The enigmatic band that is oso (always spelled in lower case) once played at an art show I helped organize and participated in. These versatile craftsmen squeezed themselves into a corner and took us by storm. Stand up bass, violin, drum kit backbone, and front man/lead guitarist/lead vocalist cranking back and forth on a unicycle while singing and playing. These guys were incredible! And no, not just because of the unicycle: you could close your eyes and still experience the quality of this tightly knit outfit. Furthermore, the unicyclist front man does not even come off as a gimmick, because it’s just bad ass and looks incredibly difficult. Though, as a fan of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, I do appreciate and enjoy the employ of theatrics in good, interesting live music.
The music that oso shares with us is difficult to describe. They’ve been described as “technical folk” and “math-rock world music.” It has an organic air about it, and there’s the undeniable folk and americana elements; but these guys also rock it hard (I love me some jamming fiddle). Their lyrics are intelligent and poetic with a resolute feel to them. Their vocals are emotive, clean but not soft, and effectual even when actual words are not being sung, but mere yells or chants. Always, i hear deep thought and torrential cranial storms permeating through their music; and yet, not so serious that their sense of having a good time is dampened, as they make transparently clear when you happen to find them jamming (and unicycling) on a public transit bus. I mean, who does that? Obviously not someone who doesn’t like a good time. Whether you catch them at a music festival on a big stage, or performing a free show on a street corner or moving bus, oso is worth raising your eyebrow and opening your ears. -Dirty Jeff
photo by: Felix Friedmann
