Main Street Magazine Spring '23

ICK! What’s that sound? ICK is a local band featuring members Julia Squeri on bass and vocals,
drummer Tim Graff, and guitarist Owen Shepcaro. Though all three were friends previous to their
musical debut, ICK came together during the summer of 2022 and will be celebrating one (official)
year together this upcoming May. ICK plays at several locations close to UNH, including popular
venues in the Portsmouth area such as the The Drift Art Collective, and the Press Room. Though
some shows are 21+ (freshmen and sophomores beware), many are open to all and worth the
bus ride out to downtown. Their performances are punk-esque, but are also described as a “cosmic
gumbo,” (via Tim Graff) and can be enjoyed by many. If you have a free afternoon in the upcoming weeks
of classes, be on the lookout for show dates nearby! ICK also has an upcoming EP on their list for 2023,
giving you something to look forward to between performances.
The above statements are good things to know, but
it is very surface level information. Yes the band has
some very sexy members, but who are they really?
What are they like off the stage? I had the absolute
treat of finding out, and the even sweeter treat of
being able to share this experience with all of you.
If any of these answers catch your eye and you find
yourself smiling along with the words, consider
following them @ick.smells on Instagram to learn
more!
What kind of dinosaur would you
each be? “Do you know those dinosaurs with
the big thick bones on their skull? It’s [called a]
colepiocephale, that’s Owen for sure… I’m a drinker,
they’re small guys… Julia is a t-rex because she’s
terrifying,” (Tim). “Julia could be a pterodactyl,”
(Owen).
If you were all involved in a police
interrogation for a crime, who is
the good cop? Who is the bad cop?
Who is being interrogated? “Julia is
bad cop,” (Owen). “I am both the good and bad cop
interrogating you both. For jaywalking,” (Tim). “Tim
could be good cop,” (Julia).
What would a movie about your
lives be called? What is the genre?
Upper Hand. “Noir thriller, Tim stars as the [bipolar]
detective. I’m [his] partner in crime. The twist is I’ve
been dead the whole time. Julia is a figment of your
imagination,” (Owen).
Do you take inspiration from any
musicians? Who?
“Buck Cherry, Bottom,”
(Tim). “Amyl and The
Sniffers, Clamm,
a lot of Australian
punk,” (Julia). “A wide
variety, a lot more
punk-ish type stuff,
some Dick Dale,”
(Owen).
You all switch instruments/roles!
Who is playing what?
“Julia drummin’, Tim on guitar and me on bass… I’m
the worst drummer by far,” (Owen).
You’re all thrown into the Hunger
Games. Who wins? “I don’t know who would win,
but I would definitely lose,” (Owen). “I think Tim would
win,” (Julia). “I think it’s a toss up, but I think we would
be Game Masters. No one really wins the Hunger
Games,” (Tim).
What kinds of activities do you do
in your free time outside of music
work? “I like to read books, take walks, call my
mother. [I like] Staring at walls. Go on a brunch date,”
(Owen). “... Adderall recreationally. 20-35 beers and
I shuffle around on the sidewalk. Sometimes I skip,”
(Tim). “I do things… yeah… I do a lot of stuff! I make
art, I paint, I like to cook, I go climbing. I wouldn’t say
I’m a climber, but I climb. I like going outside in the
woods and climbing trees,” (Julia).
What is your life motto? “You could always
throw it in the river.” “You could always pull it out of
the river.” “It never hurts to bring a change of socks.”
“Work hard, play hard.” “TGIF just feels good to say.”
If your band had a f lag, what would
it look like? “The American Flag.” “The Jolly
Roger, but instead of the skull face it’s Tim’s face.”
If you were a fruit, what fruit would
you be? “Hagberry,” (Tim). “Pomegranate,”(Julia).
“Blueberry. Because I like blueberries,” (Owen).
You’ve been cast in Twilight. What
characters do you play? “Tyler Crowley.
To give you a character synopsis [he] nearly kills
Bella and apologizes profusely and asks her to the
school dance. When she says no he starts a rumor
that they’re dating, only to be thwarted by her abusive
vampire boyfriend. I would be Tyler Crowley, the true
hero of Twilight,” (Tim). “I don’t know Twilight that well
but I’d want to be a vampire,” (Owen). “I also would
be a vampire. Not the abusive kind,”
(Julia).
When you get Chinese take
out, what do you order?
“Pu-pu for 2… The other day I got
pu-pu for 1 though,” (Tim). “Egg
drop soup and egg foo young, emphasis on the egg foo
young,” (Owen). “I usually go out to Thai places [and get]
curry noodles. I’m a big spice person,” (Julia).
Squishmallows: must have or pass?
“I have a few and they’re cute and fun. So I say pro
squish,” (Julia). “I am pro squishmallow,” (Owen). “Pass.
They get sweaty at night and the plush material feels
different after a while. I feel like they come out fucked up
when you wash them,” (Tim).
by cori wintle-newell
57