O'death @ Knitting Factory

December 18th, my sister and I travelled into the city to see O'death at the Knitting Factory. Let me say, that you're a fool if you ever have the opportunity to go see this band live and don't take it.



Seeing O'death is more experience than concert. Their ever growing base of rabid fans know all the words and aren't afraid to shout and sing and stomp to the music. Standing amidst a forest of raised arms, with fists pounding out the beat, it's hard not to get swept away by the excitement.



The fans know the band members and aren't afraid to yell barbs or request their favourite songs- making it a very interactive show. O Death's sound is self-described as 'Blackgrass', a term I find pretty accurate. It's a mixture of bluegrass and dirty rock; an homage and rebirth of down-home country- a trend that seems to slowly, but surely, be growing in NYC.



The band collectively write all the music and lyrics together, a method that seems to work well for them, as hard as that is to believe- but maybe that's because I need complete silence and solitude to write anything.

Band members include Greg Jamie on vocal and guitar, Gabe Darling on backing vocals, ukulele, guitar, banjo and piano, David Rogers on drums (looking mighty fine with shirt off and dreds flying by the way), and Jesse Newman on bass. You can check out their MySpace, linked above, for four of their tracks. Make sure to hit up 'Adelita.' O'death begins their tour January 12th in Philly and heads south from there. Beginning on February 7th, all you lucky New Yorkers will get a weekly dose of them at Pete's Candy Store in Williamsburg where they'll be taking up a residency. Be there or be square.