Psychostick // Live @ Shaka's // 10.2.15 -

Article and Photos by: Wendy Darugar and Glenn Woodell

Psychostick: All About Beer, Breasts, and Socks

VA BEACH – Fresh from “The (Really) Ugly Americans Tour” in the United Kingdom, playing alongside Dog Fashion Disco, a massive undertaking that lasted nearly a whole two weeks, Psychostick returned to the United States in search of more bacon, beer, and big All-American-style boobs. Psychostick is fronted by the devastatingly handsome mad genius Rob “Rawrb” Kersey, who in addition to writing lyrics, drawing comics, and constructing his own one-of-a-kind paper/duct tape cone hats, that rival even the finest high fashion designs of The Kanye West Himself, actually sings too!

Joined by high school buddy and guitarist/recording engineer/American Ninja Josh Key, the band got its start in Phoenix, AZ in 2000 and has been causing chaos in our dimension ever since. The band found its drummer Alex Dontre by means of a classified ad in a local paper and completed the line-up with bassist Matty J, who can be easily identified by the huge moose antlers on his head. Matty J does his parents proud by applying his Mechanical Engineering degree to working in a touring band.

The line up at Shaka’s was opened up by the local metal support of bands such as Helafyde, Friends with Pedro, and rap metal act Jack Ledger. The show was well attended in spite of Hampton Roads being under threat of hurricane Joachin and being pounded by a nor’easter providing some flooding in coastal areas. Metal fans were outfitted in such items as propeller beanie caps, makeup, and masks. Psychostick took to the stage accompanied by the immortal Russian classic, aka the “Trololo” song, a song Vladmir Putin himself sung while riding his wild bear through the rivers in frigid Siberia. The scene was now thoroughly set for Psychostick’s immortal original compositions such as, “This is not a Song, it’s a Sandwich”, “Dogs Like Socks”, and the “Beer” song.

Mid-set, the band started a game called “Get the Sombrero” where they singled out one poor, unsuspecting audience member and gave him a straw sombrero. They then cleared a small space around him in the crowd. The contest rules included such restrictions as “no wet willies, no eye gouging, no nose picking, if you are short-use the third dimension to your advantage”…. After a “ready-set-go”, surrounding members of the audience attacked the poor fellow in order to grab a piece the hat, literally. After three rounds (scuffles), and shredded pieces of straw flying into the air, the original holder of the coveted sombrero emerged victorious from the crowd still holding the frayed and tattered top piece of the hat.

Everyone had a great time, and if you want to have a great time too, catch Pyschostick and their antics on the remaining dates of their tour.