Hoboken Breeds Yet Another Fascinating Band, Psych-O-Positive
Before Hoboken singer-songwriter Karyn Kuhl formed her own band, she was in Gut Bank, Sexpod and Psych-O-Positive (as its drummer). P-O-P got off to a shock-value start with its ferocious “Blood…” debut in 2017 (see below). Eight years and a few personnel changes later, they were cited by longtime Jersey critic Jim Testa as the best psychedelic band of 2025.
Lead Singer-Guitarist Debby Schwartz put P-O-P together after singing in The Aquanettas and playing bass in the PG Six Band. Guitarist Andy Gilchrist of AndyPanda joined from New York after forming 40 Dog and The Sprinkle Genies. Another New Yorker, Judy Ann Nock, brought her electric sitar with her after authoring the Modern Witchcraft book series. Guitarist-Manager-Scenester Louie Zhelesnik was in Seven Goat Day and The Postman Opera. Drummer Chuck Tumulty’s resume is infested with jazz, funk and fuzzed-out stoner rock. Ten singles later, Psych-O-Positive has been compared to everyone from Frank Zappa to The Cramps.