Sentimental Illness

This week's guest is Nik (kin) Barker, ex singer of Twelve Foot Ninja!
MONOLOGUE:
It's been a week full of creative energy and gnashing of teeth. My head hurts way too much because I don't sleep, but when have I ever actually slept? The bags under my eyes prove the truth, you know? I'm starting to seriously think I have a solid case of sleep apnea. I know I'm not in perfect shape, but I've noticed the last few months (only the last few) that I wake every night with a very dry mouth and I think I'm sleeping with my mouth open at night. Granted, I'm also a diabetic now (don't get me started) and it's a sign of something greater and sadly distressing. All said, I know I'm turning a blind eye to my health, but I just don't have the bandwidth to care at this moment.
I'm still dealing with anger, but I can't complain too much. I've been begging the big man to take it all away from me, but he's got bigger fish to fry.
A very close friend who suffered from a brain tumor a few years ago has finally been diagnosed with malignant cancers in her liver and chest so things went upside down in our community of friends pretty quickly.
It reminds me that as much as I hate my life at times, I don't have to worry about having my head cut off because I don't believe the same things that the government does or how can I complain when I have a refrigerator with 25 different hot sauce flavors to compliment my meal? I mean ... how hard is this really?
Nik Barker and I had never met in person until today. Today is numero uno. All said, I have been a fan of Nik's for a number of years. I discovered his old band, Twelve Foot Ninja at the end of 2015. I'd heard about the band through the grapevine and my connections in the music business.
A buddy of mine had seen them at a festival in Ohio and told me how much he'd enjoyed them. Surprisingly, a new video of theirs ended up on YouTube.... something called One Hand Killing, and the next thing you know, I'm jumping down the rabbit hole of everything I'd missed. I told everyone. I learned all the material. I reveled in the absurdity of their musical skill levels and their very bizarre sense of humor. Sadly, within the last few years, the band went on permanent hiatus and Nik has moved on.
This all to say, regardless of what happened and where they may be going, they have done something very few bands have... they've created something truly unique and inspiring, they've reached around the globe and my guest today was the VOICE of that legacy.
FUN STUFF:
What special things are happening on April 23rd?
Today is NATIONAL ENGLISH MUFFIN DAY
Today is WORLD TABLE TENNIS DAY
Today is also NATIONAL TAKE A CHANCE DAY, NATIONAL TALK LIKE SHAKESPEAR DAY, and most importantly, NATIONAL LOVERS DAY.
NEWS:
Rock and Roll Hall of fame
BIRTHDAYS:
Roy Orbison
DEATHS:
According to Sir Isaac Newton, Jesus Christ was crucified on this date in the year 34 AD.
TIME CODES:
3:00 No bandwidth in my life. Full on midlife crisis.
8:00 Introducing Nik Barker
10:00 Fun Stuff
13:00 Vegemite
17:45 American hubris
22:00 Political affiliations on your sleeve
26:20 Stuck with presidents
31:20 Shutting down those that dissent
36:00 The point of popularism
41:30 Exemplfying the teachings of Christ
46:00 Trump tried to be Jesus
49:40 The source of all light
52:30 Diverting attention away
58:30 Singling out artists doesn't make sense
1:07:00 Nik did an Odd Covers cover of Anubis
1:14:00 Nik is grateful
1:19:00 Nik's parents were musicians as well
1:23:00 KISS was the one
1:27:00 When Nik figured out music was the future
1:33:00 White lace doilies
1:37:30 Nik getting better at controlling emotions
1:41:45 What is Nik nostalgic about?
1:47:00 Nik's irrational fear is being seen
1:50:40 Neglecting others for selfish reasons
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