Thee Oh Sees

Osees began in San Francisco in 1997 as John Dwyer’s solo recording project, a loose, lo-fi outlet that initially drew on freak folk before growing into one of the most prolific bands in modern garage and psychedelic rock. Dwyer has remained the group’s leader and primary songwriter through repeated changes of personnel and name, from Orinoka Crash Suite and OCS to Thee Oh Sees, Oh Sees and, since July 2020, Osees.

As the project became a full band, its sound moved toward garage rock, krautrock and psychedelia, with folk elements still audible in some of its more stripped-back work. Keyboardist and backing vocalist Brigid Dawson became a recurring collaborator, while Petey Dammit, Mike Shoun and Lars Finberg figured in an earlier lineup. That period produced The Master’s Bedroom Is Worth Spending a Night In in 2008, Carrion Crawler/The Dream in 2011 and Floating Coffin in 2013.

Dwyer relocated to Los Angeles in late 2013, and the band’s lineup shifted again. Tim Hellman, formerly of Sic Alps, joined on bass, while White Fence’s Nick Murray took over drums. After Mutilator Defeated At Last in 2015, Hellman and Dwyer began touring with two drummers, Dan Rincon and Ryan Moutinho. This configuration recorded A Weird Exits and An Odd Entrances, before Moutinho left in late 2016. Drummer Paul Quattrone subsequently joined for Orc, recorded with co-producers Ty Segall, Eric Bauer and Enrique Tena.

Dawson reunited with Dwyer for 2017’s Memory of a Cut Off Head, a primarily acoustic record that returned to the project’s lo-fi roots and included former and current members. Smote Reverser in 2018 and Face Stabber in 2019 followed with a heavier progressive-rock approach. Under the Osees name, the band announced Protean Threat in 2020 and released Metamorphosed, a remix album and an EP before that year ended.

The current lineup consists of Dwyer, Hellman, Rincon, Quattrone and keyboardist Tomas Dolas. Across its various names and formations, the group has released 30 studio albums as well as EPs, singles and compilations, while becoming known for energetic live performances and an off-kilter visual aesthetic. Its thirtieth studio album, Off Course, arrived on 5 June 2026 and marked Dawson’s return since Face Stabber.