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Performing music with roots in Americana, containing deep intertwining layers of
melody, rhythm and time reminiscent of Eastern Europe, oso is creating rock music that’s
moving beyond the boundaries of genre. Described as ‘technical folk’ and ‘math-rock world
music’, oso makes music that blends the intensity of sweeping compositions with the intimacy
of heart-felt vocals.
With ‘a circus-like sense of theater’, oso’s performances connect with people due to the
sheer energy and emotion of the experience, reaching music lovers of all cultures and ages.
As often as they play loud ‘plugged-in’ shows at music venues, oso performs on the street,
setting up with acoustic instruments whenever, wherever—Phil on a unicycle, Tim at a child-
sized drum set, Nick and Andrew sharing a battery powered amp—always able to deliver
exciting music, flexible to any sonic situation. Employing these guerrilla tactics, oso has made
music in cities across the United States and Europe, even performing— with Phil atop his
unicycle—on a moving bus in South London.
oso began out of the rubble of Chicago post-rock group Volta Do Mar in 2003. The band
has been performing in California since 2004, and throughout the U.S. since 2005. During the
summers of 2007 and 2008, oso had residencies the UK, playing extensively in London,
Glasgow, and Edinburgh, as well as short stints in Berlin and Istanbul. Based in Santa
Barbara, CA, oso has shared the stage locally with such notable national touring acts as
Dengue Fever, Extra Golden, Deerhoof, and Kaki King.
In Spring 2009 returned to the UK for a two-week string of shows, playing the same
streets and clubs from the previous summers in front of a growing UK fan base. The
remainder of 2009 will see oso touring the South and Midwest, while recording a new album
in between several west coast runs.
Using a D.I.Y. approach to touring and recording, oso has self-produced three albums
and continue to evolve how they perform music live and in the studio. oso is Phil Taylor—
guitar, voice, words, art; Tim Beutler—drums, accordion, voice; Andrew Fedders—bass, voice;
Nick Coventry—violin, slide guitar, voice.
press quotes:
“oso is one part math-rock, two parts gypsy jazz, and one part tribal chants, it’s absolutely
impossible to stand still during their set. Every chord and crash and beat and yelp is another
jolt of sonic lightening that pumps adrenalin into the audience.”
--Good Times, Santa Cruz, CA
“A progressive rock unit with Eastern European leanings and a circus like sense of theater,
oso opened the show unplugged, in the middle of the dance floor, with an accordion, acoustic
bass, violin and a guitarist who kept himself upright on a unicycle while playing and belting
out vocals.”
--Josef Woodard, Santa Barbara News Press, Santa Barbara, CA
“The album goes through cycles of energy and ambiance, rock and folk, mathy groove and
regular calming pulse and everywhere in between with all the fluidity of a small creek in the
woods. When the vocals come in they come across with such emotion that it's hard to recall
that you were just listening to a technically awing band.”
--Kuno Esama Album Review, thehyp.net, Summer 2008
“Listening to these talented and creative musicians play their own original compositions, you
can see clearly another world is possible.”
--Istanbul Zaman, Istanbul, Turkey
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