Osees
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About Osees
Psych-punk psychic warrior, ear worm-farmer, and possessor of many stamped passport pages John Dwyer does not let up. His group Oh Sees (aka Thee Oh Sees, OCS, The Oh Sees, etc) have transmogrified to fit many a moment – from hushed druggy folk to groovy demonic pop chants to science fictional krautrock expanse and beyond – to suit his omnivorous whims. It’s common knowledge however, that at their shows, you’re there asking for a beating. 20 years going and the shows keep getting more and more intense, as many a soupy swarm can attest. The locked-in Rincon/Quattrone drum cops propel masses of strangers to froth and lean into each other as the insistent and repetitive underpinning tumbles nimbly from Tim Hellman’s bass. Meanwhile John ricochets breathy yips and snippets of synth and all manner of guitar heroics around your brain canyons while your reptile instincts yell “move”. Brain-stem body rock meets cerebral expanses, and their now du jour prolifically feeds a labyrinthine garden of well-hewn tunes.
Last year’s Orc was a muscular and darkly inventive turn for the group, stretching out further into space while simultaneously sharpening their heaviest inclinations to a rusty point. After a re-visitation of the softer side of the genesis of the group with “Memory of a Cut Off Head”, all signs point to another banger on the horizon as the group decamps this March back to the dusty pecan farm where Orc was spawned for another go-round.
Osees
Osees is a rock band led by guitarist and vocalist John Dwyer. Formerly known as OCS, Thee Oh Sees, and Oh Sees, the band blends psychedelic pop, garage rock, punk, proto-metal, and prog. Dwyer’s guitar playing and shouted vocals are the focus of the group’s sound.1
As Osees, the band’s catalog includes Protean Threat, Metamorphosed, and A Foul Form.1
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Osees’ Background
Osees began as OCS, a home-recording project started by Rhode Island native John Dwyer after he moved to California in the late 1990s. Dwyer became part of San Francisco’s independent music scene through bands including Coachwhips and Pink & Brown before turning OCS into a full band. The group later performed as Oh Sees and Thee Oh Sees before adopting the name Osees.1
In 2020, as Osees, the band introduced its new name with Protean Threat, a faster, punk-focused album that condensed its prog and jazz influences. The current lineup includes John Dwyer, Tomas Dolas, Tim Hellman, Dan Rincon, and Paul Quattrone, continuing the band's prolific run of studio releases under the Osees name.1
Osees’ Awards
Osees have built recognition across a long-running body of work that has moved through several band names. Their work has been acknowledged for both its visual presentation and the band’s unique approach to rock music.
- Webby Awards Honoree - Online Film & Video: Music (2014): Thee Oh Sees’ video for Toe Cutter - Thumb Buster was selected as an honoree for the Webby Awards in the music video category.2
Osees’ Biggest Hits
The band’s biggest hits reflect the group’s raw guitar sound, forceful rhythms, and experimental approach. Some of their best-known hits include:
- Toe Cutter - Thumb Buster (2013): Toe Cutter - Thumb Buster was released by Thee Oh Sees on Floating Coffin and was selected as a Webby Awards Honoree.2
- The Dream (2011): The Dream is from Thee Oh Sees’ Carrion Crawler / The Dream and is one of the group’s best-known psychedelic rock songs. It is a nearly seven-minute track.5
- Carrion Crawler (2011): Carrion Crawler, the title track from Carrion Crawler / The Dream, pairs garage-punk energy with the band's heavier sound.5
See Osees Live
Osees’ live shows focus on John Dwyer’s guitar playing, shouted vocals, and the band’s aggressive performance style. Their shows draw from a sound that moves between garage rock, punk, psychedelic rock, proto-metal, and prog.1
Get Osees tickets on AXS and experience their music live.