Oso

Members: Phil Taylor (guitar, vocals); Tim
Beutler (drums, computers, vocals); Andrew Fedders (bass, vocals);
Nick Coventry (violin, vocals).

Albums: lonesome tunnel hum these strong
arm drones (December 2006); 48507 (Phil’s earlier folk
collection, October 2005).

Prior Gigs: SOhO, Reds, Velvet Jones, and the
Midland High School (Midland, Texas) chapel.

Style: “Technical autism folk,” which is
everything from Romanian brass bands to Keith Jarrett, digital
bluegrass folk to modern classical.

Influences: Gypsy for Nick, electronica for
Tim, wounded hawk flight patterns for Andrew, and Fela Kuti for
Phil, who describes the West African as “the James Brown of his
music.”

The Skinny: Phil met Tim shortly after moving
to Santa Barbara from Michigan, and they started collaborating.
Phil soon met Andrew while working at a mental health facility
(both as employees). When Nick saw the group, he immediately wanted
to join.

So why oso, Spanish for “bear”? Well, Phil kept a bear costume
that he once used for guerilla theater, which would cause an
incredible amount of mayhem around him. Thus, the name embodies the
lively natural flow of the band. See more at myspace.com/thebandoso.

Next Gig: Saturday, March 3 at the Creekside
and Friday, March 9 at Muddy Waters.  

— Sheyla Molho