Wilkes also pointed out that performers, depending on their moods, can drastically affect the longevity of the rubbish bins. "If you're kind of worked up, maybe they will only last one performance. Generally, they can last as long as a week," he said.
"We go through a lot of equipment, alright," added Vidos.
With all the banging and heavy kitchen equipment, Wilkes and Vidos agreed that things can occasionally get a little dangerous. "Yeah, one time one guy got hit in the side of the neck with a pole. It laid him out right there on the stage and they had to take him away to the hospital," said Wilkes, adding with a huff of indifference, "it was his fault anyway."
Since the action is always intense, STOMP makes it a point to play in small auditoriums so they can relate more directly to the audience and the up-close aspects of their performances will not be lost to those riding high up in the rafters. "We usually play to a house of under 2000 people," said Vidos. "There's no speaking. There's no dialogue, just what we do on stage."
Most importantly, STOMP is superb at what they do on stage, and it's an act you can't find replicated anywhere else. Wilkes serves as a sort of one-man example of the group's unique brand of excellence. "I've been playing the dustpan for eight years, and I'm really good at it," he said. "You can't find nobody like that!"
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