Another Round with the OSEES at Neumos
The Osees have taken Neumos once again for their annual two-night residency. This time to support their 28th album release SORCS 80. The band belongs to the independently owned Castle Face Records, who facilitated a home for industry giants like King Gizzard and The Wizard Lizard, and TY Segall early in their careers. Names who now, manage themselves through their own labels. The ever-evolving moniker shifts through various name changes but keeps dedicated to their uncontainable velocity. Garage rock mogul John Dwyer centers the group and remains its oldest member. As of 2018 the Osees have opted to keep their roster rather consistent with the addition of another drummer Dan Ricon.
Looking around you’ll see the markers of which they’re known for: blown out amplifiers, sweat, high energy, a full house and an expansive selection of eye-catching merch. Center stage they tear through their setlist with an energy best described as cyclonic. The double drummers are mesmerizing with their synchronized movements, like they’re one person with eight limbs. The more refined the drummers get overtime, the more leash Dwyer is allowed to tilt further off kilter.
In a creative fashion, there is always unpredictability to what technology is used during the set. The frame remaining frame of amplifier shockingly works and is used during the set. Dwyer often takes breaks from guitar to turns nobs on an Organelle synth or play around with a pocket piano. Something that is predictable? Dwyer’s guitar in his mouth, mic in his mouth, jumping, a barefoot bassist, Dwyer becoming a part of the crowd himself and attendees with their feet in the air. The crowd is more reserved than usual but still very jittery from above. Bouncing around off each other in controlled fashion instead of as much reckless flailing.
The Osees are prone to change and SORCS 80 follows suit in a heavily experimental manner. They’ve crafted an engaging setlist the weaved in classics from across their projects, deep cuts as well as a couple new songs from the new record. The more conventionally arranged songs pad around SORCS 80 songs like “Drug City” or “Earthling“. At times it became too experimental for my personal taste. Jam sessions occasionally became directionless and jarring. The freeform direction of their current fixation feels somewhat like we’ve crashed an experimental sci fi jazz session. After bouts of confusion, they bring us back around with grooves we know and love to cut through the chaos. Osees is a lesson in courageously engaging with creativity and the only rule being that there are none. I will always come back for more.
Notable tracks: Zipper, Drug city, Social Butt, Contraption/Soul Desert
Photos: Sophia Barkalakis
