On the sophomore album from The O’s, Between the Two, the band’s dual braintrust of Taylor Young and John Pedigo were so determined to do everything themselves that they actually learned how to play piano in order to avoid having to bring anyone in from the outside. Anyone familiar with the duo knows that isn’t an unusual circumstance; when they got together in 2008, Young hadn’t picked up a guitar since the end of his band Neon Girl a decade and a half before, while Pedigo liked Young’s songs so much that he learned to play banjo for the opportunity to accompany Young.
It turned out to be a match made in … Texas — the pair’s 2009 debut, We Are the O’s, was a ubiquitous fixture on year-end Top 10 lists all over the state and, with opening slots for the likes of current tour-pals The Old 97s, Dave Alvin, Joe Ely and David Allan Coe, it didn’t take long for the rest of the planet to figure out that Young and Pedigo had a connection that vibrated in the space between the musical, the chemical and the mystical.
The O’s have been described as stripped down Country Rock, banjo Pop, Americana-tinged slacker Rock and an out-of-control party. Sounds about right to us.
THE O's play The 20th Century Theater Jan. 30 with guests RHETT MILLER and OLD 97's. Buy tickets, check out performance times and get venue details here .
