CIRCULAR REFERENCE ICT

The 2026 Annual List of the Suckiest Wichita Bands

After much anticipation, I am proud to present on behalf of myself and no one else, the top three Wichita DIY bands that totally suck.

The Top Three Suckiest Bands in Wichita are...

2. (this list is intentionally blank)

That's right folks. After all the gossip, jokes, consternation, duplicity, back handed comments, and straight up rudeness, there are actually no bands that totally suck in our scene.

That's not to be confused with bands that suck a little bit. Every band sucks at least a little bit; however, no band is worth the ridicule and shame associated with the distinction of Totally Sucking.

Are some bands better than others? Probably, but we're all at different points along the declining curve of suckitude. If you're doing the right things, over time, you suck less, but you never completely stop sucking. I saw Meshuggah skip an eighth note live once.

In the least ironic / most disappointing way possible, it's the negativity around this topic that sucks the most because it stifles and ultimately kills artistic growth and development.

For the ones alleging the Suckitude, what I find is that it only serves as a means to protect one's ego- to justify or rationalize potentially your own shortcomings or hide your insecurities. In short, you're being a classic bully.

For the alleged Total Stinker, it can be a crippling blow to self esteem. The creative and artistic process is not a linear one. We can be at different stages in the process, trying to realize our vision. Real, honest art takes a degree of vulnerability. Why not find ways to nurture that? At the end of the day, you don't know what someone else is going through, and no one has the right or the authority to put someone else down.

However… playing is a privilege, and I've seen all too many times individuals and bands assert themselves in the most entitled way possible, disrespecting the entire DIY institution. So, in lieu of naming the Top Three Suckiest Bands in Wichita, I will instead call out the Top Three Suckiest Behaviors in Wichita.

1. Consistently playing out of time or out of tune- This is one of those things that gets graded on a curve. You can play the wrong note every once or or drag or rush a bit and get away with it. If you keep playing out of tune or cannot hold down the groove to save your life, I'm walking out of your set. It's disrespectful and a crime against the ears. I will not stand for it.
2. Playing a cover song and not learning it properly- I know how the song goes, and that ain't it. Try harder or don't at all.
3. Not promoting your shows- When an out of town band has a bad turnout because you didn't feel like it was “your job” to promote the show, it not only hurts the touring band, but it hurts every other band in the scene. Our locals that want to go on tour need all the goodwill they can get when trying to book out of town gigs or just finding a floor to sleep on when they are on the road.

In conclusion, be kind, and try to suck less.