Back in 2003, a CD by a band from New Jersey called Stereosoul arrived in my mailbox. I was hooked by the first song. They were a power-pop rock band with very catchy lyrics that seemed something like a mashup of Fountains of Wayne and The Beach Boys. That album was the final evolution of a previous band named Cosmic Avenger. Unfortunately, it wound up being the band's only record.
Around the time the album was being released, I interviewed Gene Pompilio (the band's drummer and lead singer) for a feature article in Upstage Magazine. We would stay in touch long after the band disbanded. In fact, Gene drew a cartoon with an original song in the early days of New Jersey Stage as a monthly digital magazine.
Gene's got something new going - the "Cheesy 60 Second Song" series, which has been getting a nice following on his TikTok page where folks can see him playing drums and singing the song of the day. In this world of short videos and social media reels, he's carving out a little niche for himself. I reached out to him to learn more.
Tell me about the series. When did you start the series and what was the inspiration behind it?
Cheesy 60 Second Songs officially began on 11/28/25, but the real story begins right before COVID-19. I had just gotten sober and divorced, transplanted myself into your average midlife crisis bald guy-type apartment, adopted some cats, and sworn off binge-watching The Walking Dead forever when the pandemic shut everything down. As a singing drummer, that meant I had to start playing and singing sans any accompaniment, and so I did. It was pretty weird at first, but I really grew to love the freedom of playing solo in a way I never ever knew before or since. I decided to commit to playing a set of my own songs every day and then kept on keeping on once the world outside my window returned to relative normalcy. I hit upon the idea of recording one song and posting it on the TikTok because I wanted to see if anybody besides would enjoy watching some dude yelling daft a cappella idioms over an electronic drum kit.
Where can people find these songs?
All of you fine folks can find these tunes on my TikTok page, but I also try to share to Facebook and Insta as well. Oh, and Soundcloud. Also I put HD mp3s of each song up everyday on Bandcamp for free. You fine folks can tip me anything you like of course. I accept Diner’s Club Cards. The big boy streaming platforms like Apple won’t generally carry them because they say they’re only snippets and not real songs, but what do they know about rock n roll anyway. Not much, I say! Harrumph.
Are these songs you've written in the past and just having fun with them? New songs?
The first 100 or so songs on my Tik Tok account were golden oldies – Cosmic Avenger and Stereosoul tracks and odds and ends and stuff – but then once that dried up, I said to myself, I says, “you’re a pretty prolific songwriter, in a really bad kind of way. Why not try and collect trite titles all week long, write a bunch of melodies on the weekend, and totally drive yourself insane writing lyrics to a new ditty every night? Doesn’t that sound normal?”
What do you hope listeners get from the series?
I hope the listener gets to go wherever the tunes may take them.
I notice on places like Bandcamp and Soundcloud you include a new cartoon with each song. These are all drawn by you, right?
Yes! And thank you for noticing! I am modestly adequate – modequate? - at all sorts of things that don’t make me any money.
Have you ever put together a comic book?
No, but I did want to be a comic book artist growing up! How did you know?!? Veterans of the psychic wars, unite, and stuff.
I'm pretty sure you mentioned teaching art once before, do you still teach art?
I do indeed teach wellness through art, music, poems/limericks, talk therapy, and journalling. I’m also studying to be a psychotherapist, which I may complete before dying.
Any plans to put together a new album in the future?
I would love to release a solo album but as a semi-professional ruminator, I can’t decide if I should work up guitar and bass parts to all the songs, or just go for vox and drums only gusto. That’d be one spicy meatball, Gary. One spicy meatball, indeed.
Finally, ever get together and jam with the guys from Stereosoul? Any thought of future shows or recordings with the band?
Gary, you have always been such a big booster and such staunch supporter of my old band, Stereosoul. You featuring us in Upstage, and in your book, and in “best of the decade” list was like THE most thing to ever happen to us. I don’t play with the lads too often these days, mostly because of my social anxiety issues and the fact that my brother is a weenie, but for you, old pal, I will get the band back together for a fantastical one-night only carnival of fun replete with jugglers, court jesters, and cotton candy machines.
And a new album. You absolutely deserve it.
Just say the word. Kinda like George does in “It’s a Wonderful Life” – and if that means I’m Mary, then so be it.
I will be your Donna Reed, Gary.
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