SURFING SOUNDS: THEE OH SEES
There are rainbow sounds coming from the dark corner of a dangerous dive bar. Garage rock played in Fantasyland. If the psyche-rock of the ’60s and the broken bottles of the ’80s punk scene are your jam, then you’ll be cuddling up with this thrash-happy blend of rock-and-roll surrealism. “It’s all over the place, but the live shows usually rock,” explains singer and guitarist Johnny Dwyer of the noise they make. Let’s just say if you’re doing ding repair in the garage, it’s what you want oozing from your speakers. —Travis Ferré
SURFING MAGAZINE: So how did you guys get all of this started?
JOHNNY DWYER: I moved to San Francisco and didn’t know anyone. I painted houses and taught myself to finger pick acoustic guitars until I met people. Years later I began playing music with Patrick Mullins. Then we saw Brigid Dawson sing in a band called Mix Tape that was all covers. We proceeded to steal her and shortly after that Petey Dammit! joined and now you have Thee Oh Sees.
YOU GUYS PLAY SOME UNORTHODOX VENUES.
We play anywhere really, unless douche bags run it.
WE HEARD YOU PLAYED A 24-HOUR TACO JOINT ONCE. is THAT TRUE?
Nope, we ain’t ever played a taco joint, but since that is pretty much all I eat, I would gladly do that. Let me know if you hear of the opportunity. I will say though that the SF Eagle Tavern is the best place I have ever played. End of story. Hands down.
WHAT’S BAND PRACTICE LIKE?
Every Thursday and Sunday we get together and drink beer and stare into Mike Shoun’s eyes and then, poof! The songs are there waiting to be picked, like cherries.
WHAT TYPE OF THINGS DO YOU WRITE MUSIC ABOUT?
Love, the beach, my family, money (or lack thereof), hassles, waking up, bikes, other songs, fights, walkin’ squint-eyed toward the sun — mostly love and friends though.
WHAT’S YOUR LIVE SHOW LIKE?
Fun, if it goes well. Sometimes we get way out, other times it’s pretty screwed down. So much of it is reliant on the venue, the crowd and the other bands.
WHAT BANDS MAKE YOU GUYS HAPPY?
The Who, The Idle Race, Mayyors, The Fresh and Onlys, Screaming Lord Such, Masekela, Sun Ra, Les Rallizes Dnuds, Sonny Sharrock, Pink Floyd, Faust Parson, Sound, The Pretty Things, Nick Drake, Nina Simone…I could go on.
DO YOU GUYS have JOBS, OR IS IT JUST MUSIC?
Mike Shoun is a body hair removal specialist, Petey Dammit! distributes pornography,Brigid is a public defender and John Dwyer is a pain in the ass, professionally.