So Long, Charlie: Psychoholics, The Jolly Garogers and Shandon Sahm at Kristal

I received notice recently that Charlie was leaving the Psychoholics and that his last show would be Thursday, May 11th, at Club Kristal. I felt I needed to go see his last show with the band. In a way, it’s kind of full circle for me...this is a band I saw years ago at Sneakers. Out of the many bands I saw there, this is one show that stands out for me. I also interviewed Charlie a couple of months ago for the Psychoholics Interview. So I felt I should go check out his last show with them.

I came in near the end of Shandon Sahm’s set...got to hear the last few songs. I didn’t even know they were scheduled to play and at first, I didn’t even know who I was watching. But, after talking to Shandon Sahm, I learned he used to be in the band Pariah, who I had also seen at Sneakers. After I got home, I thought about the name Sahm...went and looked at Shandon Sahm’s website, and sure enough he is the son of the late Texas music legend Doug Sahm.

Shandon Sahm

My first thought was a cross between Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes and Mick Jagger, but their website uses the analogy Iggy Pop meets KISS., which is probably a more accurate description. Shandon wore silver elevator boots and pranced about the stage with a feather boa, singing straight-up uncomplicated rock and roll tunes, with a bit of southern rock and blues sneaking in from time to time. Basic rock, a little bit of glam, a lot of fun to watch; I wish I had gotten there in time to catch the whole show.

Next Up: The Jolly Garogers

I knew a little about The Jolly Garogers from the review Darren did back in November. But reading and watching are two different things. Try to imagine a heavy metal version of The Pirates of Penzance, if you can. The songs are all pirate-themed. Lots of theatrics. The lead singer, Captain Phleabag, is a very vigorous performer, doing high kicks, jumping off the drum riser, waving the Jolly Roger, encouraging “aargh’s” all around. No one was made to walk the plank, but there was a duel between the Captain and The Dread Pirate Stagedive. Here is the aftermath:

Captain Phleabag After the "Duel"

Definitely a fun band to watch. Check them out at www.jollygarogers.com
There are also video clips of The Jolly Garogers doing a song I believe is entitled “Let’s Fight Tonight” over on the Video Page.

Psychoholics

As I’ve mentioned before, I had only seen the Psychoholics once before...years ago at Sneakers and couldn’t stay for the whole show, so all I really remember was a guy running around in a Gumby costume and rumors that the singer exposed himself (Charlie assured me in the Psychoholics interview that it was a fake schlong). I remember them being energetic, theatrical and funny.

Well, there were no Gumby costumes nor false phalluses. In lieu of Gumby, Tim wore a kind of reverse tuxedo - black underneath, with a shiny white coat with tails, a white bow tie and a black bowler, carrying what I think was a riding crop (?). The energy, fun and humor that I remember was definitely still there, however, at least for most of the set...

Charlie

I don’t know the details of what went on that caused the Psychoholics to split with Charlie, so I was just there to be there, not to choose sides. There were quite a few people, however, who were obviously there to make their allegiance known. As soon as the band went on stage, a small crowd gathered in front of Charlie, and there they stayed until Charlie moved to the middle of the stage to perform a song of his, “Mardi Gras.” They all moved over to center stage to “woo-hoo” him, take pictures and videos...at one point a black bra was placed on his head. (There are video clips of “Mardi Gras” on the Video Page, so you can check it out if you'd like.)

When “Mardi Gras” was over, Tim mentioned that over the last 15 years, the Psychoholics had gone through no less than 26 band members. Then Charlie packed up his equipment and left the club, followed by his flock of friends and fans. Another guitarist took his spot and the show went on.

I just stood there for a few minutes, sort of stunned. It felt like the end of the cutting-heads-in-hell sequence in that movie Crossroads (not the Britney Spears movie, the good one)...Steve Vai drops his guitar...a discordant jangle, feedback, silence...he walks offstage...then the music starts back up as if it doesn’t matter one bit. The devil has been vanquished...life goes on. I think my head jangled.

Looking back, I suppose the split was just done in usual Psychoholics irreverent, theatrical style, but at that moment, I was just thinking, “Is that it? No farewell to years of collaboration? No grand send-off? Not even an amicable parting-of-ways? Just a mention of how many members have been in the band, followed by a silent replacement of a longtime band member?” Charlie tells me not to be sad, but it did sadden me, and suddenly I didn’t want to be there anymore. So I left, too.