Owl (band)

Owl is a three piece Los Angeles-based hard rock band. Led by vocalist/bassist Chris Wyse, the long-time bassist for the Cult and a member of Ace Frehley's band, Owl released their eponymous debut in 2009 and their second album, The Right Thing, in 2013.[1][2]

Owl
Owl performing in 2015
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California
GenresHard rock
experimental rock
alternative rock
Years active2007 (2007)–present
LabelsOverit Records, Magnetic Eye Records
Associated actsThe Cult, The Clay People, Black Belt Karate
Websitewww.owltheband.net
MembersChris Wyse
Dan Dinsmore
Jason Achilles Mezilis

History
Chris Wyse has used the bass more prominently in Owl, including using an upright bass

Wyse began playing bass while in grade school in upstate New York.[3] As a teenager, he met drummer Dan Dinsmore, then 17; shortly thereafter, they began playing together in a local band, East Wall. After touring regionally, Wyse, who had garnered national attention as a bass player,[4] moved to Los Angeles, while Dinsmore remained in Albany, joining the industrial rock band The Clay People.[5]

Wyse's success came quickly in Los Angeles, where he played with Guns N' Roses' Chris Pitman, Tool's Paul D'Amour, Tal Bachman, Mick Jagger, Scott Weiland, and Ozzy Osbourne[6] before joining the Cult in 2006.[7] Dinsmore's band also achieved significant success, particularly with the single Awake, from the Strangeland soundtrack[8] which hit #1 on the metal charts.[9] When the Clay People went on hiatus in 2001, Dinsmore continued his career as a drummer, playing with producer Mike Clink, known for his work with Metallica, among others.[10]

In 2002, Wyse met guitarist Jason Achilles Mezilis through a mutual friend. A classically trained pianist, Mezilis had recently graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. After graduation, he interned at several prominent recording studios and played guitar with Los Angeles bands, including Your Horrible Smile. In 2011, Mezilis founded Organic Audio Recorders, a boutique analog & digital recording studio in downtown Los Angeles.[11]

An early version of Owl was formed in 2001 to recorded a cover of "Behind The Sun" for the record Flammable: A Tribute To the Red Hot Chili Peppers. In reviewing the album, All Music Guide wrote "Owl's version of "Behind the Sun" is appropriately trippy, and even replicates Flea's dominating bassline with aplomb."[12]

In 2007, Wyse, Mezilis and Dinsmore once again came together as Owl. Although Wyse occasionally performed on the upright bass with the Cult, with Owl, it became his trademark; playing with a bow, and using delays and sound effects techniques, Wyse uses the bass as a lead instrument. In a 2013 interview, Wyse responded to a question regarding the motivation behind the group. "There would be no other format like this unless I created it. When I was a kid people used to say "you can't play bass like that!," he stated. "Rock music is not supposed to have rules. That's the whole point. As soon as I hear about all the rules a band has I get turned off because they are worried about being cool and not a being vibrant artist. I don't want to fit into anyone's idea. I want to show you new ones."[13] Wyse, who is also Owl's main songwriter and vocalist, produced Owl's self-titled debut, which was recorded at Matt Sorum's Drac Studios in Los Angeles and released in 2009.[14] The band supported the record, which was described as a "swirling epic,"[15] through a video for the track "Pusher" [16] and through live performances, including shows with Helmet, Jet, In This Moment and Hollywood All Star rock collective Camp Freddy.[17]

Owl began writing what would become the band’s self-produced album The Right Thing in early 2011, recording at Matt Sorum’s Drac Studios in Los Angeles. In addition, Owl recorded at Overit Studios in upstate New York, a studio Dinsmore opened in conjunction with Overit Media, a media and marketing company he founded in 1993. Deemed a "no nonsense hard rock album with stadium sized hooks," The Right Thing was released on April 9, 2013 on Overit Records [18] and Magnetic Eye Records as a joint release. The first video from the album, "The Right Thing,"premiered on Rolling Stone's website;[1] it was followed by "Destroyer" and "Perfect."[19]

A third album, Things You Can't See, was released in the summer of 2015.[20] Bass Player wrote it was Owl's "boldest and most experimental album." [21] A video for the song "Lake Ego" was released in 2017. It was followed by a performance video for the title track in 2018.[22]

Discography

Albums
  • 2015 Things You Can't See Overit Records
  • 2013 The Right Thing Overit Records, Magnetic Eye Records (vinyl edition only)
  • 2009 Owl Overit Records

Compilations

Videography
  • Things You Can't See 2018
  • Lake Ego 2017
  • Who's Gonna Save You Now 2015
  • The Right Thing 2013
  • Destroyer 2013
  • Perfect 2013
  • Pusher 2009

References
  1. "Owl Examine Consequences in the 'Right Thing'". Rolling Stone. February 26, 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  2. Amador, Valery (March 5, 2013). "Owl Releases "The Right Thing"". Bass Musician Magazine. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  3. Campbell, Ty (April 1, 2013). "Interview With Chris Wyse". Bass Frontiers Magazine. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  4. "The Right Thing: Chris Wyse". Icon vs. Icon. March 22, 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  5. "Clay People at All Music". All Music Guide. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  6. Frederick, Brittany (March 7, 2013). "Chris Wyse Finds the Right Thing". Starpulse. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  7. Appleford, Steve (June 26, 2012). "The Cult's Choice of Weapon". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  8. "Strangeland Soundtrack At All Music". All Music. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  9. "The Clay People". Coldwaves. Archived from the original on 7 September 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  10. "Discography". MCP Productions. Archived from the original on 23 November 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  11. Trucker, Space (September 24, 2009). "Awesome New Band Owl". Rock Choice. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  12. "Flammable: A Tribute To The Red Hot Chili Peppers". All Music. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  13. Moore, Bruce (May 30, 2013). "Interview with Owl; Frontman Chris Wyse Speaks About the New Record 'The Right Thing'". Pure Grain Audio. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  14. O'Donnell, Shauna (April 2013). "Owl Interview with Chris Wyse". The Gauntlet. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  15. Hassan, Emon (April 16, 2013). "Guitar Chat With Chris Wyse". Guitarkadia. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  16. "Pusher video". YouTube. August 29, 2009. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  17. "Exclusive: Owl, Led by The Cult Bassist Chris Wyse, Reveal Title of New Album and Release Date". Revolver. February 6, 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  18. Ramirez, Carolos (April 8, 2013). "The Cult Bassist and Company Deliver No Nonense Hard Rock". Noisecreep. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  19. "Videos at owltheband.net". owltheband.net. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  20. "Musician Chris Wyse coming back to area for show at Putnam Den". Times Union. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
  21. BassPlayer.com, Electric & Acoustic Bass Gear, Lessons, News, Video, Tabs and Chords -. "Chris Wyse and Owl Premiere Music Video for New Single "Lake Ego" (WATCH)". Retrieved 2018-01-31.
  22. BassPlayer.com, Electric & Acoustic Bass Gear, Lessons, News, Video, Tabs and Chords -. "Chris Wyse and Owl Debut Video For "Things You Can't See" (WATCH)". Retrieved 2018-01-31.
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