Cult-fave Psychostick delivers metal with a smile
Call them the misfits of metal.
Psychostick is the kind of band that brags about getting the worst rating possible from Revolver Magazine.
They have a song called “Beer” and an album named “Sandwich.” They play metal music and some vocals are rapped, but the lyrics are all a joke.
Psychostick’s sound is so ill-bred that they can hardly get on a bill with another band when they are on the road.
Comedy set to heavy metal – or as Psychostick calls it, humorcore – is a tough sell. Metal of any kind is so dominated by demonic images and Satanism that a metal band that sings about car trouble and dirty underwear seems too out of place.
“We’ve been playing self-headlining tours for three years,” said Psychostick lead singer Rawrb, aka Rob Kersey, in a telephone interview. “Other bands think that we are so different they won’t even play shows with us. They have the idea that we won’t mix well.
“Once we sell them on the idea that it’s going to work, and it’s going to be OK, we’ve never had a problem, even at a dark-hip-hop or juggalo crowd.”
Drawing comparisons to Green Jello, Bloodhound Gang, Tenacious D and Mr. Bungle, the Arizona-based Psychostick is made up of serious musicians: Kersey, guitarist/singer Joshua “The J” Key, drummer Alex “Shmalex” Priess, bassist Jimmy “Jimmychanga” Grant and guitarist/singer Jake “Jakermeister” McReynolds.
Underneath the crude images and toilet humor is tight instrumentation and surprising vocal harmonies. Kersey said even the jokes are taken seriously.
“Every aspect of every genre we use we take very seriously – the musicianship, the instrumentation, we even take the comedy seriously,” he said. “We have to go all out, otherwise people will not come out and see us a second time.”
Psychostick has established a sort of cult following among boys aged 14 to 40. They’re a hit on iTunes (“Take that Revolver”) and they’ve charted several times on Billboard’s Heatseekers and Independent Albums.
The band’s May release, “Sandwich,” was promoted in partnership with Subway through the YouTube-pushed “Beat Our Meat” contest, in which fans competed to build the biggest sandwiches.
“The biggest reason we did a food-related album is when we’re on the road we’re looking for one thing – places to eat,” said Kersey. “Some bands say they are in it for the chicks, we’re in it for food.
“A food album is something everyone can relate to. Everyone likes food, right? Our shows are like feeding frenzies. People are smiling in the mosh pit and laughing while slamming into other guys.”