It’s not often that a fan gets to see a band’s entire evolutionary path in just a few shows, but that’s what fans of Charleston’s SUSTO band are going to get, starting on Nov. 18 at Royal American.
SUSTO singer, songwriter and guitarist Justin Osborne has been at the helm of SUSTO for 12 years and 7 albums. He’s going to be playing them all during a residency that occurs once a month over four months at the Royal American.
The Nov. 18 show will focus on SUSTO’s self-titled debut and its follow up “& I’m Fine Today.” On Dec. 17, the band will perform its third album, “Ever Since I Lost My Mind,” and a set of Christmas classics. The Jan. 14 show will include the band’s fourth and fifth albums, “Time In The Sun” and “My Entire Life.”
The final show on Feb. 18 revisits the two “SUSTO Stringband” albums, which recast the band’s catalog in acoustic, Appalachian-folk style versions.
All of this means fans of the band can hear the mix of psychedelic folk and gothic, mysterious alt-rock of the first album and the massive epics and quiet ballads of the second in one night.
The next two shows will document the band move onto the national stage after it signed with the New West label, producing more straightforward, country-tinged Americana on “Ever Since I Lost My Mind,” the surprisingly pop-friendly “Time In The Sun” and the folkier, more intimate “My Entire Life.” Then it’s time for an acoustic farewell to the series with both of the stripped-down “SUSTO Stringband” albums.
Each show will feature special guests, including Brock Butler of the popular jam band Perpetual Groove, former SUSTO member Johnny Delaware, the Holler Choir and singer/songwriter Andrew Scotchie, among others.
Osborne, 39, spends most of his time in Austin, Texas, now, but he still gets home to Charleston each year to visit family. This time, he decided to take a working vacation with the Royal American residency.
“I have a longstanding relationship with Royal American,” Osborne said in a recent interview with the Charleston City Paper. “I basically started SUSTO there. I was actually working in the kitchen there when the first SUSTO album came out. John Kenney (co-owner of Royal American) played the album nonstop over the PA for a while, and before I knew it, our band had a following in Charleston and beyond.”
Osborne has been back to the Royal American plenty of times since that first SUSTO album came out in 2014, playing solo shows, surprise concerts and after-parties. But this is the first time he’s had the chance to show every side of the band on one stage. It was inspired by his new home.
“Residencies are very popular in Austin,” he said. “Some people have been doing it for years. And that inspired me to try to do something like that back in Charleston, because I’m usually traveling back there a couple of times a month to see my family and keep my two worlds connected. And the Royal American seemed like the best place to start something like this. It helps me stay connected to my home audience.”
Osborne added that it’s also a chance to fully dive into the band’s full catalog, one that’s taken more than a decade to build.
“Now that we have a catalog that stretches as far as ours currently does, it’s hard to cover that ground in one show. That’s why we scheduled these four shows at a place that’s so much a part of the SUSTO lore.”
A series of shows is also helpful for a band that, with the exception of Osborne, has always had a fluid lineup, intentionally or otherwise.
“Along the way, all these different folks have come in and out of the touring band,” he said. “It’s like a rotating cast. On Nov. 18, for example, we’ve got Johnny Delaware, who is a founding member and an incredible singer/songwriter in his own right. Then in February, when we’re doing the Stringband shows, (Appalachian Americana and bluegrass band) Holler Choir will be the backing band just like on the records. So it’s going to be fun.”
While Osborne was quick to mention that there’s new SUSTO material on the way, he said he was happy to have this time to reflect on what his band has accomplished so far.
“Over the course of this residency, I will turn 40,” he said. “So I’ve been doing this for a while now and I’m proud of the catalog. I’m proud that there are people who want to see it performed live. I’m grateful for the opportunity and for a life that feels fulfilling.”
IF YOU WANT TO GO: Doors open at 8 p.m. Nov. 18, Dec. 17, Jan. 14, Feb. 18, Royal American, 970 Morrison Dr., Charleston. Tickets for each show cost $20. theroyalamerican.com
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