Osees served up electric mayhem at Alex’s Bar to help celebrate the venue’s 25th anniversary!
Celebrating 25 years melting faces, Alex’s Bar has thrown a degree’s worth of masterclasses this year with their 25th Anniversary Show Series, and the loving craftsmanship on display this particular evening was a detonation, a full-throttle eruption, a fitting testament to a quarter-century of grit and glorious noise. DJ Nick at Nite laid the groundwork playing more than a set, rather initiating the curated experience with a bluesy, slow-smoldering tinder of tunes priming the crowd for the primal heat to come.
With a packed house already in place, LA’s Diode took to the corner stage crammed with gear, leaving minimal space for vocalist Kiana to work in. Thankfully all of the cords and cables remained securely fastened throughout the frenetic fast-paced set as she pogo’d in place all over ’em.ย Blasting through nearly a dozen songs in under 30 minutes, Diode smashed the enthusiastic crowd repeatedly with 1 to 2 minute bursts of noise reminiscent of what a younger, punker Devo might have made if they’d discovered bass synths.ย Finishing the finale out in the crowd, the singer escaped into the night as the bandmates struck their gear to make way for the main event as Nick At Nite laid into a tighter, faster set of tunes to keep energy levels elevated as the crowd salivated at the thought of the mayhem to come.
And then, The Osees (just as soon as John Dwyer could get to the stage)! The hush happened as the band began to get set up, the nervous giggles erupted when John apologized to all for being late, and the enrapture began.ย To call it a “show” feels like a gross understatement: everyone there had already been to an Osees show or a few at some previous point, but now the coming communion of sound and energy already had the crowd breathless. John Dwyer and his cohorts weren’t just playing a concert; they were there to conduct sonic rituals, and the legions of the faithful were there to receive the sacrament.
The precision of the two drummers, Paul Quattrone and Dan Rincon, a rhythmic force of nature, was, as always, mind-blowing. It’s not just drumming; it’s a loud conversation, a complex interplay of rhythm and power that elevates the music to another level. Bassist Tim Hellman brought a unique blend of technical skill and raw energy to the Osees’ ever-evolving sound. And then there’s Tomas Dolas from Mr. Elevator, a constant source of pure, unadulterated joy to watch. His presence is a reminder that music, at its core, should be fun, even when it’s delivered with the intensity of a sonic assault.
The Osees, they don’t just play music; they weaponize it. Their sound is a primal scream, a release of pent-up energy that resonates with anyone who’s ever felt the need to break free from the mundane. This wasn’t just a band playing a set; it was a collective catharsis, a shared experience that left everyone in the room buzzing with a frenetic energy that lingered long after the last song. It was raw, it was real, it was everything you want from a garage rock show, amplified to the nth degree. Alex’s Bar’s 25th anniversary wasn’t just celebrated; it was consecrated with the holy fire of The Osees. If you were there, you understand. If you weren’t, well, you missed something truly special.
