In this episode of The Hang, host Scott Saldinger sits down with Ick, a feral two-piece punk band from Modesto, California, whose sound pulls from hardcore, noise rock, sludge, and experimental punk without ever settling into one box.

Growing up just blocks apart, guitarist/vocalist Jackie Westcott and drummer Eli Alsop built Ick from friendship, frustration, and a shared belief that punk isn’t about perfection—it’s about doing it yourself and doing it honestly. The conversation traces their early influences, how being from a smaller Central Valley city shaped their independence, and why DIY culture continues to be the backbone of everything they create.

Ick opens up about their songwriting process, where riffs grow organically, lyrics come from lived emotion, and collaboration means trusting each other enough to challenge ideas without ego. Jackie discusses how writing becomes a way to survive heavy emotions, while Eli explains how simplicity, feel, and originality guide his drumming rather than genre expectations.

The episode also dives into Ick’s involvement with Doll Fest, a festival rooted in inclusion and community. For Ick, supporting diverse and local bands isn’t a trend—it’s a responsibility. 

This is a conversation about making music without permission, building community from the ground up, and trusting that if it’s real, people will feel it.

https://www.instagram.com/ick.official/

https://www.dollfest.net/

Mexico City Pre-Party Tickets

Doll Fest Volume III in Mexico City Tickets

Doll Fest Volume II Pre-Party Tickets (Oakland) 

Doll Fest Volume II 

#IckBand #PunkDIY #TheHangPodcast #DollFest #UndergroundPunk #independentmusic #ick 

The Hang! Podcast – Presented by Almost Famous Magazine