From Solvang to Tahoe

A Conversation with Chuck Robertson of

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January 30. 2024 by Kevin Gomez

For nearly three decades now, Chuck Robertson has been the lead man and one constant force in Solvang, California’s Mad Caddies. As the group’s leading member, the band is ready to embark on their eighth studio album, “Arrows Room 117,” their first release of original material in a decade, and a supporting tour to follow.

Things couldn’t be busier right now for Robertson, both professionally and personally, as the rest of the year looks plenty promising. I spoke to Robertson about their upcoming album, as well as a soon-to-be follow-up to his solo work, and big changes that lay ahead for he and his family.

Kevin: First off, congratulations on the new album. What can you tell me about “Arrows Room 117?”

Chuck: Thanks, man. It’s definitely the most personal album for me. I wrote all of the songs, well the meat and bones of it, with the other guys helping with the accompaniments. The album cover (featuring a topographical map of California with an arrow going through it from Santa Barbara to Lake Tahoe) represents my journey that I’ve been going through the last four years to visit with my son, Charlie – he lives in Tahoe with my ex-wife, and I’ve been stuck down here in So Cal. I’m really proud of the record.

Kevin: I hate to ask a question so generic about album titles, but what is the significance of “Room 117?”

Chuck: No, that ties in with exactly what I was talking about. When I go see my son, it’s an eight-hour drive and I stay in Auburn, CA at the Foothills Motel. I always stay in Room 117 because it has a balcony. I was Facetiming my girlfriend in Canada and I ended up writing an entire song from the album right there in Room 117.

FOOTHILLS MOTEL | ROOM 117 | AUBURN, CALIFORNIA

Kevin: The first single is “Palm Trees and Pines” which seems to bring together a lot of the laid-back ska-reggae vibes that you would expect from the Caddies. Is that indicative of the rest of the album?

Chuck: Yeah, there’s some sunny day jams on there. But we go in a lot of different styles: some punk-country, there’s this one song, “Looking for the Answer,” that I call “medieval rock,” that sounds like it’s from the 1600s (laughs), but also sounds punk rock.

Kevin: This is your first record with Sean Sellers on drums, Brandon Landelius on guitar, and Stephane Montigny on trombone. Was there any concern writing this record with so many new faces?

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Chuck: It is a new lineup, but other than Stephane, I’ve known these guys for years. Jon Gazi, our bassist, he was our behind-the-scenes percussionist and my stage guy for like 12 years. Sean was at the first ska show I ever saw – this band Sparker from Santa Barbara. They sold like a thousand vinyl on their own in my hometown. I was like 15, so that’s how long I’ve known Sean. We’ve all been family a long time. And there’s no hard feelings with the other guys (former members); everybody just moved on, people got kids. It’s all love in the Caddies.

Kevin: Yeah, when there was a new lineup unveiled in 2022, I think a lot of people were concerned this might be it for you guys. So, fans are happy that you’re still keeping it alive.

Chuck: Yeah, exactly. I’m not letting the band die. People love the Mad Caddies. We’re just this dorky band from Solvang, but I love doing it. I love making people happy and dance and hanging out with the crowd. Playing with these new guys, you create new sounds. They are phenomenal musicians, so we now have a whole new sound. It’s the same music, but when you get new people playing it, it’s unique and fresh. We needed that.

Kevin: Obviously you have two ridiculously talented musicians in Brandon (Authority Zero, A Vulture Wake) and Sean (Good Riddance, Versus the World). Are you worried at all with touring as they both have multiple bands and projects?

Chuck: We’re Sean’s number one priority, which is great. Luckily, Brandon’s booking agent in Authority is also our booking agent, so it’s kind of just all worked out so far. And we’ve all been in the scene so long, all the drummers and the bassists are just like, “We all share. Come on!” (laughs)

Kevin: As always, I see the Caddies are playing Solvang on this upcoming tour. Do you still live in Solvang these days?

Chuck: I do, but not for long. COVID stopped me moving up to Tahoe to be closer to my son. But I’m ready to finally move and make it happen. I’ve got to go be with my boy. He’s almost nine and just became a member of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard team. And he won his first race. I’m super proud. I’m going to be the ski team dad up there. (laughs)

Kevin: That is so wonderful to hear; I’m really excited for you. But other than that, it sounds like you would have just remained in Solvang had your son not moved. Just about every pop punk band wrote a song about wanting to leave their hometown and make it in the big city. Solvang is a place you still show a lot of love to, why is that?

Chuck: It’s a really magical place. I was born in Santa Barbara until I was two and they moved here. It’s still really a bucolic place – I leave the keys in my car and the house unlocked. Seventeen-year-old Chuck was so ready to move out of here, but then I came back. But, I think it really is time for me to leave. I’m sick of the beach and the oak trees; I’m ready to go to the lakes and rivers.

Kevin: The U.S. portion of the Caddies tour kicks off with support from Bad Cop/Bad Cop. Have you guys toured together before?

Chuck: Yeah, Stacey (Dee, guitarist and lead singer for Bad Cop) is one my of oldest punk rock friends. We met right when Mad Caddies started, around 1996 or 1997. She was playing in Angry Amputees with my buddy, Eric Gonzalez, and she was living in old town Goleta. The video for the Caddies’ song “Road Rash” when everybody is running around the garage was recorded at her place. Stacey and I have even been talking about some production stuff down the line.

Kevin: This is a question from my buddy Jon, who has been a fan for literally decades. The Caddies have shown so much range over the years from ska to reggae to punk, where did you get the influence to include Dixieland styles in your music?

Chuck: That was 100% Sascha Lazor, a co-founding member with me that quit the band during COVID to do other stuff. He hurt his hand when he was maybe 20 when he was hiking. A rock crushed his right hand and he’s right-handed. He couldn’t use his hand for months. He figured out he could tape a pick to his case and he taught himself banjo, but he taught himself Dixieland banjo. (laughs) And he was fascinated with New Orleans music. He said, “We should Dixieland punk!” He was the driving force behind songs like “Monkeys” and “Road Rash.”

Kevin: In 2021 you released your first solo effort, “All Out of Dreams.” How was that experience? Do you think you’ll be doing something like that again, or at least even a solo tour?

Chuck: I don’t know about any solo tours, but I definitely will do a week with the acoustic boys – Joey Cape, Chuck Ragan, etc. We recorded the solo record at my buddy’s place, this music shack – Frank’s Tree House in Los Olivos. This was right during COVID, and so we would rehearse three, four hours a day, at least four days a week. And we realized right when we finished, we have a whole other record of material. So, we recorded a second Chuck Robertson and Friends album at Prairie Sun Recording Studio. But, it’s completely recorded and just needs to be mastered. So, with the Caddies album coming out in March, I’m thinking about doing the next Chuck Robertson and Friends album in the fall.

Many thanks to Chuck Robertson and we look forward to the new Mad Caddies album “Arrows Room 117,” due out March 5.

In the meantime, you can catch Mad Caddies live in SoCal. First, catch them at Cali Vibes in Long Beach on Saturday, February 17th, then on May 2nd at The Echoplex in Los Angeles.

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These are all great shows, and tickets won’t be around long, so get them now to make sure you can see one of the most entertaining bands in the music biz!

These are all great shows, so tickets won’t be around long, so get them now so you can see one of the most entertaining bands in the music biz!

TICKETS

TO FOLLOW

SID 240130 | TRACI TURNER, EDITOR