The O’s started in the summer of 2008 in Dallas, Texas having known each other through from other groups (Polyphonic Spree, Young Heart Attack, Slick 57, Rose County Fair, Hi-Fi Drowning.) Three months later, they entered the recording studio and recorded an EP which ended up being half of the first album “We Are The O’s” (2009 Idol Records) produced by Jeff Halbert (Nick Cave, St. Vincent.) (JP is John Pedigo and TY is Taylor Young)
Can you tell us about yourself? Where you’re from and what you’ve been up to over the past few years?
Dallas, TX. We like to keep ourselves busy really in whatever capacity available. We play some 160 shows a year touring and have a weekly radio show that broadcasts every Friday afternoon on FM radio in North Texas (KHYI.com / 95.3 Fridays 4-6pm CT). Depending on where we are that week is where we broadcast from. Most recently, we’ve been working on setting up a tour back in the UK. It’s been too long! We spend our off time working in studios, doing other talk shows and tv shows, recording jingles, doing voice overs, and working on our summer tans.
How would you describe your music?
We generally call our music good timing music. It’s like pop music played with bluegrassy/country instruments interjected with jokes. Gotta have fun while we’re working. Ain’t no other way, is there?
Can you tell us a little bit about your influences?
We both started out playing in rock bands and that attitude has never left us. When we show up to a venue and are setting up, the first thing we tell the sound person is: “mix us like a rock band. We know we’ve got acoustic instruments, but turn ‘em up loud!” It’s really just a mix of everything from Gram Parsons to Nirvana.
What are you currently promoting?
Our latest album is called Honeycomb, our finest collection of tunes yet! It’s totally badass. You’re gonna love it. It’s kind of like your new favorite thing! So thanks!
Have you got a particular song you’ve done that you’re particularly proud of, one that might define you?
Every song has a little something that is attractive to us. Whether it’s a sentiment or a rockin’ lick or whatever. We’ve heard these songs more than anyone probably, but there’s always something sneaky in the mix that is fun for us to hear. On this latest record, the overall sound is what get’s us excited. We recorded in this shitty little single wide trailer behind one of our favorite venues in Texas called River Road Ice House. The trailer is really just a crash pad for bands; it barely stands up and is certainly not acoustically treated or anything. It was pretty gross altogether; us two guys with the producer (Chris “Frenchy” Smith) and the engineer (Sean Rollie) all living and recording in very close quarters. In the end, the album just a has a cool vibe to it. I’m very proud of that fact; the fact that it sounds like it felt to record it. Raw, dirty and honest.
What are you currently listening to?
JP : I try to listen to as much music as possible. The good and the bad of streaming apps is that I can find so much new music. But it makes my playlists a little schitzo. I’ll be listening to Houndmouth back to back with Jake Bugg and then pop on some Carl Perkins and round it out with The Pixies. It’s also nice our tour manager is much younger so we bother him about new music all the time.
TY: I recently embraced all these streaming services, couldn’t keep luggin my record player around on my back. The records kept skipping cause they were all sideways. Tom Waits, I popped in “The Soft Bulletin” by Flaming Lips the other day, love that record. And the new Britney song is pretty kick ass.
And your favourite album of all time, the one you couldn’t do without?
JP : Easy: Frank Black “Teenager of the Year.”
TY: Beach Boys “Pet Sounds”
What are your hopes for your future career?
JP : Longevity.
TY: To continue to grow as a songwriter and musician, and to find that 8th day of the week so I can get all this stuff done that’s bouncing around my head!
If money were no object what would be your dream project?
A weekly show on TV with collaborations among all types of artists. Like a travel show or something where we hang out and do shit like eat and stuff. Then drink beers and play music. A band on tour discovering the arts/culture/food happenin in whatever town we’re stoppin through.
What’s the best thing about being a musician?
JP : Playing music.
TY: The People
And the worst?
JP : Music business.
TY: The waiting to get where I’m tryin to get
Finally, have you anything you’d like to say to the readers of Americana UK?
We look forward to hanging out with you folks sooner than later! Early 2017 to be exact. It’ll be a blast being back over with all y’all, and I can’t wait to have some delicious beer and a daily curry for breakfast.
