Clikatat Ikatowi: revivifying a ‘90s moment for a ‘20s audience.

Post-hardcore/emo math rockers Clikatat Ikatowi formed in 1993; its lineup featured drummer Mario Rubalcaba (also known from the Black Heart Procession, Hot Snakes, and the Sultans) alongside Scott Bartoloni (Heroin, End of the Line, Mannekin Piss, Spacehorse, Statue, Battalion of Saints), Matt Goldsby, aka “C” (of the short-lived band Candle), and the late Ryan Noel, who passed away some years ago. “Scott, C, and Ryan had already been hanging out together and wanting to form something,” according to Rubalcaba, a former pro skateboarder currently playing in Earthless and Rocket From The Crypt. “They had Ron from Heroin on drums for a few jams, and I think they called it 19, but it was just a handful of jams. I was playing with an improvised hardcore band called Fervor and had reconnected with Scott, which then led to all of us jamming.”

Once its lineup was solidified, the band earned notice at a time when other experimental groups were having a moment in San Diego (see the players’ various individual credits). That underground collection of cult favorites was unlikely to turn up on MTV, but they were considered musical deities at local record stores and among collectors and even critics.

Clikatat Ikatowi existed until 1996 or 1997 — Rubalcaba is unsure of the exact date, and little documentation seems to exist, other than recordings: there’s a demo tape, a full-length album, an EP, and a live album. He thinks their last show was at the Casbah 27 or so years ago. “I thought it was ’96, but maybe it was ‘97? Foggy! A long time ago, indeed.” After that, the members went their separate ways. “Our singer C relocated up to Oregon with his family. I don’t think he’s done any music stuff there to my knowledge. Scott has had a few bands throughout the years and still loves hardcore. Unfortunately, Ryan passed away, but he had a couple post-Clikatat bands when he moved to New York City. I moved to Chicago for a few years then came back and joined Rocket From The Crypt, and then just kept going.”

He says the original band was inspired by their friends to get back together for a set of three performances, with the first one currently slated to take place on Tuesday, October 8 at the Casbah in Little Italy. “I think it was sparked by our old friends in Unwound, with whom we did two U.S. tours back in the ‘90s. They asked if we would play with them for the upcoming show in October. That meant a lot to us. Didn’t seem possible, but here we are. The response had been overwhelmingly positive, and for that, I couldn’t be more grateful. Enjoy these things while we can.”

Whether it’s been 27 or 28 years since their last concert (it says 25 years on the website for the Casbah, which presumably has verifiable date records), today’s Clikatat Ikatowi isn’t quite the same band that was once described as “Mario bashing away in double time Can-like rhythms with Matt Goldsby in a perpetual wail.” The late Ryan Noel’s bass duties will be taken over by Mike Eginton, who is also Rubalcaba’s bandmate in Earthless. The Casbah show won’t be the only reunion performance, but Rubalcaba notes that the band isn’t necessarily getting back together for good. “We have three shows total, but who knows? We have a reissue discography release coming out next year, so maybe we will do a couple shows for that. I hope so, but with schedules and life stuff, it all could be a question mark. It’s still a big trip that we are even doing these three shows. It would be cool to record a song or two from the last batch of songs we wrote, stuff that never got recorded, but we’ll see.”

The band is excited for the Casbah show and their other two shows for a variety of reasons, but mostly because they will provide a sense of closure for their fans. “Just to give some people a chance to see that band that missed out back in the day. A lot of people were just too young or just missed it. It will be great to reconnect with some old friends as well, and it’s been great to revisit these songs.” The October 8 Casbah bill includes Negative Blast and Witch Face.