Interview with vinyl lollipops

Mindshaft

August 2026

Interviewed by:

Laura Williams

Vinyl Lollipops

Photography courtesy of: 

Shortdog Entertainment 

Mindshaft:

Joel Smith - Guitar/Vocals

Charles Green - Drums

Phil Lindley - Bass

Laura: 

Thank you for your time. Please give us the backstory about how and when your band was established.

Joel:

It all began when Charles joined Happy Lemmy as the fourth drummer in the band's 13-year tenure. After about a year with Charles playing in Happy Lemmy, I quit playing for a year or so to care for a terminally ill parent. A few months after Dad found his peace, Charles invited me to come over to the studio and play with his long-time friend and bassist Phil. We began writing songs the first time playing together, and everything just felt right. This first practice was in August 2025. Happy Lemmy never reunited.

Laura: 

How would you describe your music-making process?

Phil: 

We all bring rifts or ideas for a part to our rehearsal place, everyone agrees on an arrangement, and Joel comes up with some crazy lyrics. Recording is done at Charles' Green Room Studio and engineer/producer Josh Moher mixes the tracks.

Joel:

I must add that this is the first band I have been a part of that writes songs in a collective effort. All previous groups had relied on solo effort only. Without this collaboration, Mindshaft would not have such an original style.

Laura: 

Do you have a favorite song you like to perform the most? If so, can you please explain why?

Charles:

I think we all agree the title track to our first EP, "Fire or Light", is the one at this point. This is based on audience reaction to the musical dynamics and heavy lyrical theme. The song is about different sensations people have approaching death.

Laura: 

Can you please spill some behind-the-scenes details about how you prepare for shows?

Phil:

Make the set list or multiple set lists, crack jokes, pick on each other, and don't forget to hurry up and wait.

Laura: 

Why call the band “Mindshaft?”

Joel:

Simple, I was watching a not so good movie about a werewolf living in an abandoned mine shaft and the idea hit me. Perhaps not the most original name, but what is anymore?

Laura: 

What genre of music do you consider Mindshaft to be?

Charles:

That varies from song to song. Some are grassroots metal, some are punk, some are heavy rock, some are a combination of each

Laura: 

What should fans expect to experience at a show?

Phil:

Nonstop high energy.

Laura: 

Typical question here. Who has influenced you the most via music?

Joel:

Listing bands of influence is quite lengthy. Early Iron Maiden, The Melvins, Sex Pistols, Black Flag, Primus, Kansas, Rush, Kiss, Helmet, Queens Of The Stone Age, Ghost, and on and on...

Laura: 

How can fans and future fans locate, listen to and buy your music?

Charles:

www.mindshaftbhm.comis our website. Music is available on all streaming services.

Laura: 

Is there anything else you would like your fans to know?

Phil:

We are truly thankful to everyone still interested in experiencing live original music in showcase venues and not the 3mm speaker on a phone.

Laura: 

What’s coming up next for Mindshaft?

Charles:

We’ve got some shows in Mississippi and Louisiana coming up in September and in December, we are headed to Tennessee, with shows in Nashville and Cookeville.

Phil: 

We also have our EP CD release in Birmingham at The Nick on Sept. 19.

Joel: 

Recording every song in the catalog, increasing the catalog, connecting with more and more friends and supporters at our shows. We love all of you.

Laura Williams

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