WORDS / SHAYNE GRAY
PHOTO / JADE HOWARD

Randall Shreve and the Devilles of Fayetteville recently released their fourth and final album chronicling the saga of a young entertainer named Charlie and his personal evolution. The new album is called “The Devil and the End” and ends the story arc and reveals the final metamorphosis.

     I caught up with the band at Kings Live Music in Conway, Arkansas on a Friday night earlier this summer. His music has many elements of other bands and a great range of sounds, but it is all original (except for a few tasteful cover songs here and there). Over half their show was new dance-friendly and anthemic songs from the upcoming album. The new songs had great dynamics, melodies and crowd sing-alongs. Randall has a beautiful voice in the same vein with Jeff Buckley, ELO and some elements of Freddie Mercury of Queen. The most interesting element of the Shreve’s catalogue of music is the continuing elaboration and honing of their fun, dark, carnival sideshow milieu.

     Their live show is somewhat hard to describe, maybe like a Tim Burton/Quentin Tarantino collaboration film about a traveling snake oil salesman’s Bar Mitzvah on acid. They draw an eclectic audience – which I believe demonstrates the spectrum of their talent – and I think people of all ages can enjoy this music. The whole evening got weird in the best possible way, and their performance was passionate and heartfelt. It’s almost a spiritual experience to see a the show. Randall Shreve and the Devilles bring their own brand of rock, and I recommend you check them out if you like vaudeville, cabaret, classic black and white films, libations and sultry indie rock music. They put a unique twist on music with their gritty old school Hollywood swagger. They are one of the best good time bar bands in Arkansas.

After the show I asked him a few questions about the new album and line-up:

I understand you’ve been back in the studio working on your fourth and final album in the story of Charlie, the anticipated follow-up to The Jester album. Tell me a little about the new album.

This has been a beautiful, overwhelming experience. Every album was recorded in very different settings. I borrowed and rented gear for this album and converted my rehearsal space into a studio. Like the other albums, I recorded all the songs once as a general outline before starting the actual recording that people will hear. I spent much more time in the writing stage for this album. All in all, it’s taken over two and a half years to complete. The songs take on a more rock sound in some cases, while others are more vaudeville/speakeasy sounding than anything else I’ve ever done. I couldn’t be more satisfied with the outcome.

What is your typical recording process, and has this album been different than past experiences?

I always start off alone. I like to have the album in a skeletal state before sharing it with anyone else, including band members. I believe that if the idea is strong enough for the song to eventually be a part of my catalog, it should be able to be heard in a poor quality recording with me playing all the instruments. It also helps me to hear the songs play back while I finish lyrics. The difference with this one was the time that went into lyrics after those original demos were recorded. I tried my best to keep my opinions and personal attachments out of the way with these new songs, which led me to dropping some of the songs I personally liked best because they didn’t work as well with the feeling of some of the ones that were more obvious choices for the feeling of this record as a whole.

Is your current lineup different than before, and are they the same members that play on the studio album?

I was fortunate to keep Zach Reeves on drums and Michael Tisdale on guitar from The Sideshow. I’ve added two new members to the live band. Kendra Lane is on bass and Robert Geiger is on guitar as well. They all played on the record, though I also had many guests on the album like Matt Putman, who played drums on four tracks. I also played some of the drums on the album. It was nice being able to record with friends that I’ve been wanting to work with for some time.

How would you describe the band’s sound now, and how has it progressed up to this point?

Right now, the band’s goal is to sound like the record, which is an evolution of the Vaudeville Rock I’ve been playing for years. I definitely drew from a lot of new places on this record and have enjoyed the opportunity to explore new sides of my writing. The DeVilles will certainly take these songs to new places over time, but where those places are and what they look like are a mystery to all of us right now. That’s what I love about this process the most – getting to see the songs take on new life over time. The live show has always been a different monster than the writing/recording process. The music is never finished. There is always room for development and growth. I can’t wait to see what this group does with these songs.

What are your upcoming touring plans?

I’m trying to be smarter with the touring. We’re going to play the venues and cities that want us to play and are willing to split the pressure with us. It’s time for me to make some income while doing what I do best. I am going to keep it regional until our strong markets afford us the luxury to take some risks in new markets. Of course, I’ll play anywhere in the world if I can make sense of it.

When and where can we get the new album, and where’s the best place to listen to and purchase your music online and/or physically?

The new album is available online at randallshreve.com as well as on iTunes, Amazon and all other online music outlets. The best place to buy it is always at a show.

VISIT: RANDALLSHREVE.COM

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