July 10, 2024 • 55 mins
Spooky Charles of thePicassos, The Lonesome Skeleton Band, and The Sad Hour Band joins the pod to discuss his upbringing, his musical influences, his future, with a quick detour into our love for Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.
Stream thePicassos wherever you get your music. And be on the lookout for his solo act The Lonesome Skeleton Band as well as the newly formed Sad Hour Band. He is truly one of my favorite musicians working right now.
And, if you're in the area, make sure you check out one of the last couple of live performances of thePicassos before an indefinite hiatus.
Stream thePicassos wherever you get your music. And be on the lookout for his solo act The Lonesome Skeleton Band as well as the newly formed Sad Hour Band. He is truly one of my favorite musicians working right now.
And, if you're in the area, make sure you check out one of the last couple of live performances of thePicassos before an indefinite hiatus.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:38):
All right, Elli Cinema back anothera dish. How are we doing out
there? Good? Great gray LandA wonderful as you see on your screen,
your dial. However, you're choosingto join us today, I know
that the artists appreciate you. Sohere at the La Cinema Podcast, we
are finally dipping our waters back intothe music realm. I think last musical
(01:02):
guest I had on was a coupleof months ago. I think it was
Flint's own John Connor. So Iwill tell you this. We are moving
dramatically away from the rap scene.Okay, today we are going full goth
or avant goth if you will,or if you prefer brief little setup before
(01:23):
I bring my guest on today.Several months ago I went to the Loggerhouse
in Detroit, if you guys havebeen there, great little venue, and
I saw a Swedish band called theDomers. They fucking ruled. However,
for me, the Dahmer's performance waskind of overshadowed by the opening act.
(01:44):
So the opening act comes on,takes the stage. It is a man
with a suitcase with a bass drumpedal and symbols attached to said suitcase.
Soon after this man sets up athereman, and I'm not going to get
into the history of the theremin foryou, so you're gonna have to google
that on your own. However,by the end of the first song,
(02:08):
Gang, I was absolutely blown awayby the sound I heard, the vibe
that ensued, the stage presence thatwas just as weird as it was funny
as it was endearing. That wasthree months ago, and I've actually seen
this act two additional times since then. And if you know me, you
(02:30):
know I don't unless I really likesomething, I tend to not hit it
hard. But boy, I havebeen banging their records. I have whenever
I get a chance to see them, I do. And I guess you
could say I was very much drawnto the seance, the collective stories and
experience of death, dying, thewant of immortality, the fear of living
(02:53):
forever. I am drawn towards thesounds of loneliness, nostalgia, the pain
of loss and the elation of findinglove and the ever prince present fear of
it being stolen. I mean,the scars of time are within my eyes,
Gang, within my eyes, andthe divining tolls that have been left
(03:14):
on my flesh in mind are everpresent, Gang, members of the audience,
joining the show for the first time. Boy, we have been trying
to get this together for a while, and now we can finally make it
happen. Joining the show for thefirst time. Singer songwriter of the Picassos,
the Lonesome Skeleton Band, and nowthe Sad Hour Spooky Charles Urban.
(03:39):
Sir, we finally got you onthis show after just reschedule after reschedule.
Thank you so much for joining us. How are you man prevails So so,
I don't mean to like pull awhole Christopher and Tenant on you rate
(04:01):
off the jump, but if wecould kind of start from the end,
maybe work our way towards the middleor the beginning. The last show that
I saw you at was at theNocturnal Minroe, which, by the way,
Gang, if you have not beento this coffee shop in Monroe,
Nocturnal Monroe, it is my favoritecoffee shop ever. It's almost like they
(04:26):
went inside my head and they werelike, what would Sean want for the
interior design of his house, andthey made a fucking coffee shop out of
it. That is Nocturnal Monroe.However, you made some pretty pretty downer
news when I saw you there,my friend, I correct me if I'm
wrong, the Picassos, which ishow I first learned of you, indefinite
(04:51):
hiatus. What is going on,sir? So we are, in fact,
we are in things that are goingon in different das. And that
is not so trying more with theband members, not so much socially,
(05:15):
but their their personal lives are kindof taking precedence as it does. Some
life is kind of so its newway, and it just makes a lot
of sense. Okay, that's tokind of put it on the shelves and
let it live and sit for aslong as it needs to for us to
kind of get ourselves back in order. So this is not a good question.
(05:39):
Suppose is that this is not Iwould call it goodbye. I wouldn't
say goodbye forever, you know.And I think I mentioned even in the
much like the paranormal inspires, weare potential to rise again in the grave.
So I'd like to make it assomber. I don't want anybody to
(06:03):
get the wrong idea that we're justlike, oh, we're just gonna take
a look on so off. Itcould very well be who knows, you
know, nothing is prominent. That'sright, as your shirt says a mental
mooring. Yeah. So the ideaof it is putting it on the shelf,
bringing it on nice, letting it'sit, and that the button of
(06:26):
benefit is that it kind of freesme up to kind of do some more
ventures that I've kind of had inmy bag for a minute, and I'm
trying. I've been trying to kindof find a place in time. It
seems like now is the time.Now is so is one of those ventures
the Lonesome Skeleton Band. Will webe starting to see dates pop up for
(06:46):
that. I'm I'm I'm taking themas they come, really, just whatever
they get already pre booked for Potestiostrow Throst of the year. If it
seems like an event that's gonna fit, like an acoustic very last minute stuff,
I can always jump on and seecompany myself and make it. Much
(07:11):
like you saw at log House,that was an event that the rush of
the band couldn't make it, soI had to, you know, So
that is usually you know, it'skind of wild for me to think about
that. I first, uh becameaware of you at the Loggerhouse under the
(07:32):
banner of the Picassos, and intypical Sean fashion, I have actually never
seen the Picassos perform. I haveonly seen you perform, which is not
something that I don't think has everhappened in my experience, which is a
(07:54):
huge Honestly, you've been you've madethe track, you've made the attempt,
you've you've seen it. You're sayingit three times. That's our It's a
pretty great in record right there.These days life is but thankfully you do
have too long opportunities to see thefull band, you know, just coming
with Sunday the Sanctuary and then veryquick but it's very important because it's doing
(08:28):
the reunion, she said, Sowe are very excited. And then finally
final s is the ghost I believeI'm going to be able to make the
ghost Lights, so I'm looking forwardto that. I don't know. That's
a good one because we get toplay for as long as well. So
(08:50):
awesome because I don't know how Igot roped into a fucking monster truck show
this Sunday with my nephews. AllI can tell you is not my thing.
But I am kind of a familyguy, so I guess I have
to go. But when I foundout that experience. Yeah, but you
(09:11):
know what, man, I I'veseen all I need to see. I
don't need to go see that live. I'm good, I'm good. I
would I'd rather go see some yeahliterally literally. So, like I said,
we were going to kind of startfrom the end. So now all
you guys know, you know youmay not be seeing the Picassos anytime soon
(09:33):
unless you make those two dates.So I warned you in advance that we
were gonna do generic softball questions.I like to kind of I like my
audience to get to know the personjust as much as I'm very hesitant to
say content because I feel that thatreally devalues the art and for you know,
(09:56):
so, but I really want peopleto become aware of the band just
as much as the person. Soas someone who writes film scripts as a
fucking hobby, I'm always observing people. Even when I'm not trying to observe
people, I'm always observing and watching, and I'm fascinated by people's stories,
where they came from, how theygot there. If you don't mind answering
(10:22):
a puke wrey, nauseatingly boring question, what tell me a little bit about
your upbringing? What when did whendid spooky child? Well, we'll get
to win. Spooky Charles became SpookyCharles. But what explained the upbringing to
me? Did you come by thisparticular genre of music? Very honestly,
(10:43):
I'm interested in the story, sir, Oh did you freeze? Thank you?
And yes, I guess I did. I mean, I can kind
of see that the early sometimes ofI would informed my music taste by the
(11:05):
way of my parents running a cascentthrough their newly wired down system at the
age of I can I can imagineprobably over there and three or four,
by seeing the Phantom of the operamusic and terrifying me as a small child
(11:26):
the organ stings of the first trackof Just and just imagining like that building
through the dark house because we turneda lot. This must have been around
but alonely informed, just kind ofan early appreciation for the theater. I
suppose also around my you know,growings out I was the visual artist.
(11:50):
I drew a lot of you know, did creative endeavors squaked it didn't kind
of get it got into a lotof my bill making as a kid.
This is this so the year youdid this? Well, I mean it's
a terror can it is a terrorcard part for sure. But I do
(12:16):
the visual you know, inception ofeverything that we do. Okay, oh
yes, I like I put ittogether. I can't take credit for the
actually order to write or way throughget said what but there actually have that?
What's just fun enough. I couldtell you that another you know,
(12:41):
I would say uniformative experience ass copyof having a customer I mean Frankenstein as
a kid for a birthday and runningthe tape rigged as it was like the
perfect I think introduction. Do yougotta right there a little bit? Yeah,
(13:01):
that's my goodness, I mean whatwhat like what an amazing like introduction
to them because like, of courseI knew of attracting on the monster,
but like I never I don't thinkI watched the films at that point,
but I knew of them enough andthey were like my Halloween items of course,
and that I you know, watchingthe film for the first time getting
(13:22):
to be the first introduction of thoseiterations and probably the most kids friendly way
you can with you and I,you know, informative to save only and
the traditional watch it every year ifI can help it, man, I
just sometimes if you observe beyond that, like just just if you observe people
(13:46):
long like if you observe people longenough, like I, like, I
knew you were going to be agood egg, man, I just knew.
Like the fact that you mentioned Abbingand Costello on this fucking pot.
I cannot tell you how how fastmy heart is beating now because I'm so
fucking elated. Man, I youI people don't know people, they just
(14:09):
don't know anymore, like stuff likethat. They don't know and they don't
care. And I just want totell you, man, you're you're a
good fucking egg. I didn't meanto interrupt there, but the fact that
you brought up ab In Costell,man, that makes me so fucking happy.
I mean, it's it's so informativeto me. And in the strangest
(14:30):
way of that, like I'll goback and watch those movies and obviously the
whole let me of the film thatI'm just fascinated by the general and I
guess that and their leage and stillthe interest of film no less. But
you know, of course movies,the black and white universal films, Like
that's that's my deal, that's mychair, Like that's the first, I
(14:52):
would say, and from there justkind of picking up a video store and
make way out of work out aface jo and you know, watching it
into the wee hours of the morning. It's fun. Just like building my
my reference in film repertoire, andthat's always just eked its way into my
my creative output. I'd say,I don't know where I've gotten on his
(15:16):
track here, but I was intheater in high school. Yeah, probably
explains money, so you so youdo have a theater background. I was
wondering because just you're the way thatyou operate on stage. Now, I
don't know if a lot of thisis just you in real life or you
kind of made a conscientious decision liketo you are so effortlessly dead pan,
(15:41):
and yet the timing is perfect.And I and the first time I saw
you, I was like I Iwas trying to process it and figure it
out. But then by the timeI the third time I saw you,
I was like, Oh, he'sjust really fucking good at doing this in
between songs, which is which makespeople like I think it almost puts people
(16:03):
at ease because I know, likeat least with my friends the first time,
like they just saw the optics ofit all. They hadn't heard your
sound yet. They were just kindof like, oh, this is interesting,
what's this going to be like?And I don't think that they anticipated
kind of how we were going tobe in between songs, which afterwards they
went onto there just like that wasfucking great. The next time he performs,
(16:26):
make sure that we're there, andI was like, well, I
think he's going to become a residentof Nocturnal sooner than later here. Yeah,
yeah, thankfully, you know,they've they've they've been so generous.
They put me up pretty much everymonth since they've opened, so that's become
my safe haven at least once amonth there and then the Raven Coffee House,
(16:47):
a whole over neck of the woods. The go between the two,
and I just get to do twohours solo sets monthly, which is nice
to have a place where it canbe like I belong in the wallpaper,
which is great. But I guess, yeah, you have you've picked up.
(17:10):
Yeah. Theater was was a bigthing for me that I get to
kind of experiment and kind of gotan idea of like I wouldn't say comedic
timing, but I do. Iguess between the songs I have to maintain.
You know that Colonel collected this becauseI want to channel all my energy
(17:36):
into the performance of the music itself. So I guess my defaults is just
very and Plus you know, I'mdealing with such drab topics that you know
it will catch people left guard ifI do. I couldn't possibly take it
so deadly serious in the moment.Don't make the mistake. I like to
(18:00):
make sure of the art is infecttake it seriously. But I feel like
it's a little more pal when we'retalking about the topics that I generally write
about, which is death and dying. As you're saying the intro like so
many different mutations of that. Yeah, I apologize for the intro. I
(18:21):
just stole everything that I assumed thatyou wrote. I thought you wrote it.
No, No, this is allstuff that I just saw between uh,
just stuff that I saw on Spotifyand the internet, and I was
like, well, I can't sayit better than that, so I might
as well just I might as welljust plug out there for so when people
(18:44):
ask me like or who you goingto see? Like what type of music
it is? Is it? AndI'm very hesitant to say one way or
another what it is, because tome, it sounds like everything and nothing
that I've heard before. I Iit's it's hard. I think avant goff
(19:06):
is the best way to put it. But I guess how would you describe
it to someone that has never heardyour sound before. I mean, I
know that it's hard. It's verydifficult for me to pinpoint it, and
I've prayed very hard over the yearsto kind of give different we have.
(19:27):
We have gone from everything from likespooky grunge to cemetery punk, and I'm
always like putting something together that makessense, and then we finally landed on
the term mid Western gun ethic infact, so I think I take them
a lot from like booked me askind of an Americana sensibility by and large,
(19:52):
and then I'm really inspired a lot, and especially in the Produncess world
of like the a the sort ofblues singers, but also jazz and like
soul and all that sort of readytime influence that happened because I'm really trying
(20:14):
to use these genres as like mypedalt, my colored pedal it, so
to speak, as far as thesubject matter of the songs, like the
standout that you may be aware of, like the the X Ray Respects or
the Weird Sisters. Like that's clearlylike my attempt at like a Benny Goodman
like like vibe, like that jazzclub that kind of basedlines, thundering drums
(20:41):
and like making that be what getsyou into it, and then the topics
that we're talking about can kind ofbe retrofitted into that for me. Okay,
So, I mean we heard somewhat I would assume to be inspirations
like can you walk me from themoment that you got inspired by you know
(21:06):
whatever type of music, but onethat you might argue was the catalyst into
you going, fuck, I youknow what, I want to do this
whole music thing, and and I'mand I'm gonna do it. I like
when I say that, I don'tknow if outside of Spooky Charles, if
(21:26):
that sound exists. I really meanthat. So I feel like you stumbled
onto something at least to me,that's fucking great. But like, were
there any inspirations where you heard thatand you went, you know what,
I'm gonna go it alone with this. I'm going to follow this whole music
thing. I mean, to me, I feel like I sound like every
(21:48):
game I've ever heard and the besttwo worst ways. Hey, do you
know? Do you mind? Imean, do you mind? Can I
stop you for a second. Ifeel there's something just doesn't feel totally right
to me, Like, I don'tknow, I feel kind of uncomfortable right
now. I don't do you mindif I just kind of readjust for a
second, that'd be all right withyou? Is that all right? All
(22:11):
right? Cool? Of course?I just I don't know, man,
it's something just it doesn't feel right, doesn't feel right. I'm getting hot
in this ship. Let's see here, all right? All right? How
about that? That feels a littlelook at you a little bit better there?
But you know what, I'm not. I'm not done yet. Let's
(22:33):
put these on, and you know, dude, let's let's get a candle
going, bro, let's get theseance going. Let's get the sad.
Cheers to your candle, sir,of course, cheers to the candle.
All right, So now I feelbut I didn't mean to interrupt. I
just there was I know you.I need to collect the whole. I
(23:00):
say, flattered is an understatement.So what were we talking about? Were
we talking about inspirations? How you. Yeah, I think it was Inspirations
and when you went, you knowwhat, I'm following this music thing,
m h. I mean also inhigh school and you know, I was
(23:21):
learning about new bands and filling upmy iproduct of everything that I could download
from the Internet, and you know, discovering this stuff every day pretty much
borrowing CDs taken from the library,putting it out of my film computers and
everything. But the bands that reallykind of I guess cracked the ice for
me. It would have been likeSmashing Pumpkins or AFI. Getting into depeche
(23:47):
Mode at a certain age was likevery influential, of course, and realizing
that there is so much you candig into this music, but it would
see weirdly of I was already kindof in this like pseudo folk world from
bands like the Decembrists or even likesome early white stripe stuff that I'm like,
(24:08):
this makes sense. I can kindof take this and run with it.
And then the affirmation of discovering thefull discography of like Tom Waits.
Really so many people don't and Ithink it's wrong and it's deeply upsetting that
(24:30):
every time I, like my partnercannot stand him not a fan, and
I'm like, I'm blown away becauseit's such an excellent like exercise is of
speaking one guy in the stretching outevery possible permutation of what he's capable of
(24:51):
doing, and he hit it oneway or another, from rock to blues
to chas to every sort of youknow, if shot. He just endlessly
and inspiring and in the same veinDavid Bowie no less would be a huge
(25:11):
talking point for me. That wasthe one thing that So when I first
saw you, my my chick wasnot there, she was on vacation,
but she's like, so, whodid you see and who are you raving
about? And I was like,it's it's this guy. They go by
the Picassos. I gotta be honest, there's there's Bowie in there. There's
(25:33):
Bowie in there that I'm feeling.So that's how I sold it. That's
how I sold it to her.That's I mean, that's just amazing to
hear, because I haven't I've neverheard anyone take that away from what anything
that was done, So that's likeamazingly and even even in the you know,
the aching parts of it that youcan still kind of like smell a
(25:55):
little bit of that, which issomething that up to you know, move
into more and then I mean time. All right, so we got some
and I and I know, likeI said, we're going to start from
the the end and kind of worktowards the middle. So you so you
have this upbringing, you have theseinspirations. How would would talk me through
(26:18):
the inception of the picassos? Well, in high school, I had a
band, a few different projects thatexisted at some point that we launched at
a launch table one day. Iguess the the you know, escalating incident
(26:40):
would have been having a how youplaying drums? I started out playing drums.
I was in marching band and such, so I got pretty good feel
for just playing a full drum kitand that was kind of my main thing
that I would take time to do, eventually getting a guitar and kind of
goofing around with it. But thefirst time that I ever tried to sing,
(27:03):
and again this is you know,ancient history, but I was at
a band practice where the first bandpractice for my hoseball bands that we were
going to assemble, and I wasgoing to play drums and the singer didn't
show up. So being the theaterkid that I was at the time,
I was relegated to doing double dutyof singing and playing drums. So that
(27:26):
was something that just kind of kepton happening. You know. Years go
by, I fly to started anew project with new people. I kept
ideas for names, and it justnever kind of falls together until I finally
come up with the idea. I'mlike, oh, this will be a
new band. I moved out towhere I live now and assumed that I
(27:48):
will start in a project. Itwill be called Consos because we could be
like an indie band. We coulddo anything with that name, who knows
what. And for the longest timeI tried to assemble that band and to
know real avail the most part.So what I ended up doing was well,
I can still book myself under thisand starting to feel for it,
(28:11):
looking at like Sebay Street performer videosand if I'm on on YouTube and like
New York or something, and thenyou have like you'll set on a little
suitcase and have like a little snaredrum and stuff and like playing it like
a kid like a drum kit.But I'm like, oh, okay,
and then realizing that there's such contraptionsit's like Latin percussion foot percussion that you
(28:33):
can do the tambourine as well.So I like fighters have a baby and
tambourine. That's my percussion today.And I went with that for a while,
and that became my skeleton setup foras long as it was, and
I'm still fine tuning that as itis for as long as I have.
(29:00):
I guess the first time that POSESever became a full bands was just a
matter of knowing the right people andthem jumping together and meeting me where I
was seeing me do what I did, and then you know, getting together
with con and then it was mydrummer at the time, and then and
(29:22):
was a bass player whom I hadactually known from community theater. And then
we are like at solid three piecefor I would say from twenty eighteen onto
twenty twenty ish. For twenty nineteenish when we finally got obviously COVID happened,
couldn't do anything for that time untilwe rebrit re kind of convened and
(29:47):
released Zoomed was the compilation that we'dput out in twenty one with or then
keyboardists or was it twenty two orthen keyboardist Joe who really kind of solidified
us as a four solar piece.And with those pieces together, you know,
(30:07):
we were a pretty solid unit.And then you know, great Jed
strikes when we had released the fulllength record, but you know, as
Divination scars. The following year andtouring, the drummer was unable to perform
and had an injury in his arms, so preventing him from playing drums or
(30:30):
really doing anything music related for agood it's bad about a year. So
over a year now, we've thankfullybeen able to enlist help with other musicians
and friends who have gotten together withus. We have Justin's our drummer right
now, we got a new guitarplayer. We sometimes work with a violinist.
(30:52):
So we've pared two very much readymake a new new band, allus
all together for these past couple ofmonths over the year now. So if
that all follows, that's the firstresent. What's the tell me about your
(31:15):
first gig, the first gig thatyou guys got, just because it is
like the full band, Yeah,yeah, because that was I couldn't tell
you what the first one was becauseit kind of it kind of escalated every
a little bit here and there,like it was just me, and then
it was just Torn and I andthat was to and one of I could
(31:38):
say that one of the first thatwe got is that three piece circa I
assume nineteen, I think twenty nineteen, maybe late twenty eighteen was we played
the sanction very much like they're playingnext Sunday, but we opened for a
mega the Devil on Her, sothat that was like a big deal for
(32:01):
us because a big influence somebody highschool psyche as it was. Does.
The most notable, i'd say,would be his iteration of the Hearst's son
from the Scary Stories to Tell inthe Dark books, and that definitely is
saying that stand out, I'd say, So we didn't. We just loved
(32:24):
that. That was an amazing experiencebecause it was pretty close to selling out,
which was a huge accomplishment for somethingthat we made very little do with
it, but still great, great, big, big gold star for us
in that early stage the project.I derail often and sometimes my brain locks
(32:49):
onto things and I can't, asmuch as I would like to move on,
I can't tell me your favorite scarystory from Scary Stories to Tell in
the Dark. Yah, you don'thave to give me the title I like,
I really like this leathery d okay, which is a weird one,
(33:15):
but I mean they're all great,but like some that just kind of stick
in my head, especially with theillustrations of the Alvin Schultz and Stephen can
Meal's work like these. This isalso like I would also probably as a
we had the early influence into thatr and dark you know arena at the
early age, because I'd remember kidswe've checking it out about the middle school
(33:38):
or elementary school libraries and then beingyou know, almost too scary. I
don't want to take those books,so so scary, and you know,
it's just the artwork being so extremefor that for the time, and just
falling in love with that style andever since, like collecting anytime, I
(33:59):
guess I will kind of be orsomething, and I'm just trying to develops
again something this one I think aboutme Booker and then Diego because it's so
funny, but I could I'm it'sit's actually absurd if I think about it
(34:23):
too long, as I'm like,I could probably recite most of those.
We won't do that today. Thesethese kids these days are so lame.
They don't even they like that's that'sgrowing up with the cool stuff. Now
everything is just like, could youimagine releasing that new today? You know
(34:44):
what I'm saying, Like people wouldlose their minds. Well, it's it's
ugly now because you know, yousee that they do these rebrands of those
books and they have existed if you'veever looked them up. They have released
with all new or work stories sameAlvin Schultz credit a new artist for every
book, every story, and it'snew, and I appreciate it that somebody
(35:08):
took the time, but I feellike it's almost like, let me just
see a im modal Lisa, letme just see what that's like, Like,
what what's the point of that?Who is that benefiting? Because you've
just taken what is I would sayprobably the most notable about the books.
Love the stories, but Elvin didn'twrite them, he reformented them. So
(35:30):
those releases these are like classic Americanfolk tips. Nobody necessarily knows the average
And maybe I'm wrong, but youknow they're saying that, saying something very
disturbing about it. Not appreciating adisturbing image. Yeah, I just wish
(35:52):
we were still weird like I grewup at a time with Labyrinth and Dark
Crystal and all that, And Iwas also watching Avan Costa Like Yourself and
stuff, So I had a veryodd upbringing, at least cinematically, I
had a odd upbringing. I can'tremember. I don't know if I would
call this story my favorite story ofall of them, but I can tell
(36:14):
you the one that fucked me upthe most when I was a kid,
and that was when the the spidersbusted out of that lady's face. That
fucked me up good time and themovie, Yes I have. It's fine.
It's fine, it's fine. It'sfine. It's apart from trying to
(36:36):
do some pretty honest recreations of thecharacter designs, which I think is an
impossible task, but you know,it's it's a version of it. I'd
like to see it as maybe aserious like why don't you just do Goosebumps
with it, Like let's see alittle fit respecial so each story, lets
slap it on HBO so we canget HBO or FX so we can go
(36:58):
hard with it. My opinion isthat I want it just as good as
Goosebumps, and I think you canget some reliefferricitness and make it scholastic appreciative,
like people for those kids to watchit, because how well so are
they going to pass them a look? Yeah, so we've talked a little
(37:22):
bit about you, we've talked alittle bit about the band, and in
textbook Sean fashion, I always getselfish towards the end of an interview.
And hopefully you haven't had two rottenof a time because I have. If
should we do a second and thirdshow? Oh, I want to go
to do a deep dive with somelyrics on some of your songs with you
(37:44):
that Weird Sisters, Serious Business,Children of the Night. I could go
on and on and on, butwe're not going to do that right now.
Right now, I got selfish questionsfor you. So you know that
this is a movie podcast. Iam of absolutely fucking nut when it comes
to movies. But before we getto some movies that you like, I
(38:05):
gotta know five musical artists or fivealbums doesn't need to be an order,
doesn't need to be a top five, nothing like that that you're just gonna
have on repeat. The artists orthe album that you're gonna have on repeat.
Uh, And they can't take can'ttake the record away from you.
(38:27):
Oh yeah, I could just nailthe whole list of time records. But
if I choose one from him onrain Dogs so good. My first track
that I really listened to from mybecause I knew some stuff prior. Symmetry
Polka. I mean, obviously it'sit's such a weird abstract song, but
(38:52):
it just it speaks Williams for somereason other than that if it's always low
for sure. Uh, Like Isaid, the fish modes of Violator of
course, kind of a newer rot. But Alice is one that I really
(39:15):
jive with these days. What wasthe Weekend? What's the name? Well,
lost Alice. I think they're aUK act, but I think the
second or third record Blue Weekend.It's just like just a magnificent piece.
And one that I've listened to isthat. For I can always say smashing
(39:38):
prop against melancholy and infinite sadness.I mean that's kind of cheat because you
get too four records. But let'ssay something weird, Yeah, really weird,
the weirdest thing. Let's go offone probably something off off kilter,
(40:05):
the soundtrack to If Follows Interesting?Interesting, all right? Yeah, yeah,
I because I can just listen tothat because it's just this weird ethereal
synth, like just driving ship andI'd love to put it on in the
car and just like let it like, let me imagine that I get to
(40:28):
live in that for a minute.I listened to do Oh Yeah, Yeah,
Lynch, Lynch is God. Ilistened to three genres, and this
is gonna you're gonna be like,how the fuck did I end up on
this podcast? I listened to Iguess what you would call gangster rap.
I guess if you would call itthat. I don't know the hard stuff.
(40:51):
I listened to folk, and Ilistened to sound movie soundtracks. That's
literally I mean, I listen intoeverything. But if we're talking like just
cause I grew up in a musichousehold, my dad was in a band,
So I think you automatically just havethat thing where you're trying to find
new artists. It doesn't matter ifit's popp or it's blah blah blah blah
(41:13):
whatever. But yeah, rap,folk and movie soundtracks is basically what's in
my on in my car at alltimes. And I think I think a
lot the big thing with uh,absolutely with rap that people don't understand because
they'll be like, aren't you alittle older? Like aren't you a little
too old to be listening to rap? And it's like, first of all,
(41:35):
I just poo poo that question,Like I don't think you music has
an age limit. But folk andrap I think tell the best stories.
I really do, and I thinkthat that's just what I'm drawn to now.
Like folky we get, you know, maybe a little fantastical here and
there, and then you have somethingvery raw and real with rap or whatever.
(41:57):
And then like you know, ifI blow off steam, I'll throw
on on Zimmer and just you know, cruise. You know I'm saying.
So, yeah, I'm a bigobviously folk can I've never really been into
the rap stuff so much, butI have a big appreciation and for a
(42:20):
little artists and what was interested tostuff. Yeah, I saw a funny
story. I saw Joiner Lucas ona Saturday and then I saw you on
Sunday. People would be just likea good mix. I like to make
sure that you know, the spectrumis vast, my friend, all right,
(42:45):
So now the one that I've beenwaiting for, and I know,
like, so I have a lotof audience members that are aspiring musicians,
aspiring filmmakers, and typically when it'sthe first time you're on on this show,
I like to close the show withjust my selfish question, which is
(43:05):
you can only have five. Theydon't have to be your the best movies
you've ever seen. They can beyour favorite. But let's just say this
deserted island has a Blu ray player, a TV, and you only get
five that you get to have onrepeat. Doesn't need to be any order.
What would those beach think? Youcan probably guessing Astor and Sony,
(43:35):
all the monsters, all the benefituh, probably Alien, which is endlessly
fun. Silence of a lambs becausethey have to. I know, I've
(43:57):
got probably the first Spider Man.Okay, it's just a because I'm I'm
also under all of this, andI'm also just a big comic nerd,
so that's stills my It's I'm probablythe elephant man. Hopkins kits too,
so I really hope the elephant banalist. It's funny you bring up comics my
(44:24):
first of all all good choices.By the way, like I I'm not
surprised by a couple, but elephantMan, like you so you're looking to
be just depressed as fuck on thisdirt deserted island. That's that's what I'm
hearing. Oh but it's still good, but it's still excellent. It's just
(44:46):
it's it's a beautifully depressing picture.But that's kind of what's sob at that
ending every fucking time. Speaking ofthough, my brother for my birthday,
I just picked up The Last Ronan, So I guess I'm going to be
(45:07):
reading that now. And I knowthat this is rumored that they're maybe going
to be making a live action filmout of it. I'll believe it when
I see it. But you know, I come from the generation of like
the real Ninja Turtles, not thecg ones that we have come to know
over the last fifteen twenty years.So oh yeah, ye hopefully if I
(45:30):
had my now talk about completely derailing. If I had my pick, let's
get Robert Rodriguez to do the LastRonan one because he's a huge fucking fan.
And two it's Robert Rodriguez and I'mdown for it. Just random thought.
I can see that happening a coupleof years. I think they're already
(45:53):
thinking about it because of just howmuch like attention that story has gotten,
which is kind of impressive, andI'm sure conics these days so big Dale,
I'm about halfway into it and it'salready bumming me the fuck out.
But we are not going to closethis show on the ninja fucking turtles.
Yeah. First of all, Charles, I wanted to thank you so much
(46:15):
for coming on. I hope thatyou will come on again in the future.
That would be I mean this.I knew that this was going to
be effortless, and I knew thatwe were going to run long, and
for the first time, I neverlike to run long. However, I
do need to make you feel uncomfortablefor a moment, if you don't mind.
Okay, Uh, First and foremost, you're a hell of a musician
(46:42):
man, straight up like you.I have only seen you three times,
and I am not just if youtalk about just the music alone, I'm
a fan for life. If youtalk about your stage presence, I'm a
fan for life. And I alsoI just want to thank you for taking
the time that you did all threetimes. You know that I after you
(47:06):
were done performing, you were verygracious with pictures with me and my friends,
and that's just I have been toso many shows and predominantly it's not
like that. Man, even foryou know, smaller acts or you know
whatever. I haven't had that typeof you know, it's not that it
never happened, but for you tomake it feel as welcoming as it is,
(47:30):
like, I just think it's kindof a rarity these days. So
I wanted to thank you for that. Also, Divination Scars, Kid,
you not, sir, one ofmy favorite records of recent memory. I'm
not saying this just because you're onthe show. If you listen to any
of my podcasts before this, Idon't fuck around. Life's too short to
(47:53):
fuck around. And when I sayit is the strongest record that I have
listened to top to bottom, andI don't even know how many years,
I mean it where if you helda gun to my head right now and
said give me the last album whereyou didn't skip a track, I would
(48:13):
struggle. But when it comes toDivination Scars, every fucking track is good.
I don't skip any of it,dude, and like it to me,
Like why that means so much tome? It hasn't happened and I
don't even know how long, sir, don't. I don't remember the last
album I played where I was like, that's good, that's good, that's
(48:34):
good. I don't remember. SoI just in the world we live in,
it's a huge deal to me becausebetween movies and music, I feel
like it there's so much stuff andit's kind of hard to find these diamonds
in the rough, if you will. And for me, after hearing you
(48:59):
guys, I don't well hearing youspecifically, I I'm actually kind of amazed
to even be talking to you,to be honest with you, like I
feel like you should be that likelaunched into the stratosphere, my friend.
Like I'm not kidding you, LikeI said, I grew up in a
music household. My dad's been ina band my entire fucking life. I
(49:20):
know, I'm not gonna say Iknow the goods when I see the goods,
but sir, I know the fuckinggoods when I see the goods,
and what I have seen every singlefucking time out of you, it annoys
it actually annoys me that you're onthis podcast with me right now, because
you're so much better than this podcast. So I just I and I know
(49:44):
you probably that makes you uncomfortable.But I'm you have a fan for life.
But I want to say, I'mnot going to be a fan that's
sitting outside your bedroom window, notthat type of fan. I'll just follow
you anywhere and I'll take that.That's that is absurdly kind of you to
say. I mean, I'm Istarted to think of a time where I
(50:07):
want people to do that. It'ssort of you know, I want it
to be a welcoming experience in yourpropositive that's something that's capable. So I
appreciate that a lot of it,and the support, the shout outs and
just having me on here, likespreading the word. That's all it really
(50:28):
takes, you know, especially inthese days. So I am you know,
I'm honored that you have taken thetime, well so deeply into the
world that I've kind of craft inwith my friends, and hopefully, you
know, we don't disappoint in thefuture. So I just appreciate beyondwards.
Well, until we meet again,sir, or until the wicker caskets call
(50:53):
our name, I will be seeingyou soon, hopefully, sir, and
hopefully we can run this back again. Thank you so much again for coming
on. Seriously excellent of course anytime. Let me know. All right,
brother, we'll talk soon. Yep. Take care, Charles, Irvin,
(51:14):
Ladies and gentlemen. Can you believelike when I say like, and I
hope you know gang that I'm notI'm not kidding you when I say his
album start to finish, I donot stop it. Like it's go listen
(51:34):
to it right now. Just searchthe Picasso's all one word thch E capital
P, the Picasso's Spotify you whereveryou listen to your music, you can
find them. Spin Divination Scars forme, tell me what you think,
seriously, Top to bottom one ofmy favorite albums in years, in years,
(51:58):
which is kind of why to me, because I've I've almost kind of
resigned to the idea that I'm onlygonna like certain songs off of albums these
days, just based on how themusic is released these days. Like Joiner
Lucas, who I brought up talkingwith Charles you know, a half hour
(52:20):
ago or whatever. I heard eightof his songs before his thirteen track album
or whatever it was was released manymany months later, and like it.
Just all I can say is it'sdifferent. It's different. And when you
stumble upon these guys, push itas far as it can go. Both
(52:40):
both of their full albums are good. The EPs that they have on Spotify
all good, all all super strong, and it's just I think why I
got so geeked. I mean,I'm sure you guys could probably tell I
was a nervous fucking wreck throughout thisentire interview, because I mean it when
I say it is better affling tome Gang that this man was on our
(53:02):
show. He's that fucking talented,So make sure that you reach out to
you start following him on all thesocials I believe on ig It's Spooky Charles,
the Picassos and the Sad Hour Band, Sad Hours Band, all three
of those. You can follow him. Don't go bug him though I'll be
(53:22):
I'll be annoyed with you, andsame with X. You can find him
there and just if nothing else,if you like what you're hearing, shit,
put it in your pocket and letthat motherfucker just repeat you know what
I'm saying, so they can getthose plays and we can we can get
them out there. Because everything thatyou heard me tell him towards the end
there one hundred percent true. Ifeel out of my league talking to this
(53:47):
gentleman. He's that fucking talented,So Spooky Charles Urban Ladies and Gentlemen as
advertised. I knew it was gonnabe a fucking effortless podcast. I just
like you. You you come acrosspeople in life and like you know.
I don't know how I ended updoing this fucking show, but ended up
doing the show, and I went, not only would I like that guy
in real life, but I thinkhe would make a killer fucking guest.
(54:10):
And he knocked it out of thefucking park, So uh, please go
follow him, go bother well,don't go, don't go bother him anyway.
Ellis Cinema we gone. Spooky Charles, the Apasso, Sad Hour's Band
spin those tracks, gangs, spinthose tracks. Ellis Cinema were gone.
All right, Elli Cinema back anothera dish. How are we doing out
there? Good? Great gray LandA wonderful as you see on your screen,
your dial. However, you're choosingto join us today, I know
that the artists appreciate you. Sohere at the La Cinema Podcast, we
are finally dipping our waters back intothe music realm. I think last musical
(01:02):
guest I had on was a coupleof months ago. I think it was
Flint's own John Connor. So Iwill tell you this. We are moving
dramatically away from the rap scene.Okay, today we are going full goth
or avant goth if you will,or if you prefer brief little setup before
(01:23):
I bring my guest on today.Several months ago I went to the Loggerhouse
in Detroit, if you guys havebeen there, great little venue, and
I saw a Swedish band called theDomers. They fucking ruled. However,
for me, the Dahmer's performance waskind of overshadowed by the opening act.
(01:44):
So the opening act comes on,takes the stage. It is a man
with a suitcase with a bass drumpedal and symbols attached to said suitcase.
Soon after this man sets up athereman, and I'm not going to get
into the history of the theremin foryou, so you're gonna have to google
that on your own. However,by the end of the first song,
(02:08):
Gang, I was absolutely blown awayby the sound I heard, the vibe
that ensued, the stage presence thatwas just as weird as it was funny
as it was endearing. That wasthree months ago, and I've actually seen
this act two additional times since then. And if you know me, you
(02:30):
know I don't unless I really likesomething, I tend to not hit it
hard. But boy, I havebeen banging their records. I have whenever
I get a chance to see them, I do. And I guess you
could say I was very much drawnto the seance, the collective stories and
experience of death, dying, thewant of immortality, the fear of living
(02:53):
forever. I am drawn towards thesounds of loneliness, nostalgia, the pain
of loss and the elation of findinglove and the ever prince present fear of
it being stolen. I mean,the scars of time are within my eyes,
Gang, within my eyes, andthe divining tolls that have been left
(03:14):
on my flesh in mind are everpresent, Gang, members of the audience,
joining the show for the first time. Boy, we have been trying
to get this together for a while, and now we can finally make it
happen. Joining the show for thefirst time. Singer songwriter of the Picassos,
the Lonesome Skeleton Band, and nowthe Sad Hour Spooky Charles Urban.
(03:39):
Sir, we finally got you onthis show after just reschedule after reschedule.
Thank you so much for joining us. How are you man prevails So so,
I don't mean to like pull awhole Christopher and Tenant on you rate
(04:01):
off the jump, but if wecould kind of start from the end,
maybe work our way towards the middleor the beginning. The last show that
I saw you at was at theNocturnal Minroe, which, by the way,
Gang, if you have not beento this coffee shop in Monroe,
Nocturnal Monroe, it is my favoritecoffee shop ever. It's almost like they
(04:26):
went inside my head and they werelike, what would Sean want for the
interior design of his house, andthey made a fucking coffee shop out of
it. That is Nocturnal Monroe.However, you made some pretty pretty downer
news when I saw you there,my friend, I correct me if I'm
wrong, the Picassos, which ishow I first learned of you, indefinite
(04:51):
hiatus. What is going on,sir? So we are, in fact,
we are in things that are goingon in different das. And that
is not so trying more with theband members, not so much socially,
(05:15):
but their their personal lives are kindof taking precedence as it does. Some
life is kind of so its newway, and it just makes a lot
of sense. Okay, that's tokind of put it on the shelves and
let it live and sit for aslong as it needs to for us to
kind of get ourselves back in order. So this is not a good question.
(05:39):
Suppose is that this is not Iwould call it goodbye. I wouldn't
say goodbye forever, you know.And I think I mentioned even in the
much like the paranormal inspires, weare potential to rise again in the grave.
So I'd like to make it assomber. I don't want anybody to
(06:03):
get the wrong idea that we're justlike, oh, we're just gonna take
a look on so off. Itcould very well be who knows, you
know, nothing is prominent. That'sright, as your shirt says a mental
mooring. Yeah. So the ideaof it is putting it on the shelf,
bringing it on nice, letting it'sit, and that the button of
(06:26):
benefit is that it kind of freesme up to kind of do some more
ventures that I've kind of had inmy bag for a minute, and I'm
trying. I've been trying to kindof find a place in time. It
seems like now is the time.Now is so is one of those ventures
the Lonesome Skeleton Band. Will webe starting to see dates pop up for
(06:46):
that. I'm I'm I'm taking themas they come, really, just whatever
they get already pre booked for Potestiostrow Throst of the year. If it
seems like an event that's gonna fit, like an acoustic very last minute stuff,
I can always jump on and seecompany myself and make it. Much
(07:11):
like you saw at log House,that was an event that the rush of
the band couldn't make it, soI had to, you know, So
that is usually you know, it'skind of wild for me to think about
that. I first, uh becameaware of you at the Loggerhouse under the
(07:32):
banner of the Picassos, and intypical Sean fashion, I have actually never
seen the Picassos perform. I haveonly seen you perform, which is not
something that I don't think has everhappened in my experience, which is a
(07:54):
huge Honestly, you've been you've madethe track, you've made the attempt,
you've you've seen it. You're sayingit three times. That's our It's a
pretty great in record right there.These days life is but thankfully you do
have too long opportunities to see thefull band, you know, just coming
with Sunday the Sanctuary and then veryquick but it's very important because it's doing
(08:28):
the reunion, she said, Sowe are very excited. And then finally
final s is the ghost I believeI'm going to be able to make the
ghost Lights, so I'm looking forwardto that. I don't know. That's
a good one because we get toplay for as long as well. So
(08:50):
awesome because I don't know how Igot roped into a fucking monster truck show
this Sunday with my nephews. AllI can tell you is not my thing.
But I am kind of a familyguy, so I guess I have
to go. But when I foundout that experience. Yeah, but you
(09:11):
know what, man, I I'veseen all I need to see. I
don't need to go see that live. I'm good, I'm good. I
would I'd rather go see some yeahliterally literally. So, like I said,
we were going to kind of startfrom the end. So now all
you guys know, you know youmay not be seeing the Picassos anytime soon
(09:33):
unless you make those two dates.So I warned you in advance that we
were gonna do generic softball questions.I like to kind of I like my
audience to get to know the personjust as much as I'm very hesitant to
say content because I feel that thatreally devalues the art and for you know,
(09:56):
so, but I really want peopleto become aware of the band just
as much as the person. Soas someone who writes film scripts as a
fucking hobby, I'm always observing people. Even when I'm not trying to observe
people, I'm always observing and watching, and I'm fascinated by people's stories,
where they came from, how theygot there. If you don't mind answering
(10:22):
a puke wrey, nauseatingly boring question, what tell me a little bit about
your upbringing? What when did whendid spooky child? Well, we'll get
to win. Spooky Charles became SpookyCharles. But what explained the upbringing to
me? Did you come by thisparticular genre of music? Very honestly,
(10:43):
I'm interested in the story, sir, Oh did you freeze? Thank you?
And yes, I guess I did. I mean, I can kind
of see that the early sometimes ofI would informed my music taste by the
(11:05):
way of my parents running a cascentthrough their newly wired down system at the
age of I can I can imagineprobably over there and three or four,
by seeing the Phantom of the operamusic and terrifying me as a small child
(11:26):
the organ stings of the first trackof Just and just imagining like that building
through the dark house because we turneda lot. This must have been around
but alonely informed, just kind ofan early appreciation for the theater. I
suppose also around my you know,growings out I was the visual artist.
(11:50):
I drew a lot of you know, did creative endeavors squaked it didn't kind
of get it got into a lotof my bill making as a kid.
This is this so the year youdid this? Well, I mean it's
a terror can it is a terrorcard part for sure. But I do
(12:16):
the visual you know, inception ofeverything that we do. Okay, oh
yes, I like I put ittogether. I can't take credit for the
actually order to write or way throughget said what but there actually have that?
What's just fun enough. I couldtell you that another you know,
(12:41):
I would say uniformative experience ass copyof having a customer I mean Frankenstein as
a kid for a birthday and runningthe tape rigged as it was like the
perfect I think introduction. Do yougotta right there a little bit? Yeah,
(13:01):
that's my goodness, I mean whatwhat like what an amazing like introduction
to them because like, of courseI knew of attracting on the monster,
but like I never I don't thinkI watched the films at that point,
but I knew of them enough andthey were like my Halloween items of course,
and that I you know, watchingthe film for the first time getting
(13:22):
to be the first introduction of thoseiterations and probably the most kids friendly way
you can with you and I,you know, informative to save only and
the traditional watch it every year ifI can help it, man, I
just sometimes if you observe beyond that, like just just if you observe people
(13:46):
long like if you observe people longenough, like I, like, I
knew you were going to be agood egg, man, I just knew.
Like the fact that you mentioned Abbingand Costello on this fucking pot.
I cannot tell you how how fastmy heart is beating now because I'm so
fucking elated. Man, I youI people don't know people, they just
(14:09):
don't know anymore, like stuff likethat. They don't know and they don't
care. And I just want totell you, man, you're you're a
good fucking egg. I didn't meanto interrupt there, but the fact that
you brought up ab In Costell,man, that makes me so fucking happy.
I mean, it's it's so informativeto me. And in the strangest
(14:30):
way of that, like I'll goback and watch those movies and obviously the
whole let me of the film thatI'm just fascinated by the general and I
guess that and their leage and stillthe interest of film no less. But
you know, of course movies,the black and white universal films, Like
that's that's my deal, that's mychair, Like that's the first, I
(14:52):
would say, and from there justkind of picking up a video store and
make way out of work out aface jo and you know, watching it
into the wee hours of the morning. It's fun. Just like building my
my reference in film repertoire, andthat's always just eked its way into my
my creative output. I'd say,I don't know where I've gotten on his
(15:16):
track here, but I was intheater in high school. Yeah, probably
explains money, so you so youdo have a theater background. I was
wondering because just you're the way thatyou operate on stage. Now, I
don't know if a lot of thisis just you in real life or you
kind of made a conscientious decision liketo you are so effortlessly dead pan,
(15:41):
and yet the timing is perfect.And I and the first time I saw
you, I was like I Iwas trying to process it and figure it
out. But then by the timeI the third time I saw you,
I was like, Oh, he'sjust really fucking good at doing this in
between songs, which is which makespeople like I think it almost puts people
(16:03):
at ease because I know, likeat least with my friends the first time,
like they just saw the optics ofit all. They hadn't heard your
sound yet. They were just kindof like, oh, this is interesting,
what's this going to be like?And I don't think that they anticipated
kind of how we were going tobe in between songs, which afterwards they
went onto there just like that wasfucking great. The next time he performs,
(16:26):
make sure that we're there, andI was like, well, I
think he's going to become a residentof Nocturnal sooner than later here. Yeah,
yeah, thankfully, you know,they've they've they've been so generous.
They put me up pretty much everymonth since they've opened, so that's become
my safe haven at least once amonth there and then the Raven Coffee House,
(16:47):
a whole over neck of the woods. The go between the two,
and I just get to do twohours solo sets monthly, which is nice
to have a place where it canbe like I belong in the wallpaper,
which is great. But I guess, yeah, you have you've picked up.
(17:10):
Yeah. Theater was was a bigthing for me that I get to
kind of experiment and kind of gotan idea of like I wouldn't say comedic
timing, but I do. Iguess between the songs I have to maintain.
You know that Colonel collected this becauseI want to channel all my energy
(17:36):
into the performance of the music itself. So I guess my defaults is just
very and Plus you know, I'mdealing with such drab topics that you know
it will catch people left guard ifI do. I couldn't possibly take it
so deadly serious in the moment.Don't make the mistake. I like to
(18:00):
make sure of the art is infecttake it seriously. But I feel like
it's a little more pal when we'retalking about the topics that I generally write
about, which is death and dying. As you're saying the intro like so
many different mutations of that. Yeah, I apologize for the intro. I
(18:21):
just stole everything that I assumed thatyou wrote. I thought you wrote it.
No, No, this is allstuff that I just saw between uh,
just stuff that I saw on Spotifyand the internet, and I was
like, well, I can't sayit better than that, so I might
as well just I might as welljust plug out there for so when people
(18:44):
ask me like or who you goingto see? Like what type of music
it is? Is it? AndI'm very hesitant to say one way or
another what it is, because tome, it sounds like everything and nothing
that I've heard before. I Iit's it's hard. I think avant goff
(19:06):
is the best way to put it. But I guess how would you describe
it to someone that has never heardyour sound before. I mean, I
know that it's hard. It's verydifficult for me to pinpoint it, and
I've prayed very hard over the yearsto kind of give different we have.
(19:27):
We have gone from everything from likespooky grunge to cemetery punk, and I'm
always like putting something together that makessense, and then we finally landed on
the term mid Western gun ethic infact, so I think I take them
a lot from like booked me askind of an Americana sensibility by and large,
(19:52):
and then I'm really inspired a lot, and especially in the Produncess world
of like the a the sort ofblues singers, but also jazz and like
soul and all that sort of readytime influence that happened because I'm really trying
(20:14):
to use these genres as like mypedalt, my colored pedal it, so
to speak, as far as thesubject matter of the songs, like the
standout that you may be aware of, like the the X Ray Respects or
the Weird Sisters. Like that's clearlylike my attempt at like a Benny Goodman
like like vibe, like that jazzclub that kind of basedlines, thundering drums
(20:41):
and like making that be what getsyou into it, and then the topics
that we're talking about can kind ofbe retrofitted into that for me. Okay,
So, I mean we heard somewhat I would assume to be inspirations
like can you walk me from themoment that you got inspired by you know
(21:06):
whatever type of music, but onethat you might argue was the catalyst into
you going, fuck, I youknow what, I want to do this
whole music thing, and and I'mand I'm gonna do it. I like
when I say that, I don'tknow if outside of Spooky Charles, if
(21:26):
that sound exists. I really meanthat. So I feel like you stumbled
onto something at least to me,that's fucking great. But like, were
there any inspirations where you heard thatand you went, you know what,
I'm gonna go it alone with this. I'm going to follow this whole music
thing. I mean, to me, I feel like I sound like every
(21:48):
game I've ever heard and the besttwo worst ways. Hey, do you
know? Do you mind? Imean, do you mind? Can I
stop you for a second. Ifeel there's something just doesn't feel totally right
to me, Like, I don'tknow, I feel kind of uncomfortable right
now. I don't do you mindif I just kind of readjust for a
second, that'd be all right withyou? Is that all right? All
(22:11):
right? Cool? Of course?I just I don't know, man,
it's something just it doesn't feel right, doesn't feel right. I'm getting hot
in this ship. Let's see here, all right? All right? How
about that? That feels a littlelook at you a little bit better there?
But you know what, I'm not. I'm not done yet. Let's
(22:33):
put these on, and you know, dude, let's let's get a candle
going, bro, let's get theseance going. Let's get the sad.
Cheers to your candle, sir,of course, cheers to the candle.
All right, So now I feelbut I didn't mean to interrupt. I
just there was I know you.I need to collect the whole. I
(23:00):
say, flattered is an understatement.So what were we talking about? Were
we talking about inspirations? How you. Yeah, I think it was Inspirations
and when you went, you knowwhat, I'm following this music thing,
m h. I mean also inhigh school and you know, I was
(23:21):
learning about new bands and filling upmy iproduct of everything that I could download
from the Internet, and you know, discovering this stuff every day pretty much
borrowing CDs taken from the library,putting it out of my film computers and
everything. But the bands that reallykind of I guess cracked the ice for
me. It would have been likeSmashing Pumpkins or AFI. Getting into depeche
(23:47):
Mode at a certain age was likevery influential, of course, and realizing
that there is so much you candig into this music, but it would
see weirdly of I was already kindof in this like pseudo folk world from
bands like the Decembrists or even likesome early white stripe stuff that I'm like,
(24:08):
this makes sense. I can kindof take this and run with it.
And then the affirmation of discovering thefull discography of like Tom Waits.
Really so many people don't and Ithink it's wrong and it's deeply upsetting that
(24:30):
every time I, like my partnercannot stand him not a fan, and
I'm like, I'm blown away becauseit's such an excellent like exercise is of
speaking one guy in the stretching outevery possible permutation of what he's capable of
(24:51):
doing, and he hit it oneway or another, from rock to blues
to chas to every sort of youknow, if shot. He just endlessly
and inspiring and in the same veinDavid Bowie no less would be a huge
(25:11):
talking point for me. That wasthe one thing that So when I first
saw you, my my chick wasnot there, she was on vacation,
but she's like, so, whodid you see and who are you raving
about? And I was like,it's it's this guy. They go by
the Picassos. I gotta be honest, there's there's Bowie in there. There's
(25:33):
Bowie in there that I'm feeling.So that's how I sold it. That's
how I sold it to her.That's I mean, that's just amazing to
hear, because I haven't I've neverheard anyone take that away from what anything
that was done, So that's likeamazingly and even even in the you know,
the aching parts of it that youcan still kind of like smell a
(25:55):
little bit of that, which issomething that up to you know, move
into more and then I mean time. All right, so we got some
and I and I know, likeI said, we're going to start from
the the end and kind of worktowards the middle. So you so you
have this upbringing, you have theseinspirations. How would would talk me through
(26:18):
the inception of the picassos? Well, in high school, I had a
band, a few different projects thatexisted at some point that we launched at
a launch table one day. Iguess the the you know, escalating incident
(26:40):
would have been having a how youplaying drums? I started out playing drums.
I was in marching band and such, so I got pretty good feel
for just playing a full drum kitand that was kind of my main thing
that I would take time to do, eventually getting a guitar and kind of
goofing around with it. But thefirst time that I ever tried to sing,
(27:03):
and again this is you know,ancient history, but I was at
a band practice where the first bandpractice for my hoseball bands that we were
going to assemble, and I wasgoing to play drums and the singer didn't
show up. So being the theaterkid that I was at the time,
I was relegated to doing double dutyof singing and playing drums. So that
(27:26):
was something that just kind of kepton happening. You know. Years go
by, I fly to started anew project with new people. I kept
ideas for names, and it justnever kind of falls together until I finally
come up with the idea. I'mlike, oh, this will be a
new band. I moved out towhere I live now and assumed that I
(27:48):
will start in a project. Itwill be called Consos because we could be
like an indie band. We coulddo anything with that name, who knows
what. And for the longest timeI tried to assemble that band and to
know real avail the most part.So what I ended up doing was well,
I can still book myself under thisand starting to feel for it,
(28:11):
looking at like Sebay Street performer videosand if I'm on on YouTube and like
New York or something, and thenyou have like you'll set on a little
suitcase and have like a little snaredrum and stuff and like playing it like
a kid like a drum kit.But I'm like, oh, okay,
and then realizing that there's such contraptionsit's like Latin percussion foot percussion that you
(28:33):
can do the tambourine as well.So I like fighters have a baby and
tambourine. That's my percussion today.And I went with that for a while,
and that became my skeleton setup foras long as it was, and
I'm still fine tuning that as itis for as long as I have.
(29:00):
I guess the first time that POSESever became a full bands was just a
matter of knowing the right people andthem jumping together and meeting me where I
was seeing me do what I did, and then you know, getting together
with con and then it was mydrummer at the time, and then and
(29:22):
was a bass player whom I hadactually known from community theater. And then
we are like at solid three piecefor I would say from twenty eighteen onto
twenty twenty ish. For twenty nineteenish when we finally got obviously COVID happened,
couldn't do anything for that time untilwe rebrit re kind of convened and
(29:47):
released Zoomed was the compilation that we'dput out in twenty one with or then
keyboardists or was it twenty two orthen keyboardist Joe who really kind of solidified
us as a four solar piece.And with those pieces together, you know,
(30:07):
we were a pretty solid unit.And then you know, great Jed
strikes when we had released the fulllength record, but you know, as
Divination scars. The following year andtouring, the drummer was unable to perform
and had an injury in his arms, so preventing him from playing drums or
(30:30):
really doing anything music related for agood it's bad about a year. So
over a year now, we've thankfullybeen able to enlist help with other musicians
and friends who have gotten together withus. We have Justin's our drummer right
now, we got a new guitarplayer. We sometimes work with a violinist.
(30:52):
So we've pared two very much readymake a new new band, allus
all together for these past couple ofmonths over the year now. So if
that all follows, that's the firstresent. What's the tell me about your
(31:15):
first gig, the first gig thatyou guys got, just because it is
like the full band, Yeah,yeah, because that was I couldn't tell
you what the first one was becauseit kind of it kind of escalated every
a little bit here and there,like it was just me, and then
it was just Torn and I andthat was to and one of I could
(31:38):
say that one of the first thatwe got is that three piece circa I
assume nineteen, I think twenty nineteen, maybe late twenty eighteen was we played
the sanction very much like they're playingnext Sunday, but we opened for a
mega the Devil on Her, sothat that was like a big deal for
(32:01):
us because a big influence somebody highschool psyche as it was. Does.
The most notable, i'd say,would be his iteration of the Hearst's son
from the Scary Stories to Tell inthe Dark books, and that definitely is
saying that stand out, I'd say, So we didn't. We just loved
(32:24):
that. That was an amazing experiencebecause it was pretty close to selling out,
which was a huge accomplishment for somethingthat we made very little do with
it, but still great, great, big, big gold star for us
in that early stage the project.I derail often and sometimes my brain locks
(32:49):
onto things and I can't, asmuch as I would like to move on,
I can't tell me your favorite scarystory from Scary Stories to Tell in
the Dark. Yah, you don'thave to give me the title I like,
I really like this leathery d okay, which is a weird one,
(33:15):
but I mean they're all great,but like some that just kind of stick
in my head, especially with theillustrations of the Alvin Schultz and Stephen can
Meal's work like these. This isalso like I would also probably as a
we had the early influence into thatr and dark you know arena at the
early age, because I'd remember kidswe've checking it out about the middle school
(33:38):
or elementary school libraries and then beingyou know, almost too scary. I
don't want to take those books,so so scary, and you know,
it's just the artwork being so extremefor that for the time, and just
falling in love with that style andever since, like collecting anytime, I
(33:59):
guess I will kind of be orsomething, and I'm just trying to develops
again something this one I think aboutme Booker and then Diego because it's so
funny, but I could I'm it'sit's actually absurd if I think about it
(34:23):
too long, as I'm like,I could probably recite most of those.
We won't do that today. Thesethese kids these days are so lame.
They don't even they like that's that'sgrowing up with the cool stuff. Now
everything is just like, could youimagine releasing that new today? You know
(34:44):
what I'm saying, Like people wouldlose their minds. Well, it's it's
ugly now because you know, yousee that they do these rebrands of those
books and they have existed if you'veever looked them up. They have released
with all new or work stories sameAlvin Schultz credit a new artist for every
book, every story, and it'snew, and I appreciate it that somebody
(35:08):
took the time, but I feellike it's almost like, let me just
see a im modal Lisa, letme just see what that's like, Like,
what what's the point of that?Who is that benefiting? Because you've
just taken what is I would sayprobably the most notable about the books.
Love the stories, but Elvin didn'twrite them, he reformented them. So
(35:30):
those releases these are like classic Americanfolk tips. Nobody necessarily knows the average
And maybe I'm wrong, but youknow they're saying that, saying something very
disturbing about it. Not appreciating adisturbing image. Yeah, I just wish
(35:52):
we were still weird like I grewup at a time with Labyrinth and Dark
Crystal and all that, And Iwas also watching Avan Costa Like Yourself and
stuff, So I had a veryodd upbringing, at least cinematically, I
had a odd upbringing. I can'tremember. I don't know if I would
call this story my favorite story ofall of them, but I can tell
(36:14):
you the one that fucked me upthe most when I was a kid,
and that was when the the spidersbusted out of that lady's face. That
fucked me up good time and themovie, Yes I have. It's fine.
It's fine, it's fine. It'sfine. It's apart from trying to
(36:36):
do some pretty honest recreations of thecharacter designs, which I think is an
impossible task, but you know,it's it's a version of it. I'd
like to see it as maybe aserious like why don't you just do Goosebumps
with it, Like let's see alittle fit respecial so each story, lets
slap it on HBO so we canget HBO or FX so we can go
(36:58):
hard with it. My opinion isthat I want it just as good as
Goosebumps, and I think you canget some reliefferricitness and make it scholastic appreciative,
like people for those kids to watchit, because how well so are
they going to pass them a look? Yeah, so we've talked a little
(37:22):
bit about you, we've talked alittle bit about the band, and in
textbook Sean fashion, I always getselfish towards the end of an interview.
And hopefully you haven't had two rottenof a time because I have. If
should we do a second and thirdshow? Oh, I want to go
to do a deep dive with somelyrics on some of your songs with you
(37:44):
that Weird Sisters, Serious Business,Children of the Night. I could go
on and on and on, butwe're not going to do that right now.
Right now, I got selfish questionsfor you. So you know that
this is a movie podcast. Iam of absolutely fucking nut when it comes
to movies. But before we getto some movies that you like, I
(38:05):
gotta know five musical artists or fivealbums doesn't need to be an order,
doesn't need to be a top five, nothing like that that you're just gonna
have on repeat. The artists orthe album that you're gonna have on repeat.
Uh, And they can't take can'ttake the record away from you.
(38:27):
Oh yeah, I could just nailthe whole list of time records. But
if I choose one from him onrain Dogs so good. My first track
that I really listened to from mybecause I knew some stuff prior. Symmetry
Polka. I mean, obviously it'sit's such a weird abstract song, but
(38:52):
it just it speaks Williams for somereason other than that if it's always low
for sure. Uh, Like Isaid, the fish modes of Violator of
course, kind of a newer rot. But Alice is one that I really
(39:15):
jive with these days. What wasthe Weekend? What's the name? Well,
lost Alice. I think they're aUK act, but I think the
second or third record Blue Weekend.It's just like just a magnificent piece.
And one that I've listened to isthat. For I can always say smashing
(39:38):
prop against melancholy and infinite sadness.I mean that's kind of cheat because you
get too four records. But let'ssay something weird, Yeah, really weird,
the weirdest thing. Let's go offone probably something off off kilter,
(40:05):
the soundtrack to If Follows Interesting?Interesting, all right? Yeah, yeah,
I because I can just listen tothat because it's just this weird ethereal
synth, like just driving ship andI'd love to put it on in the
car and just like let it like, let me imagine that I get to
(40:28):
live in that for a minute.I listened to do Oh Yeah, Yeah,
Lynch, Lynch is God. Ilistened to three genres, and this
is gonna you're gonna be like,how the fuck did I end up on
this podcast? I listened to Iguess what you would call gangster rap.
I guess if you would call itthat. I don't know the hard stuff.
(40:51):
I listened to folk, and Ilistened to sound movie soundtracks. That's
literally I mean, I listen intoeverything. But if we're talking like just
cause I grew up in a musichousehold, my dad was in a band,
So I think you automatically just havethat thing where you're trying to find
new artists. It doesn't matter ifit's popp or it's blah blah blah blah
(41:13):
whatever. But yeah, rap,folk and movie soundtracks is basically what's in
my on in my car at alltimes. And I think I think a
lot the big thing with uh,absolutely with rap that people don't understand because
they'll be like, aren't you alittle older? Like aren't you a little
too old to be listening to rap? And it's like, first of all,
(41:35):
I just poo poo that question,Like I don't think you music has
an age limit. But folk andrap I think tell the best stories.
I really do, and I thinkthat that's just what I'm drawn to now.
Like folky we get, you know, maybe a little fantastical here and
there, and then you have somethingvery raw and real with rap or whatever.
(41:57):
And then like you know, ifI blow off steam, I'll throw
on on Zimmer and just you know, cruise. You know I'm saying.
So, yeah, I'm a bigobviously folk can I've never really been into
the rap stuff so much, butI have a big appreciation and for a
(42:20):
little artists and what was interested tostuff. Yeah, I saw a funny
story. I saw Joiner Lucas ona Saturday and then I saw you on
Sunday. People would be just likea good mix. I like to make
sure that you know, the spectrumis vast, my friend, all right,
(42:45):
So now the one that I've beenwaiting for, and I know,
like, so I have a lotof audience members that are aspiring musicians,
aspiring filmmakers, and typically when it'sthe first time you're on on this show,
I like to close the show withjust my selfish question, which is
(43:05):
you can only have five. Theydon't have to be your the best movies
you've ever seen. They can beyour favorite. But let's just say this
deserted island has a Blu ray player, a TV, and you only get
five that you get to have onrepeat. Doesn't need to be any order.
What would those beach think? Youcan probably guessing Astor and Sony,
(43:35):
all the monsters, all the benefituh, probably Alien, which is endlessly
fun. Silence of a lambs becausethey have to. I know, I've
(43:57):
got probably the first Spider Man.Okay, it's just a because I'm I'm
also under all of this, andI'm also just a big comic nerd,
so that's stills my It's I'm probablythe elephant man. Hopkins kits too,
so I really hope the elephant banalist. It's funny you bring up comics my
(44:24):
first of all all good choices.By the way, like I I'm not
surprised by a couple, but elephantMan, like you so you're looking to
be just depressed as fuck on thisdirt deserted island. That's that's what I'm
hearing. Oh but it's still good, but it's still excellent. It's just
(44:46):
it's it's a beautifully depressing picture.But that's kind of what's sob at that
ending every fucking time. Speaking ofthough, my brother for my birthday,
I just picked up The Last Ronan, So I guess I'm going to be
(45:07):
reading that now. And I knowthat this is rumored that they're maybe going
to be making a live action filmout of it. I'll believe it when
I see it. But you know, I come from the generation of like
the real Ninja Turtles, not thecg ones that we have come to know
over the last fifteen twenty years.So oh yeah, ye hopefully if I
(45:30):
had my now talk about completely derailing. If I had my pick, let's
get Robert Rodriguez to do the LastRonan one because he's a huge fucking fan.
And two it's Robert Rodriguez and I'mdown for it. Just random thought.
I can see that happening a coupleof years. I think they're already
(45:53):
thinking about it because of just howmuch like attention that story has gotten,
which is kind of impressive, andI'm sure conics these days so big Dale,
I'm about halfway into it and it'salready bumming me the fuck out.
But we are not going to closethis show on the ninja fucking turtles.
Yeah. First of all, Charles, I wanted to thank you so much
(46:15):
for coming on. I hope thatyou will come on again in the future.
That would be I mean this.I knew that this was going to
be effortless, and I knew thatwe were going to run long, and
for the first time, I neverlike to run long. However, I
do need to make you feel uncomfortablefor a moment, if you don't mind.
Okay, Uh, First and foremost, you're a hell of a musician
(46:42):
man, straight up like you.I have only seen you three times,
and I am not just if youtalk about just the music alone, I'm
a fan for life. If youtalk about your stage presence, I'm a
fan for life. And I alsoI just want to thank you for taking
the time that you did all threetimes. You know that I after you
(47:06):
were done performing, you were verygracious with pictures with me and my friends,
and that's just I have been toso many shows and predominantly it's not
like that. Man, even foryou know, smaller acts or you know
whatever. I haven't had that typeof you know, it's not that it
never happened, but for you tomake it feel as welcoming as it is,
(47:30):
like, I just think it's kindof a rarity these days. So
I wanted to thank you for that. Also, Divination Scars, Kid,
you not, sir, one ofmy favorite records of recent memory. I'm
not saying this just because you're onthe show. If you listen to any
of my podcasts before this, Idon't fuck around. Life's too short to
(47:53):
fuck around. And when I sayit is the strongest record that I have
listened to top to bottom, andI don't even know how many years,
I mean it where if you helda gun to my head right now and
said give me the last album whereyou didn't skip a track, I would
(48:13):
struggle. But when it comes toDivination Scars, every fucking track is good.
I don't skip any of it,dude, and like it to me,
Like why that means so much tome? It hasn't happened and I
don't even know how long, sir, don't. I don't remember the last
album I played where I was like, that's good, that's good, that's
(48:34):
good. I don't remember. SoI just in the world we live in,
it's a huge deal to me becausebetween movies and music, I feel
like it there's so much stuff andit's kind of hard to find these diamonds
in the rough, if you will. And for me, after hearing you
(48:59):
guys, I don't well hearing youspecifically, I I'm actually kind of amazed
to even be talking to you,to be honest with you, like I
feel like you should be that likelaunched into the stratosphere, my friend.
Like I'm not kidding you, LikeI said, I grew up in a
music household. My dad's been ina band my entire fucking life. I
(49:20):
know, I'm not gonna say Iknow the goods when I see the goods,
but sir, I know the fuckinggoods when I see the goods,
and what I have seen every singlefucking time out of you, it annoys
it actually annoys me that you're onthis podcast with me right now, because
you're so much better than this podcast. So I just I and I know
(49:44):
you probably that makes you uncomfortable.But I'm you have a fan for life.
But I want to say, I'mnot going to be a fan that's
sitting outside your bedroom window, notthat type of fan. I'll just follow
you anywhere and I'll take that.That's that is absurdly kind of you to
say. I mean, I'm Istarted to think of a time where I
(50:07):
want people to do that. It'ssort of you know, I want it
to be a welcoming experience in yourpropositive that's something that's capable. So I
appreciate that a lot of it,and the support, the shout outs and
just having me on here, likespreading the word. That's all it really
(50:28):
takes, you know, especially inthese days. So I am you know,
I'm honored that you have taken thetime, well so deeply into the
world that I've kind of craft inwith my friends, and hopefully, you
know, we don't disappoint in thefuture. So I just appreciate beyondwards.
Well, until we meet again,sir, or until the wicker caskets call
(50:53):
our name, I will be seeingyou soon, hopefully, sir, and
hopefully we can run this back again. Thank you so much again for coming
on. Seriously excellent of course anytime. Let me know. All right,
brother, we'll talk soon. Yep. Take care, Charles, Irvin,
(51:14):
Ladies and gentlemen. Can you believelike when I say like, and I
hope you know gang that I'm notI'm not kidding you when I say his
album start to finish, I donot stop it. Like it's go listen
(51:34):
to it right now. Just searchthe Picasso's all one word thch E capital
P, the Picasso's Spotify you whereveryou listen to your music, you can
find them. Spin Divination Scars forme, tell me what you think,
seriously, Top to bottom one ofmy favorite albums in years, in years,
(51:58):
which is kind of why to me, because I've I've almost kind of
resigned to the idea that I'm onlygonna like certain songs off of albums these
days, just based on how themusic is released these days. Like Joiner
Lucas, who I brought up talkingwith Charles you know, a half hour
(52:20):
ago or whatever. I heard eightof his songs before his thirteen track album
or whatever it was was released manymany months later, and like it.
Just all I can say is it'sdifferent. It's different. And when you
stumble upon these guys, push itas far as it can go. Both
(52:40):
both of their full albums are good. The EPs that they have on Spotify
all good, all all super strong, and it's just I think why I
got so geeked. I mean,I'm sure you guys could probably tell I
was a nervous fucking wreck throughout thisentire interview, because I mean it when
I say it is better affling tome Gang that this man was on our
(53:02):
show. He's that fucking talented,So make sure that you reach out to
you start following him on all thesocials I believe on ig It's Spooky Charles,
the Picassos and the Sad Hour Band, Sad Hours Band, all three
of those. You can follow him. Don't go bug him though I'll be
(53:22):
I'll be annoyed with you, andsame with X. You can find him
there and just if nothing else,if you like what you're hearing, shit,
put it in your pocket and letthat motherfucker just repeat you know what
I'm saying, so they can getthose plays and we can we can get
them out there. Because everything thatyou heard me tell him towards the end
there one hundred percent true. Ifeel out of my league talking to this
(53:47):
gentleman. He's that fucking talented,So Spooky Charles Urban Ladies and Gentlemen as
advertised. I knew it was gonnabe a fucking effortless podcast. I just
like you. You you come acrosspeople in life and like you know.
I don't know how I ended updoing this fucking show, but ended up
doing the show, and I went, not only would I like that guy
in real life, but I thinkhe would make a killer fucking guest.
(54:10):
And he knocked it out of thefucking park, So uh, please go
follow him, go bother well,don't go, don't go bother him anyway.
Ellis Cinema we gone. Spooky Charles, the Apasso, Sad Hour's Band
spin those tracks, gangs, spinthose tracks. Ellis Cinema were gone.
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