O'Death
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Borrowing their band name from a traditional American folk song that comes out of Western North Carolina, O’Death draws on traditional folk, bluegrass, punk, gypsy music, metal, swing and jazz stylings.
Originally formed in 2003 while the members attended SUNY Purchase, the band— with Jamie on guitar and vocals, Gabe Darling on banjo, David Rogers-Berry on drums, Jesse Newman on bass, and Bob Pycior on fiddle—played a series of shows at the now defunct Apocalypse Lounge in NYC, and quickly began building a fanbase with their reverently twisted take on Americana filtered through a wealth of musical influences as divergent as Bill Monroe, Prince, Neil Young, The Microphones, and The Misfits. For these shows, O’Death put together a very raw, 10-track CD-R, entitled Carl Nemelka Family Photographs, to sell to concert-goers.
As O’Death worked on new material for their second, self-released LP, Head Home, the five-piece perfected their mesmerizing and riotous stage presence and took to turning their share of heads across the country, playing over 100 shows in 2006, and gracing the stage alongside acts including Battles, Dr. Dog, Art Brut, Langhorne Slim, The Big Sleep, and Old Time Relijun.
The band’s nonstop touring caught the attention of the New York-based Ernest Jenning Record Co., who re-released Head Home in June of 2007. Later that Summer, UK-based label City Slang released Head Home in Europe.
O’Death continued to tour the US and Europe throughout 2007, putting out a limited edition (500 copies) vinyl version of Head Home on Ernest Jenning Record Co./City Slang, followed by a 7” single of two new songs, "Low Tide" and "I Think I'm Fine," as well as a cover of The Pixies’ “Nimrod’s Son” as an internet bonus track. Head Home was nominated for a 2007 Shortlist Prize.
On February 5, 2008, Gigantic Music released a new 7”, which features songs “Spider Home” and “Silk Hole”.
Band Members
- Bob Pycior (fiddle)
- Gabe Darling (banjo)
- Greg Jamie (vocals, guitar)
- David Rogers-Berry (drums)
- Jesse Newman (bass)
- Dan Sager
Facts
Origin: New York, NY Genre(s): Americana, Bluegrass, Punk, Gypsy music , Alt-Rock Years Active: 2003 - present Label(s): Ernest Jenning Record Co. (US) , City Slang (Europe), Gigantic Music (US)
Discography
Albums
- Carl Nemelka Family Photographs (Self-released, 2004)
- Head Home (Self-Released, 2006)
- Head Home (Ernest Jenning Record Co., US, 2007)
- Head Home (City Slang, Europe, 2007)
- Head Home, limited edition vinyl (City Slang/Ernest Jenning Record Co., 2007)
EPs and singles
- “Low Tide”/”I Think I’m Fine”/“Nimrod’s Son” 7” (Ernest Jenning Record Co., 2007)
- “Spider Home”/ “Silk Hole” 7” (Gigantic Music, 2008)
Videography
- “Down To Rest”” (2007)