Charlie—also known as Charlito the Divine Groovesmen Conqueror of Sound—is the rhythmic backbone of the band, a drummer whose style blends raw instinct, irreverent humor, and a deep love of groove. His path into music began less with a grand artistic awakening and more with a practical discovery: singing “Sir Psycho Sexy” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers had a remarkable ability to impress his first girlfriend. From that moment on, Charlie figured music was probably the right move.

Before settling behind the drum kit, Charlie briefly flirted with other passions—most notably mayonnaise, which he claims was the first “instrument” he ever fell in love with. Ultimately, though, drumming won out when he realized singing might not be his strongest asset. If he hadn’t ended up playing drums, he imagines he’d probably be a geologist—though he’s still unclear what instruments geologists play.

Charlie joined the band after persistent recruiting from Liam, who, according to Charlie, repeatedly pleaded for the Divine Groovesmen to “lay down his secular chops” on the band’s jams. Once in the fold, Charlie quickly became central to the band’s creative chemistry. When new songs begin to form, he often locks into loose jams with Lee, Alex pushes things into delightfully strange territory, and Liam attempts to restructure the chaos into something abstract—usually prompting Charlie to suggest they scrap the whole idea and play rock covers instead.

His drumming style is driven more by feel than technical correctness. In fact, Charlie proudly lists “playing in the correct time signature” as a musical rule he enjoys breaking. He learned everything right-handed, though he’s recently started to suspect he might actually be left-handed, which may explain some of his unconventional approach to rhythm. The result is a sound that’s loose, unpredictable, and always groove-first.

Inspiration for Charlie comes from mysterious and occasionally questionable places—including, reportedly, an incident at a zoo he prefers not to discuss. When the music really clicks, he describes the feeling as the “music gods personally hand-picking him to deliver the beats of celestial justice.”

Offstage, Charlie claims to spend his time taking long walks on the beach, reading poetry, and drinking fine wine—though his bandmates might tell a slightly different story. Beyond drumming, he considers his greatest contribution to the group to be his ability to talk to people… and, when necessary, mercilessly ridicule anyone who disagrees with him.

At the moment, Charlie sums up the band in a single word: “Chilly.” And if you listen closely, somewhere beneath the swagger, jokes, and chaotic energy, you’ll hear exactly why the band’s groove wouldn’t be the same without him. 🥁