Nick Hipa – @yesTHEnickhipa

Member since – Feb. 2001

How I joined the band:
I couldn’t explain this any better than how it is verbally and visually presented in our DVD This Is Who We Are.
Other musical endeavors (past and present):
The only other band I’ve been in that actually did something was Evelynn (’01-’03). Presently I’d rather be about other musical endeavors then talk about them.
Favorite Books: My favorite writers are E.E. Cummings, Charles Dickens, Chuck Palahniuk (earlier books only), Chuck Klosterman, George Saunders, and Ernest Hemingway. Pick any book by them and you should be happy.

Top DVD’s:
Jesus Christ Superstar, The Last Dragon, The Warriors, The entire Wes Anderson Collection, and The entire Quentin Tarantino Collection.
Gear & endorsements:
Ibanez Guitars (ART’s and Destroyers), Seymour Duncan Blackout Pickups, DR Strings, In Tune Guitar Picks, Peavey 6505+ Heads, Maxon Pedals (OD 808 Overdrive/OD909 Delay), Celestion Vintage 30 Speakers, Misc. Line 6, Dunlop, and MXR pedals

Where you can take me to eat:
Rico’s Taco Shop, Swami’s Cafe, Naked Cafe, Honey’s Cafe, Happy Chang’s Best of Thai, Hillstreet Cafe, Pizza Port, Santana’s

My arch nemesis:
Cilantro

Guitarists whom I’ve been inspired by: Randy Rhoads, David Gilmour, Darrell Lance Abbott, John Frusciante, Warren DeMartini, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, George Lynch, Kim Thayil, and a majority of the Swedes.

Favorite Quotes: “Don’t sweat the small stuff” – Samuel Vincent Kilaukea Hipa II, “Never stop aspiring” -James Rodney Murphy, “Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing” -Aristotle, “And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music” -Friedrich Nietzsche