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Music

Five Questions With: The O’s

By Maddie Grussendorf |
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Banjo-plucking duo The O’s have just returned from a European tour. We asked them about the French and sharing local stages.

FrontRow: You just got back from your European tour. Besides the rolling hills and entertaining accents, does Europe really have anything over us?

The O’s: In general, the (especially French) bread and (especially Irish) butter are on a level that is beyond our abilities. There really is no question about it.  It was also nice to be in 50-60 degree weather in June with no mosquito worries.

FR: What did you learn after making your first album, We Are The O’s, that was implemented in making your second album, Between The Two?

The O’s: We certainly were more confident with the second album.  The first was recorded only after we’d been together months, and I literally bought the banjo to start playing with The O’s, so by the time we hit the studio for Between the Two, I had a couple of years more practice. I bought the “Lowebro” on the way to the studio one morning during those first sessions. So, I guess from my standpoint, I actually learned to play the banjo and the Lowebro by the time we recorded again. Plus, I tried my hand at the pedal steel which I’ve never done before. Stuart and I make a really good player.

FR: Which artist has been your favorite to share the stage with and who are you are you still waiting/wishing to play with?

The O’s: It’s always great to play with Old 97s. Those dudes rule. We got to play with the Jayhawks a while back and I got to play a tune with them on the banjo so that was fun. The wish list is way too long to put who I’d really wanna play with but I guess if this is a dart throw, then I pick Chuck Berry.

FR: Where is your favorite spot to play in Dallas?

The O’s: Ohhh, this is another tough one.  I’ll put a few and a quick reason.  The Double Wide is my favorite rock-n-place to play — Kim knows how to throw a party.  The Sons holds a special place in my heart — it was the first place I ever played when I was 17 — and Jo rules. The Libertine is always a fun place to play on the off-chance that Simon and Mike put something together. And my couch is good too — my dogs let me know if songs are good or not.

FR: I’m assuming you two didn’t grow up wanting to be electric guitar rock-icons. How did you get attracted to instruments like the banjo and “Lowebro?”

The O’s: I’ve played guitar forever.  When we got the idea to start this band, we knew we wanted to keep it simple and be very mobile.  Therefore, we figured the more we could tackle on our own – instrument wise – the better.  I figured I’d buy a banjo and that would be a good percussive instrument to complement a bass drum.  We knew the drum (if cranked up) would be enough low end to fill out the sound.  So it was kind of a mix of things that led us to those instruments.  A lot of it was practicality, tour-wise, and a lot more of it was we wanted to keep things very raw.  The goal was to showcase the songs we were writing.  I bought the Lowebro while we were in the studio recording We Are The O’s.  We needed a slide sounds, and I knew a guy that made hand-made steel guitars. It was a perfect fit to what we were trying to do. I met him (Mike Lowe hence Lowebro) at John’s Cafe on morn in August 2008 and bought it out of his work truck.  Cool instrument and Yum food.

Photo By Chad Windham

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