Pop-rocker Kepi Ghoulie is in the middle of a monthlong Phoenix residency

By Amy Young

Kepi Ghoulie, longtime punk-pop rocker and all-around nice guy, is in the middle of a month-long residency at downtown arts collective MySpace. He's doing a different record each day, sometimes joined by friends. The walls are decked out in all things Kepi, from his own art to flyers highlighting his lengthy career, including many years in the horror-punk band The Groovie Ghoulies.

Catch him once or as many times as you want, and you'll get what Kepi always delivers: an energetic, fun, and engaging set of poppy punk music, stories, and plenty of zingers from Kepi's quick wit. He makes every environment feel inclusive and comfortable.

It wasn't a complicated decision that brought this event to life.

"The whole reason I'm doing this residency is just that John, the owner of Myspace, said, 'Oh, we have someone curate once a month. And I said, 'Well, I have 28 albums. I'll do an album a day for a month,' and he says, 'Okay,' and I said, 'Okay.' And we did it. That's the whole reason. Just a personal challenge, I guess," he tells Signal and Noise.

Though he has toured extensively for decades, this event is new to him and perhaps a one-off.

"I have never done this before. I don't see myself doing it again. It's pretty wild. But it definitely was at least a once-in-a-lifetime thing. We're only halfway through. So we'll see if I survive it. But yeah, so far so good. Never done anything like this before. Don't really plan on doing it again." Another reason to get to the venue and witness Kepi in action.

Kepi mentioned some standout moments from the residency thus far.

"Well, the first two nights were super special because my high school friend that programmed the drum machine for my first seven inches reprogrammed it so we could do the first three seven inches again. That was exciting. The next day, the original bass player from the first album flew down from Spokane to play with me."

To him, though, it's all special.

"Every single night is great. Every night is a highlight. Remembering a million stories, local Nate from Saint Louis originally came in and played bass on all the Chuck Berry songs. That was a treat and a highlight. There's always some surprise or treat. Every single night, people are bringing stickers and buttons and records and toys and candy, and it's really just a little get-together, and it's a really good reflection on the Phoenix community."

'Kepi and his harmonica rock Phoenix for September.'

He's working his way through his massive catalog, so there's plenty to see for fans and those new to Kepi land.

"We are exactly halfway through. We did 12 Groovie Ghoulies records and two Haints records. So, now we move into solo Kepi and all kinds of albums after that. Yeah. I've done just as much solo work as I have with the Ghoulies and soon to be more. So, that's exciting, and this is exactly at the halfway point right now."

Don't think a month of night after night Phoenix shows can wear out this poppy force of nature. Kepi has no intention of slowing down. He fills us in on where he's heading next.

"After this, I do three solo shows in Colorado. So I go north, do three solo shows in Colorado, and then head back to Sacramento for a two-week West Coast Halloween tour with The Bloodtypes. Fully electric from Portland all the way down to San Diego, then back around to Boise, Spokane, Seattle, and back to Portland. So, a big West Coast Loop for Halloween."

Follow Kepi to find out how to catch him on this current Phoenix stint and what's coming up.