John Dwyer has created a pretty dense catalog of music over the last decade and he really shows no sign of altering his approach or letting up at all. Most notably, one of the constant members of the Coachwhips, Dwyer worked that group to countless frenzied performances and a few recordings as well. Having that catalog of dirty electric blues and Velvet Underground stomp, Double Death was assembled to include various live performances as well as some pretty decent covers. Unfortunately, Narnack Records released the cd/dvd combo to celebrate a career cut short.

For whatever reason, Dwyer finds it difficult to remain in the same band, with the same name for all too long. Thee Oh Sees count several previous monikers before this last one being settled on. And oddly enough, even though band members remained relatively constant with Dwyer on guitar and vocals, Brigid Dawson with her tambourine and vocals, Petey Dammit on bass and Mike Shounon playing drums, the group didn’t really coalesce around a sound until last years The Master's Bedroom is Worth Spending a Night In. Released on the German Tomlab imprint, many tendencies from the Coachwhips era were still in place. While that might not be to surprising in and of itself, the album that preceded last year’s effort, The Cool Death of Island Raiders, incorporated a more folksy influence. And frankly, it just didn’t work.

And since Dwyer isn't one for resting on his previous achievements, he returned with the album last year that really did gold plate him. Of course, his affiliation with Seattle's The Intelligence yielded a pretty strong single as well as a grouping of shows up and down the West Coast.

But considering that the Coachwhips burned out a bit early, does that than mean that Thee Oh Sees are headed in the same direction? While it is often difficult to figure why some bands receive attention and others are ignored, Dwyer's current project has garnered enough buzz to keep them afloat. Of course, though, only looking across the Bay to Oakland finds the Gris-Gris broken up after turning in two of the strongest and most varied psych albums of the new millennium.

So with all of that in mind, Dwyer and company have set up a less than extensive US tour. Making it back and forth to California in roughly two months is a rather burdensome task, but those two months aren't really full of dates. Focusing mostly on California, the Southwest and New York, Thee Oh Sees, who are regarded for their live performances much in the same way the Coachwhips were, are slated to play five shows in three days in and around the Austin area to coincide with this year's SXSW. Performances at that festival are noted often noted for being rowdy to say the least. But Dwyer might be taken with other's ability to channel crazy in a good way and get it all out in song. While figuring that those shows might be the pinnacle of the festival is going too far, I wouldn't miss 'em.

Tour Dates

Feb 13 - OCD - SF, California Feb 26 - Noise Pop - Cafe Du Nord SF, California Mar 12 - The Smell - Los Angeles, California Mar 13 - Bar Pink Elephant - San Diego, California Mar 14 - Plush - Tuscon, Arizona Mar 16 - Notsuoh - Houston, Texas Mar 17 - Pre SXSW Party - Mohawk - Austin, Texas Mar 19 - SXSW - Bay Area Takeover - Beauty Bar - Austin, Texas Mar 19 - SXSW - Panache Showcase - Emos - Austin, Texas Mar 20 - SXSW -In The Red Records Showcase - Beerland - Austin, Texas Mar 21 - SXSW - Day Party - Beerland - Austin, Texas Mar 21 - SXSW - Woodsist Showcase - Ms. Bea's - Austin, Texas Mar 21 - House Party w/ Mayyors - Austin, Texas Mar 22 - The Lounge on Elm - St. Dallas, Texas Mar 24 - The Trunk Space - Phoenix, Arizona Mar 25 - Silverlake Lounge- Los Angeles, California Mar 26 - The SF Eagle - San Francisco Apr 04 - The Bell House - Brooklyn, New York Apr 05 - The Mercury Lounge - New York, New York Apr 29 - El Ricon - SF, California