July 27, 2025 • 9 mins
On this episode of The Kevin Powell Podcast, I speak with vocalist Ryan McCombs and guitarist C.J. Pierce about their new music, Ryan returning to the band and staying motivated after all these years. Interview recorded live on location at Inkcarceration Festival 2025.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
That's all guys. It's Kevin from the Kevin Bell Podcast.
I got a childhood band that I just I've loved forever.
It's Shrouning Pool and I'll tell you what. You guys
have been at it for a while, but that's okay.
You still sound for us. You still sound new, and
everything's great because you've got new singles out right now.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
We got three because you got an album coming out? Well,
can you tell us about that?
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Oh man, it's been awesome, dude, it's been a great
you know, the band, Back in the band, I went over.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Two years now. I keep dosing the track of time.
Speaker 4 (00:29):
Man.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
We just celebrated his third birthday the other day, so
it's been three years.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
You've been in the band, three years old.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Here we are, third birthday, third birthday by back in
the band.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
But how old it is?
Speaker 3 (00:40):
I mean we're all like one hundred and fifty something.
Now we don't do mattso but it's been awesome twenty
five years. Man, we're still on it, having a great time.
You know, you just saw that play Rock Bodies, So
everybody goes freaking nuts.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
So you Tom, I can't hear you guys at all.
Bay So when it comes down to playing.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
However long you've played, however many shows you play, how
do you guys still stay energized, ready to go like
it's your first show ever.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
I mean, for me, man, I'm looking forward to play
all the time. It's a national journal brush.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
I can't wait to get on stage and get on it. Man.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
I mean, it's one of my favorite things. I love
playing guitar. Man, it's a favorite thing to do a
whole freaking girl. So it's just a natural amps up.
You know that hour before you just know what's coming.
You know what's coming, you know what's creeping in, and
then we need that first note. Man, It's just like
the first time you ever picked the guitar. We just stop, so.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
The passion keeps going. How about you? What keeps you going? Right?
I hear they going? What keeps you going? What keeps
me going?
Speaker 4 (01:38):
Ye?
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Back up?
Speaker 4 (01:41):
They positioned the press tent right next to the stage, Yes,
which I think.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Might be I think it should be semi bad idea. Actually,
we're gonna move to the stage with the stake to
play inside the stage. I can't hear any when you
said that devices in the did you mean it? Yes?
I did catch him all the time, says let me
the floor. I don't want to catch him. Well, that's
because you're evil. If you're evil, you're right. So a
(02:08):
question for you, Oh what was it like? Correct? All right?
What was it like getting that invite back to drowning Pool?
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Man?
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Oh, that's the question, that's the question. That was awesome, Stevie.
Stevie actually hit me up. I lived over in England.
I was at a pub one night and Stevie hit
me up. Stevie, if you if you, if you don't
know anybody from Texas, they're not a.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
Small talking people, you know, they don't like to shoot
the ship like. So Stevie hits me up this message
wise like text message, and I'm like, all.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Right, so we're going back.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
It's like an hour of going back and forth. I'm like,
something's up, So are you okay? Like everything fine? Stevie's
like that's all good man, And then like there's a
pause and then he comes back he's writing, goes Actually,
I was thinking, what would you think about doing some
like reunion shows?
Speaker 2 (03:07):
And I miss writing with c J. Stevie and Mike.
I miss writing with him.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
I missed performed I've missed being on stage with him.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
For years now.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
Yeah, so it was like a no brothers like yeah,
like two days laters like, yeah, you're not we're not
doing reunion shows. You're back on the band, you knowing
that we have a show in two weeks, We're going
flight in Texas.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
Andy're going to do contacts in the band, and like
we started booking shows. So we've just been in steadily
pretty much during the last two years. A lot in
the States, and this year we're back overseas in Europe.
We have a bunch of festivals coming up in August,
and then we have a show with Spine, Shank and
head Be which is awesome in November doing the whole
UK run, and then after that we're making plans, you know,
the twenty fifth anniversary. June fifth, twenty twenty six is
(03:46):
the twenty five years since Center came out, So summertime,
I think it's when we're looking to do that anniversary.
We get everything together for that now in between this
tour and November. But yeah, man, it's been a busy, busy, awesome.
Weill coming up on three years. I guess, really has
it been three years? Twenty years this October exclusion through
so fifth was like the one we did with Pan
(04:07):
Terror that was three years ago. All right, it's been
three years to bit a man. Fuck it just flies now.
A question for both of you.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
Now.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Fans have their own favorite songs. I like to step
up the books. But what's your favorite song to play?
And why?
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Man, that's a tough one because I mean, obviously I
do love playing them all with different reasons. I love
that we mix up our Stevens to Live well, you know,
terr Way's always fun to play, especially in the solo
in it because it connects with the people with fans
in different ways. All that song, our song, our own
song has changed meanings on me three different times, if
you know, just because of life and just evolving. You know,
it hits me in a different place now. So I
(04:43):
can relate to a lot of fans on that one.
And of course playing Bodies, Man, everybody goes nuts when
I'm playing I can't wait to play Bodies. It's a
fun song to play, unless most bands I get rid
about it. I really do look forward to playing Bodies.
What about you, man, with some of your favorites to.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
Playing have you ever know like fifty percent of the
ladies out there that's wearing active wear have never been
to the Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Anyway, Yeah, you know Jara Way is awesome.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
Yeah, because, like I know, like talking to the guys
everything where Dave's mind was when he wrote the lyrics.
But for me, the lyrics means something completely different but
very relevant at the same time. And so that's a
very like personal and heartfelt song to play every night. Yep.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Personally, my favorite song is a song that we don't
play every night.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
We play every once in a while, in a song
called Mute, and I love playing that song every Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
If you don't have the Center Records, that's a fun
song to you haven't played that.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Forever to rank it back in, So nothing like bringing
back to the classics. Hey guys, it's Brian Scott from
Union Underground. This is Bones from the Union Underground.
Speaker 5 (05:42):
You're listening to Kevin Powell podcasts thinking, Yeah, a couple
of questions left. I asked this to every band, no
matter what one. If you had any advice to give
to a band that maybe just be starting out or
they want to see themselves on stage, incarceration, they want
to be on tour, what advice would you give those guys, oh.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Man so much, I don't even know where to start
with advice wives, Definitely, I mean when you started out,
it's definitely nothing necessarily label as the management to have that,
but trying to do as much stuff as you get
within the band or like share the love maybe something
person the band can take off some sort of responsibility.
And if you do have somebody managing you are doing label,
always check.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Everything on it. Because we've been through four different.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Labels and several different managers, and every single one of.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Them it's like, I'll get it out. It hurts a
number of friends. You went in there dry. Don't give
me like that.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
So yes, keep an eye on all your stuff to
see what you're abcessed is focus on your own shit
and take care of yourself.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
Person homost, keep your eyes on the pennies, on the watts,
on the pennies, on the pennies. Keep your eyes on
the pennies, okay, because they will bleed you dry the
pennies the next thing you know, you ain't to fucking
dollars left.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
So keep your eyes on the pennies. And back in
the day, I used to.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Say when people would ask me that qu be like,
go back to.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
School, you know, don't do this shit, go back to it.
But I realized over the years, if it's in your blood,
it's in your blood. So if you're going do it,
do it both fucking feet.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
Don't don't don't one foot it, don't tiptoe in it,
give it your all. Go yeah, And like I said,
keep your eyes on the pennies because they will bleed
you of the pennies and you out nothing.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
It's not show friend, it's show business. It's a pretty
offshoot question. How many wall pedals have you gone through
this year? My god? So I have a box off
at least ten. As you know that I have a
whole box because I play. You know, I'm a wat.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Chunkie man, and when I get into it and i'm playing,
sometimes I'll be stomping on it hard. But I have
this newer one and that I love. Man, it's the
Gizar player from three eleven. It's like his his design
that he has and I've loved this one. It's a
big sway on it. So I've had this one for
a few months. It hasn't busting on me yet, but
I've been to at least ten.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
I love talking about gear. It's so fun. I've friend
of us stuff a lot. Man, I'll play pretty rough,
still play.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Are last thing? Any final words you guys want to
say to fans?
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Awesome, thank yeah, thank you so much to check out
you know you check out Madison at least to finally, man,
you know two new songs. Ever, Ron, we have a
whole bunch of stuff're working on. We're gonna be back
at the house next week fine tuning the other stuff
that's on the table.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
So I'm hopefully looking to get some newies that got
before the end of the year. There's there's one reason
why a band like us is still here today.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
I mean, yeah, what a music is one thing, but
it's because people give us the time of day. Still
after all these years, people like yourself keep us in
contact with those people, so thank you.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
But those people that allow us to do what we
do after all.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
These years, still come after the shows, still support the
music and everything.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
We ain't doing shit without them, so thank you. I
mean thanks. No.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
I love talking to bands no matter where they're at
in their careers and get to talk to someone I
grew up with listening album after album after album. Meeting
you guys, dream come true. So seriously, thank you you guys,
let me talk to you.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
All right here?
Speaker 1 (09:04):
Oh yeah, I got him, Johnny Pool, you got new
music coming. I hope you're excited, because I am. Get
ready for that, Get ready for all these tours I.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Got coming up. And hey, maybe we'll have them at
more festivals and we'll definitely out them at more festivals.
All right, we'll see you next time.
That's all guys. It's Kevin from the Kevin Bell Podcast.
I got a childhood band that I just I've loved forever.
It's Shrouning Pool and I'll tell you what. You guys
have been at it for a while, but that's okay.
You still sound for us. You still sound new, and
everything's great because you've got new singles out right now.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
We got three because you got an album coming out? Well,
can you tell us about that?
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Oh man, it's been awesome, dude, it's been a great
you know, the band, Back in the band, I went over.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Two years now. I keep dosing the track of time.
Speaker 4 (00:29):
Man.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
We just celebrated his third birthday the other day, so
it's been three years.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
You've been in the band, three years old.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Here we are, third birthday, third birthday by back in
the band.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
But how old it is?
Speaker 3 (00:40):
I mean we're all like one hundred and fifty something.
Now we don't do mattso but it's been awesome twenty
five years. Man, we're still on it, having a great time.
You know, you just saw that play Rock Bodies, So
everybody goes freaking nuts.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
So you Tom, I can't hear you guys at all.
Bay So when it comes down to playing.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
However long you've played, however many shows you play, how
do you guys still stay energized, ready to go like
it's your first show ever.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
I mean, for me, man, I'm looking forward to play
all the time. It's a national journal brush.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
I can't wait to get on stage and get on it. Man.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
I mean, it's one of my favorite things. I love
playing guitar. Man, it's a favorite thing to do a
whole freaking girl. So it's just a natural amps up.
You know that hour before you just know what's coming.
You know what's coming, you know what's creeping in, and
then we need that first note. Man, It's just like
the first time you ever picked the guitar. We just stop, so.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
The passion keeps going. How about you? What keeps you going? Right?
I hear they going? What keeps you going? What keeps
me going?
Speaker 4 (01:38):
Ye?
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Back up?
Speaker 4 (01:41):
They positioned the press tent right next to the stage, Yes,
which I think.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Might be I think it should be semi bad idea. Actually,
we're gonna move to the stage with the stake to
play inside the stage. I can't hear any when you
said that devices in the did you mean it? Yes?
I did catch him all the time, says let me
the floor. I don't want to catch him. Well, that's
because you're evil. If you're evil, you're right. So a
(02:08):
question for you, Oh what was it like? Correct? All right?
What was it like getting that invite back to drowning Pool?
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Man?
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Oh, that's the question, that's the question. That was awesome, Stevie.
Stevie actually hit me up. I lived over in England.
I was at a pub one night and Stevie hit
me up. Stevie, if you if you, if you don't
know anybody from Texas, they're not a.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
Small talking people, you know, they don't like to shoot
the ship like. So Stevie hits me up this message
wise like text message, and I'm like, all.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Right, so we're going back.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
It's like an hour of going back and forth. I'm like,
something's up, So are you okay? Like everything fine? Stevie's
like that's all good man, And then like there's a
pause and then he comes back he's writing, goes Actually,
I was thinking, what would you think about doing some
like reunion shows?
Speaker 2 (03:07):
And I miss writing with c J. Stevie and Mike.
I miss writing with him.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
I missed performed I've missed being on stage with him.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
For years now.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
Yeah, so it was like a no brothers like yeah,
like two days laters like, yeah, you're not we're not
doing reunion shows. You're back on the band, you knowing
that we have a show in two weeks, We're going
flight in Texas.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
Andy're going to do contacts in the band, and like
we started booking shows. So we've just been in steadily
pretty much during the last two years. A lot in
the States, and this year we're back overseas in Europe.
We have a bunch of festivals coming up in August,
and then we have a show with Spine, Shank and
head Be which is awesome in November doing the whole
UK run, and then after that we're making plans, you know,
the twenty fifth anniversary. June fifth, twenty twenty six is
(03:46):
the twenty five years since Center came out, So summertime,
I think it's when we're looking to do that anniversary.
We get everything together for that now in between this
tour and November. But yeah, man, it's been a busy, busy, awesome.
Weill coming up on three years. I guess, really has
it been three years? Twenty years this October exclusion through
so fifth was like the one we did with Pan
(04:07):
Terror that was three years ago. All right, it's been
three years to bit a man. Fuck it just flies now.
A question for both of you.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
Now.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Fans have their own favorite songs. I like to step
up the books. But what's your favorite song to play?
And why?
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Man, that's a tough one because I mean, obviously I
do love playing them all with different reasons. I love
that we mix up our Stevens to Live well, you know,
terr Way's always fun to play, especially in the solo
in it because it connects with the people with fans
in different ways. All that song, our song, our own
song has changed meanings on me three different times, if
you know, just because of life and just evolving. You know,
it hits me in a different place now. So I
(04:43):
can relate to a lot of fans on that one.
And of course playing Bodies, Man, everybody goes nuts when
I'm playing I can't wait to play Bodies. It's a
fun song to play, unless most bands I get rid
about it. I really do look forward to playing Bodies.
What about you, man, with some of your favorites to.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
Playing have you ever know like fifty percent of the
ladies out there that's wearing active wear have never been
to the Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Anyway, Yeah, you know Jara Way is awesome.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
Yeah, because, like I know, like talking to the guys
everything where Dave's mind was when he wrote the lyrics.
But for me, the lyrics means something completely different but
very relevant at the same time. And so that's a
very like personal and heartfelt song to play every night. Yep.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Personally, my favorite song is a song that we don't
play every night.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
We play every once in a while, in a song
called Mute, and I love playing that song every Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
If you don't have the Center Records, that's a fun
song to you haven't played that.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Forever to rank it back in, So nothing like bringing
back to the classics. Hey guys, it's Brian Scott from
Union Underground. This is Bones from the Union Underground.
Speaker 5 (05:42):
You're listening to Kevin Powell podcasts thinking, Yeah, a couple
of questions left. I asked this to every band, no
matter what one. If you had any advice to give
to a band that maybe just be starting out or
they want to see themselves on stage, incarceration, they want
to be on tour, what advice would you give those guys, oh.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Man so much, I don't even know where to start
with advice wives, Definitely, I mean when you started out,
it's definitely nothing necessarily label as the management to have that,
but trying to do as much stuff as you get
within the band or like share the love maybe something
person the band can take off some sort of responsibility.
And if you do have somebody managing you are doing label,
always check.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Everything on it. Because we've been through four different.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Labels and several different managers, and every single one of.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Them it's like, I'll get it out. It hurts a
number of friends. You went in there dry. Don't give
me like that.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
So yes, keep an eye on all your stuff to
see what you're abcessed is focus on your own shit
and take care of yourself.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
Person homost, keep your eyes on the pennies, on the watts,
on the pennies, on the pennies. Keep your eyes on
the pennies, okay, because they will bleed you dry the
pennies the next thing you know, you ain't to fucking
dollars left.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
So keep your eyes on the pennies. And back in
the day, I used to.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Say when people would ask me that qu be like,
go back to.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
School, you know, don't do this shit, go back to it.
But I realized over the years, if it's in your blood,
it's in your blood. So if you're going do it,
do it both fucking feet.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
Don't don't don't one foot it, don't tiptoe in it,
give it your all. Go yeah, And like I said,
keep your eyes on the pennies because they will bleed
you of the pennies and you out nothing.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
It's not show friend, it's show business. It's a pretty
offshoot question. How many wall pedals have you gone through
this year? My god? So I have a box off
at least ten. As you know that I have a
whole box because I play. You know, I'm a wat.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Chunkie man, and when I get into it and i'm playing,
sometimes I'll be stomping on it hard. But I have
this newer one and that I love. Man, it's the
Gizar player from three eleven. It's like his his design
that he has and I've loved this one. It's a
big sway on it. So I've had this one for
a few months. It hasn't busting on me yet, but
I've been to at least ten.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
I love talking about gear. It's so fun. I've friend
of us stuff a lot. Man, I'll play pretty rough,
still play.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Are last thing? Any final words you guys want to
say to fans?
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Awesome, thank yeah, thank you so much to check out
you know you check out Madison at least to finally, man,
you know two new songs. Ever, Ron, we have a
whole bunch of stuff're working on. We're gonna be back
at the house next week fine tuning the other stuff
that's on the table.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
So I'm hopefully looking to get some newies that got
before the end of the year. There's there's one reason
why a band like us is still here today.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
I mean, yeah, what a music is one thing, but
it's because people give us the time of day. Still
after all these years, people like yourself keep us in
contact with those people, so thank you.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
But those people that allow us to do what we
do after all.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
These years, still come after the shows, still support the
music and everything.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
We ain't doing shit without them, so thank you. I
mean thanks. No.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
I love talking to bands no matter where they're at
in their careers and get to talk to someone I
grew up with listening album after album after album. Meeting
you guys, dream come true. So seriously, thank you you guys,
let me talk to you.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
All right here?
Speaker 1 (09:04):
Oh yeah, I got him, Johnny Pool, you got new
music coming. I hope you're excited, because I am. Get
ready for that, Get ready for all these tours I.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Got coming up. And hey, maybe we'll have them at
more festivals and we'll definitely out them at more festivals.
All right, we'll see you next time.
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