Curtain call for Wikid Likir at Thunder Nites

After 14 years as a band, Wikid Likir will take the stage for a final time at 6 p.m. Friday downtown at Thunder Nites. With members from Cedar Rapids, Baxter and Newton, the group is finding itself growing in different directions as people after having been together for so many formative years.

“It’s not that we’re retiring. The four of us are just growing apart. Our personal lives have all changed a bit,” lead vocalist Paul Michael Davis said.

The band started with Davis getting a call from a karaoke bar in Toledo — Bumblebee’s.

“The owner’s daughter called me up on a Wednesday night. She said ‘Hey can you throw a band together by Friday?’ I said ‘This Friday?’ ‘Yep!’ was her response,” Davis said.

After making a quick call to friend Clyde Purk and having him agree to perform, the two made up a set list, practiced and put on a four hour show. Davis’ ex-wife mentioned the name Wikid Likir in the past as a band name and Davis liked it so he announced the pair as two members of Wikid Liker, not knowing how long they would actually continue to use it.

Current members of the band are Jeremiah Murphy from Cedar Rapids on bass, Joe Rebik from Baxter on guitar, Dean Earnhart of Newton on drums and Davis from Newton on vocals. The band does not have a particular style and play a little bit of everything.

“Classic rock covers from the Stones, CCR, The Beatles, Skynard. Country like Cash, Brooks and Dunn. Blues like Stevie Ray Vaughn and Ian Moore. A little of everything,” Davis said.

The band’s original music is mostly rock oriented. An original song “Fireball” led to a multi-media sponsorship with Fireball Whisky. The company shared the bands social media status on Instagram and Twitter and supplied fans with merchandise as well.

“I’m very proud of that,” Davis said.

Through the years, Wikid Likir has played on some big stages with big name bands. Some highlights include playing the Surf Ballroom in Clear lake with Jackyl, Rally on the River in Davenport with Great White along with playing at the Iowa Speedway several times.

Thunder Nites seems a fitting place for the band to have its final performance as it was the first band to ever take the stage for the event. During its run, Wikid Likir played Thunder Nites several times and hopes to rock the stage one last time.

“I’m definitely looking forward to partying with the Thunder Nites crowd again,” Davis said.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynewscom