Poobah sticks with psych

The band, which started 35 years ago, became known for its psychedelic music.

By JOHN BENSON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

Taking the power back is what Poobah singer-guitarist-visionary Jim Gustafson is doing with his band’s new album.

“In the last few years, I’ve decided I wanted to do what I wanted to do instead of whatever trend or business person would suggest,” said Gustafson, calling from his West Virginia home. “So I’m doing what I like doing, long songs and lots of wild guitar solos, which is really not what you hear on the radio now.”

Always seemingly ahead of or behind the radio curve, Poobah was started 35 years ago when Gustafson, a 1970 Boardman High School graduate, started creating his own style of music based on his love of Cream and Jimi Hendrix.

Eventually Poobah’s style was called psych — as in psychedelic — music, with the act performing all over the region. Aside from local shows in the Youngstown area, including opening for Judas Priest at the Youngstown Agora and gigs at Youngstown State University, the act grew a following in the Cleveland and Pittsburgh markets.

Today, Poobah’s style is often described as stoner rock, but Gustafson takes exception to that.

“I heard some people say that, but our music has so much more sophisticated musicianship in it than bands they’re lumping in with that,” Gustafson said. “A lot of those bands are just bands without guitar solos and stuff in their records, more like rhythm guitars instead of lead guitars, kind of like punk rock, but some of them are doing these long droned-out songs and stuff like that.”

Over the decades Poobah has grown a cult following based around such notable tracks as “Bowleen,” “Mr. Destroyer” and “Thru These Eyes.” In fact, it’s this loyal following that has come back to make Gustafson and Co. somewhat of a celebrity group among record collectors.

“There is this nationwide magazine called Goldmine, which is the bible of the collectors,” Gustafson said. “They called me and told me that Poobah is the most collectible pysch rock band in the world and now my albums are selling for as much as $900 for a single copy.”

Because of this phenomenon, Poobah has been asked to perform regularly at the popular Goldmine record swap events held at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. 

Something new in the mix for the group is its 12th studio effort, which Gustafson said he’s currently recording for a spring release.

“The working title is ‘Salad,’” Gustafson said. “We’re starting to do more and more, and we’ve really been taking our music into that psychedelica. I think my songwriting is the best it’s ever been and my guitar playing is lightning-fast now. I’ve just been a practice nut. I spend all of this time just practicing my head off.”

With his chops sharpened, Gustafson is looking forward to the band’s upcoming Youngstown gig, which takes place Friday at Cedars Lounge.

“People should expect a good, rocking show,” Gustafson said. “They’re going to get several hours of music. They’ll see a lot of high-tech musicianship and good singing and some wild guitar sounds.”