Private Eye Rock

“I’ve worked on some heinous cases involving polygamists, murder, various detached body parts, the Mexican mafia, and Los Palillos, a kidnapping and extortion ring” says Psychosally frontman Trevor Sesma, who works as a private investigator for a firm owned by his father, a retired SDPD narcotics sergeant. “Yeah, I’ve seen some stuff. Over the years, I guess I’ve kind of gotten callous to it, very detached from it. The cases involving children, though, those are always the worst...

“I conduct surveillance for many purposes, like cheating spouses and thieving employees. I also conduct background and asset searches and do counter surveillance detection, using audio and video bugs. I’ve worked on many homicide cases, gang cases, and gang-related double-homicide cases.”

Sesma’s P.I. work often involves defense investigation. “Basically, I’m trying to prove a defendant’s innocence, if possible, in a current court case. Or, if they’re guilty, I do my best to minimize or mitigate their charges or sentencing, either by showing that the defendant is not so bad or that the alleged victim or witnesses are not angels or, in some cases, credible witnesses.” Among his high-profile assignments was working on the defense team for the man accused of murdering Pearl Seau, cousin of former San Diego Charger Junior Seau.

“Many of my songs are related in some way to my career and sometimes to specific cases I’ve worked. I guess the obvious songs would be ‘Snitches,’ ‘2nd Son of the Devil,’ and ‘Demented Angels.’ Sometimes, it’s the lyrics that are relative [to my job], and sometimes it’s the music.”

Though the East County band formed in the late ’90s, almost ten years passed before Psychosally’s debut album was released in December 2010. “The original drummer moved to San Francisco to attend culinary school. The original bassist became addicted to meth and moved to a local freeway underpass.”

With 35-year-old Sesma, the sole remaining founder, he has his 16-year-old son Guxx play bass for live performances. “He likes a lot heavier stuff than I do.... He and I have seen Crüe three times, Ozzy, Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, Avenged Sevenfold, System of a Down, Jane’s Addiction, Nine Inch Nails... We get along great and have so much in common, not just listening to music, but creating it and rehearsing it.”

A sophomore full-length, Liars, Snitches & Little Whores, is set for release February 14, 2012.