Mad Caddies are a band that fans of the punk/ska scene should be well aware of by now. Over the years, they’ve amassed a huge following across the world, and they show no signs of slowing down yet! Their new record, Arrows Room 117, is coming out soon – find out more in our interview with Chuck Robertson below!
By Jane Howkins
What can you tell us about the record?
Hi there! The new album Arrows Room 117 is a nice mix of ska, reggae and rock. We explore some new sounds while still keeping with the Caddies tradition. The vibe moves around a bit, but I think it flows well as a single body of work.
Where did you get the title from and what does it refer to?
The title for the record and the artwork refer to my journey from the central coast of California up to Northern California in Lake Tahoe, where my son lives.
I always stay in room 117 at the Foothills Motel in Auburn, California. One night I was facetiming with my girlfriend and I was just messing around on guitar and the song Arrows was born that night. It was appropriate for the album title.
You also released a new single recently titled Green Eyes. What can you tell us about the track?
Green Eyes is a love song for my honey. We both share a love of travel and the outdoors. She has been showing me the gems of western Canada and I’ve been sharing all my secret spots in California. Adding the accordion to the track makes it romantically whimsical with a nice reggae back beat.
Do you have any more singles planned for release soon?
That’s a good question. I’ll have to get back to you on that lol.
You’re also going to be performing at Slam Dunk Festival. Are you excited? Do you prefer festival show over your own shows?
To be fair, I think there are positives to both of them. I enjoy playing our own shows because we get to play as long as we want and have more creative control over the set, having more time. However, it is also super rad to play festivals mostly because we get to hang out with all of our friends all the other bands that we don’t get to see that often, and there is a lot of camaraderie backstage.
Are you pulling anything special out of the bag for the Slam Dunk dates? Who are you looking forward to seeing at the festival?
We’ve got a pretty sweet, six song rock block for the moms and dads out there going right now that is super fun. We play six songs all older than 20 years and dedicate it to all the parents out there as we are now the Dad Caddies. We’re also playing new songs off the record as well as all the old favorites. Definitely looking forward to seeing The Selector, as well as our buddies Snuff, and The Skints. And it wouldn’t be a festival without wondering what Uncle Fletcher from Pennywise will get up to!?
Are there any plans for a tour within the UK in the near future?
We will definitely be coming in the fall or winter to support the new record.
As a band, you’ve been around for decades. How do you keep it fresh? What’s the secret to your longevity?
Well, we started really young. I’m a huge fan of all different types of music and my passion has only grown over the years to search out good music and to keep reinventing my songwriting style. Finding new sounds, and always trying to be a better musician, constantly learning and growing and evolving. That’s what keeps it fresh and fun.
What’s the writing and recording process like? Has it changed much over the years?
Yes, things have evolved quite a bit over the years. This album is very personal to me. It’s the first one that I wrote all the songs and produced as well. The creative process was different this time around as I had many of the songs prepared before we hit the studio so it was a new experience. Everything went pretty quick, and I’m really pleased with the outcome.
Any last words for the fans?
Peace, love and respect. Thanks for your time. I really appreciate it.