Psychostick

Infobox musical artist


Img_capt = From left to right: Jake, Rob, Alex, Jimmy, Josh
Name = Psychostick
Background = group_or_band
Years_active = 2000 - present
Origin = Tempe, Arizona, United States
Genre = Alternative metal (early)
Metalcore
Comedy rock
Label = Rock Ridge Music
Associated_acts = [http://www.evacuatechicago.com Evacuate Chicago]
Screaming Mechanical Brain
Indorphine
Current_members = Alex "Shmalex" Preiss
Joshua "Joshy" Key
Rob "Rawrb!" Kersey
Jimmy "Jimmychanga" Grant
Jake "Jakermeister"
Past_members = Mike "MiketheEvil" Kocian
Vince "V" Johansen
Hunter Alexander
URL = [http://www.psychostick.com Official site]

Psychostick is a metalcore band from Tempe, Arizona, known for a silly image and usage of extreme humor in their songs and lyrics. Their style is referred to by themselves and some online album review sites as humor-core. [ [http://www.collectiveunderground.com/showreview.php?reviewID=6 Interview where they describe themselves as humor-core] ] To date they have released two albums nationally. The most recent, titled The Flesh Eating Roller Skate Holiday Joyride, was released September 25, 2007, and We Couldn't Think of a Title, released on September 12, 2006. They began touring nationally in July 2006, and have toured with Look What I Did, Powerglove, Bobaflex, Indorphine, , and [http://www.betterleftunsaidmusic.com Better Left Unsaid] , and have played with many national bands, including Three Days Grace, [http://www.armyofanyone.com Army of Anyone] , Sick Puppies, Hemlock, Rehab, A New Revolution, The Exies, Smile Empty Soul, Within Chaos, Pumpjack, Vehemence, American Standard, Phunk Junkeez as well as many others.

As of March 2007, Psychostick's debut album has had minor chart success in the US, reaching #41 on the [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=324&cfgn=Albums&cfn=Top+Heatseekers&ci=3082009&cdi=9181708&cid=02%2F03%2F2007 Billboard's Top Heatseekers] , #4 on the [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=303&cfgn=Albums&cfn=Top+Heatseekers+%28West+North+Central%29&ci=3082000&cdi=9181201&cid=02%2F03%2F2007 Billboard's Top Heatseekers (West North Central)] , and #48 on the [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=326&cfgn=Albums&cfn=Top+Independent+Albums&ci=3081981&cdi=9180835&cid=02%2F03%2F2007 Billboard's Top Independent Albums] .

"The Flesh Eating Rollerskate Holiday Joyride" reached #18 on [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=325&cfgn=Albums&cfn=Top+Holiday+Albums&ci=3087239&cdi=9443796&cid=10%2F27%2F2007 Billboard's Top Holiday Albums] .

The band is currently recording their second studio album, "Sandwich".

Style

Psychostick uses goofy prop comedy with things like rubber chickens, stuffed animals or their instruments at shows and in their videos.

Although lyrically rich in humor, unlike many bands who tend to use a lot of comedy, the instrumental portions of the songs are not neglected and are very serious. When they're not joking too much they usually play heavy, violent riffs.Some songs are parodies of love songs, like "Orgasm = Love" or sad, depressing songs, like "Prozak Milkshake".

A lot of comedy is also mid-song action. For example, during "Orgasm = Love" Josh yells out 'You know what? Fuck this! I'm outta here!' and leaves. Occasionally, the band will hold conversations during songs.

2007 Holiday Hate Tour

From November 23rd to December 22nd, Psychostick toured the country to profess their hatred towards the commercialization of the Christmas season. Along for the hate were Screaming Mechanical Brain and Indorphine. Without question, this was the bands most successful tour to date. Among the many highlights - a studio takeover at XM Radio with Ward Cleaver / Liquid Metal, a sold out crowd in LaCrosse, WI, a guest appearance by Shwillex, a 72-roll toilet paper salute to Indorphine in Florida, Rawrb getting his first mohawk and zero trouble with the van and trailer.

Members

Current members

* Alex "Shmalex" Preiss - drums, vocals
* Joshua "Joshy" Key - guitar, vocals
* Rob "Rawrb!" Kersey - lead vocals
* Jimmy "Jimmychanga" Grant - bass guitar, vocals (2007-present)
* Jake "Jakermeister" - guitar (2007-present)

Former members

* Mike "MiketheEvil" Kocian - bass guitar, vocals (2001-2007)
* Vince "V" Johansen - guitar (2004-2006)
* Hunter Alexander - bass guitar (2000-2001)

Holiday Hate Tour '07 guest members

* Jesse "Turff" McInturff (of ) - replacement second guitarist
* Cassidy "Cass" Nee (of SMB) - replacement bass guitarist
* Reverend John Wheeler IV (of SMB) - guest vocalist on live performances of "BEER!!!"

Discography

Albums

* 2003: "We Couldn't Think of a Title" (re-released in 2006)
* 2009: "Sandwich"

EPs

* 2007: "The Flesh Eating Roller Skate Holiday Joyride"

Demos

* 2000: "Don't Bitch, It's Free!"
* 2001: "Die...A Lot!"

DVDs

* 2009: "Psychostick Gone Wild!"

Singles

*¹ Still active on charts.
*² Only released as a digital download single

Other works

They have played a number of unrecorded songs live including "The World's Shortest Song" (During "The Holiday Hate Tour" they called it "The Worlds Shortest Christmas Song".), "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", "I Can Only Count To Four" (A parody of Drowning Pool's "Bodies"), "The Log Song" (A slinky parody from the Ren and Stimpy cartoon.), and "Happy Birthday". Other songs played live that will be on their second studio album include "Orange", "Don't Eat My Food", "The Sombrero Prophecy", and "Shower". Other songs to be included in the album are "Minimum Rage", and "400 Thank You's".

Other recorded works include:

* MILF (Rob and Josh with Arizona based rappers [http://www.myspace.com/crackmoney Crack Money] )
* The Dumb Song (from the website [http://pluh.com Pluh.com] )
* Tales From The Sink (also a [http://pluh.com Pluh.com] song featuring Alex and V).

Evacuate Chicago and "Veracity"

Three members of Psychostick (Alex, Josh, and Rob) recently finished recording an album under their more serious persona, [http://www.evacuatechicago.com Evacuate Chicago] , entitled "Veracity". The album was finished in May 2008 and has been released online. The band is planning to release hard copies of the CD in June. [ [http://www.evacuatechicago.com Evacuate Chicago official site] ]

External links

* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gcftxqedldae We couldn't think of a title review on Allmusic]
* [http://www.psychostick.com Official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/psychostick MySpace profile]
* [http://www.purevolume.com/psychostick Purevolume profile]
* [http://www.myspace.com/evacuatechicago Evacuate Chicago]

References