Tyrannian Concert Hall Bands: An Origin Story

     I decided to sit down with leading man Chomby, May Charles in this never before heard interview, you will hear exclusive content about the band. I sat down with May, curiously at the front entrance to the Lair of the Beast, a place of his choosing.

     So the lair of the beast, May? Can I be so bold as to ask about the choice in the interview location? I have to say this is a first!

     “Ah, thanks for meeting here. I chose this location for a few reasons. First, it’s isolated from a lot of the usual fans for a quiet interview, but second, and probably most importantly, my petpets, the famous fungus balls, need a good quiet place to practice their harmonies and the acoustics are unlike anywhere else in the caves! Plus, it’s a great location for the fungus to grow,” May informed smoothly.

     So, Chomby and the Fungus Balls, or CATFB as a lot of your fans have started calling you… how did your band begin? How did you know this is what you wanted to do growing up?

     “In the early days, and I mean really early days, like prehistoric times, my great great great (and on and on) grand Chomby loved to take casual walks around what we would now call the Lair of the Beast. He just had so much soul inside him, he could not even bear to keep it inside, and it would come out in a burst of song. He soon discovered the acoustics of the Cave painting caves, and the lair of the beast, and other really fine places to sing around Tyrannia. It became a sort of hobby- finding the next great location to sing at. This is all well documented on tablets in our family archive, mind you. One day when passing the caves he heard a strange, awful sound and being the helpful guy he was, walked into the caves hoping to help. He discovered four spherical objects, attempting to imitate the song he sang in the cave just the day before. My ancestor worked with the fungi day after day, and strangely enough, the fungi would grow and evolve the more he sang and taught. One day, they were fully formed and started belting beautiful harmonies to my grand Chomby’s melodies. A friendship was formed.”

     Wow, what an amazing story. So, he befriended the fungus years ago?!

     “Yes, years and years and years ago. Tyrannian didn't have a whole lot else to do once they discovered fire and made a stamp about their discovery, and relished the few days of the month they got to go enjoy the musical stylings of my ancestor and the fungus balls,” May described fondly.

     So, really it’s in your blood. Did the fungus always sing with your family? When did you meet them?

     “I mean, there are spurts throughout the generations. I mean, my Great Grand Chomby had a wicked mould allergy and really no singing voice at all, so he was more of a stone worker, but he always encouraged his family to pursue part of our family’s legacy. Actually, he built the first pillars of the Tyrannian Concert Hall, so he definitely did impressive things and built a legacy. When the Chomby’s in my family turned 10 each would go sing with the Chombies. Sometimes there was an instant connection, sometimes it was more of a lifetime acquaintance, but either way, we were always sort of bonded. So, I’d always watched my father sort of sing campfire-type songs, but nothing super serious, but when I turned 10 something amazing happened. When I met the fungus, the cave spontaneously erupted in multiple musical stylings with disco lights flashing all around! It was the most bizarre experience I’ve ever had. It was one of those whole-body dancing soul-type tunes, with a few blues riffs you just feel deep in your soul, you know? Anyway, it didn’t take long for us to start recording,” May remembered.

     So, that was how you met the fungus balls and your family legacy, but how did it go from cave crooning, to Headlining at the Tyrannian Concert Hall?

     “So, we’ve known Scalpo and his family for a really long time with my great Grand Chomby who helped carve the Tyrannian Concert Hall pillars that are still around today. Skalpo was kind enough to give me a few chances to tour with others gracing the stage of the Tyrannian Concert Hall, as first acts. We eventually gained in popularity as a home act, and were getting encore after encore and Skalpo eventually signed us to some shows. It’s really been a fun tradition to perform the Christmas show and go home and have some family traditions afterwards. We aren’t too far from home, even at the Concert Hall!

     I have to say I am a really big fan of some of your greatest hits- “Hit the Road Drackonack” and “Tyrannia on My Mind” are absolutely forever top of the charts for me. I still play them on repeat all the time!

     “Well, thank you. Those are some mighty kind words you have to say. I have had a lot of success, but really it’s nice to be close to my NeoHome and enjoy it with my family. There is nothing like an honest day's work and going home to your family and your fungus balls all sharing space and life together.”

     Do you ever miss the old Flash Game based on your band? I imagine that was so fun to play and see your band turned into a real life Flash game!

     “I mean these things come and go like most things. We had a fun time promoting, but it’s always nice to take one more thing off your plate after a long day!”

     Okay, so do the Fungus Balls have names?

     “Of course they do! This is Mold, Mushroom, Mildew and that one over there is Mycelium.”

     Can I ask the Fungus Balls a few questions? What is it about the Chomby Family that really makes them special? Why choose them to sing with? Also, I love your hair! I’ve been asked by diehard fans what styling product do you use?

     “I mean, you can ask, but they don’t typically like to talk much, they mainly just love to sing. If you go ask the grooming parlor I’m sure that clever Usuki can fix you right up with the perfect styling gel for your hair,” May said chucking.

     “.....” the Fungus Balls said, while they sat seemingly absent.

     The fungus balls don’t seem super bent on answering interview questions tonight. No worries! Okay, last question now, Would you be willing to perform a few songs for me?

     It was so incredibly fun to be able to listen to the soul music of Chomby and the Fungus Balls. They have such a diverse repertoire that I never got bored with the same type of songs over and over. They truly kept me guessing from sassy songs about people wronging them, to slow crooning ballads, I can’t imagine a more diverse group.

     You can catch Chomby and the Fungus Balls, the remarkable artist from this weeks story at the Tyrannian Concert Hall on the 8th, 15th, 22nd, sometimes the 23rd, and 29th each month with their headlining tour- Fungus is Enough for Me to Move my Feet. Catch them in a special Christmas performance closer to the holidays. As always, feel free to bring this article to Skalpo the ticketmaster at the Concert Hall Ticket Booth for 10% off concert admission and one free souvenir for a great show! Thank you again May Charles the Chomby and the Fungus Balls for your musical stylings and history behind the band. I enjoyed interviewing you at the Lair and I hope you have a great time practising for your upcoming shows.

     If you do happen to catch them in their shows, keep in mind you will be able to randomly take home some of these amazing collectables! They have Chomby and the Fungus Balls card, Chomby and the Fungus Balls Cap, Chomby and the Fungus Balls CD, Chomby and the Fungus Balls Jacket, Chomby and the Fungus Balls Poster, Chomby and the Fungus Balls T-Shirt, and On Tour with Chomby and the Fungus Balls. You may even stumble upon a secret avatar if you catch them on the right days!

     Join me next week when we dive headfirst into the musical stylings of a bizarre percussion-based group that’s not feeling blue, but sure have an interesting way of showing it!