TUFT

It was no question when picking out spot light choice this month for entertainment that it would be the amazing band TUFT. With their lyrics that derive deeper meaning, cool stage presence, and charismatic attitudes, who better? Influenced by 90s sitcom theme songs such as Growing Pains and commercial jingles like Crossfire, this amazing up-and-coming band really attacks their music when they hit the stage. They have a very “feel good” vibe that will have you swaying along as you listen. We actually caught some shots of them right before they hit their show in San Diego, and we asked them a few questions during the process. One of the things we wanted to know here at U&C was obviously, why TUFT as a band-name? Vocabulary lesson people! Initially, Tuft means “a bunch, or collection of something held, or growing together at the base.” The idea sprang with the idea of a new phase for the band. What a great idea with the new year moving forward as well!

When interviewing these folk, the sincerity of the band’s intentions oozed out of Casey, the lead singer, as he explained the band’s focus on the music and togetherness. When asked what TUFT hoped people would get from their music the response was as epic as the music,

“I want people to find relaxation, empathy, catharsis, or whatever helps get them excited about being alive.”
With everything going on in the world, it pays when there are creative people like TUFT paying attention to it. The sound is serene, and the lyrics are riveting. In interview, the band explained something beautiful in reference to how the music itself get’s built, and here at U&C we find that intoxicating: “…part of the process involves experiencing the world and paying attention to it. Reading books, talking to people, working a day job. Worrying about paying bills. Finding ways to not be worried. Spending time talking to friends in real life. Sitting around doing nothing. Doing too much. Looking for a place to get coffee. Drinking enough water. Finding parking. Blaming yourself. Letting yourself off the hook”

So the next time you’re in the mood for some feel-good music on a long drive out into the country with the ones you love, or perhaps sitting by the fire this pondering life…TUFT is the band you want to hear. As they continue with their tour in California, catch one of their shows! We can’t wait to see what’s up-and-coming for them in 2016.

More info at: [http://tuftmusic.com]

By Elise Gray - Up & Coming Online

Sales‘ persona matches their music, which is super chilled out, beachy indie. Without running around the stage or smashing guitars, Lauren Morgan and Jordan Shih are able to keep the crowd’s attention for a full set, leaving them screaming for more. After releasing a new song “Big Sis” and a quick West Coast tour, the Orlando duo look to take their talents overseas this fall for a European tour.

Babes is made up of a few siblings and close friends, and they try to include the audience in their greater “family” with a welcoming sound and demeanor. One angry member of the crowd wasn’t having any of it as she constantly yelled at the band and flipped them off. Vocalist Sarah Rayne Leigh attempted to mend fences, dedicating a song to the young fan, but to no avail. For the other 99% of the crowd, however, Babes was a smashing success. With an LP coming soon from Barsuk Records, and a slight disregard for personal safety, the LA band’s star is shining bright.

The long line of fans to get into The Echo weren’t necessarily there for the opening band, but Hi Ho Siliver Oh took that energy and ran with it. Playing to a fairly full house, the Los Angeles based band rocked their way through a solid set, a perfect warmup for the night. - LA RECORD

The Los Angeles-based indie quartet, Hi Ho Silver Oh, has spent years diligently crafting atmospheric folk rock that envelopes their audiences in warm, building rhythms and leaping, unpredictable melodies, that has earned the band rightful comparisons to Fleet Foxes and Blake Mills. With their latest track, “What Am I Doing”, the Hi Ho foregoes the countrified sound we’ve grown accustomed to for a hook-heavy romp of heartland rock to make Tom Petty proud.

For the track’s accompanying music video, which is premiering here on Nerdist, Hi Ho Silver Oh rally comedian friends Joe Hartzler, Justin Michael, Dan Lippert and Ryan Rosenberg to help save a local community center. Watch the delightful music video, then read our interview with frontman Casey Trela, below.
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NERDIST: What’s the track “What Am I Doing” about?

CASEY TRELA: I think a lot of the songs change meaning after we make them into songs. Right now, this one is an “accepting responsibility” song. I’m someone who is quick to shirk off responsibility, by not taking myself too seriously and going to humor. I’m finding that, with music, it’s important to work seriously, and take responsibility for things I say and the choices I make. It’s about feeling sure of myself, and building a solid ground to stand on.

N: Was that struggle between humor and seriousness the inspiration for the music video?

CT: Firstly, we wanted to do something fun, just because we have a lot of comedian friends and wanted to create a place for them to be funny. And then we wanted to contrast a message that we feel is serious in the song with something goofy in video form. If we’re to assign meaning, I think it’s about a group of people trying earnestly to do something that is not exactly working as they planned. Even the premise of saving a community center is pretty silly, but it represents a loose, confusing situation where people are trying to do their best without really knowing what they are doing.

N: Did any of the Hi Ho gang frequent community centers growing up?

CT: I spent a lot of time at the Y. It felt sort of dangerous; they had to buzz you in. I played a lot of basketball there, and swam, it was where I first danced with girls, and had independence from adults, where I could just run around and do whatever I wanted. I guess, subliminally, it was an important part of my life as a child. I think the rest of the Hi Ho group grew up on the street. Especially Roxy; no church would ever take her.

N: The track sounds distinctly different from your previous work. In the past you’ve focused largely on textured, ambient folk rock, and we get a taste of that at the beginning of the track here, but then the drum machine kicks in and we divert into some full-bodied pop. Is this a new direction for the band?

CT: It was kind of an experiment. I’m used to just writing songs and letting them fall in whatever order they come out. And it’s usually not a linear song, or a song where it goes in the standard “verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus, end” structure. “What I Am Doing” was originally a six minute song, and then I trimmed off all the fat, so it was just the hooks. We have a few songs that are like that on the new album, where it’s just supposed to be the melodies, and the messages, and it’s nonstop for two minutes. I don’t think it’s necessarily the best way to do things, but I don’t think it’s a bad way to do things, either. It was just something I hadn’t done before, and something I was a little scared to do. It felt mainstream and poppy, and those were things I’m compelled to rebel against. I wanted to try pop out, and also take ownership of it at the same time; just be okay with writing a pop song. It worked with the message of the song.

N: When’s this album coming out?

CT: Right now, it’s supposed to be May, so I’m going to say May.

N: Are those turquoise glasses prescription? And where can we get them?

CT: Yes, they are prescription. I normally don’t wear them when I play, because I’m scared they’ll fall off, but I needed to see [director] Jon Mackey. They’re very broken, though. They’re sunglass frames that I bought for $10 at a thrift store, and then got my prescription lenses put in them. They don’t close anymore; they’re superglued open. You can have them one way, or not at all. - Nerdist.com

Few bands in these parts can execute the stylistic range of Hi Ho Silver Oh, the ensemble built around the quartet of guitarist Casey Trela, bassist Kevin Manwarren, guitarist Roxy Radulescu and drummer Chris Dunn. One song they are flannel-friendly folkies and next they are sonic contortionists, stretching around all manner of rhythms while maintaining the pristine gang vocals that are their calling card. In their new single “What I Am Doing,” they are all of the above, with some wonky synth thrown in at the beginning, ostensibly just to see if we’re paying attention. Riding those harmonies and additional vocals from Leslie Stevens, Brittney Westover, Jillinda Plamer and Jon Mackey, the song (the first from a forthcoming EP) accelerates into an almost-funky, decidedly jazzy web of intrigue, exuberance and horns — the latter courtesy of the Franklinton High School Jazz Ensemble, arranged by Derek Southerland. And all in 2 1/2 minutes. Our advice: Do not try this at home. Leave it to the professionals. - Buzzbands.la

Led by vocalist/guitarist Casey Trela, Hi Ho Silver Oh is a Silver Lake-based quartet who likes to keep their brand of indie rock bursting with whimsical zeal. Their use of stacked harmonies and a plethora of instruments (horns, strings, and things) gives the band a ruse as an act twice their number. Their new leaked track, “What I Am Doing,” is off a forthcoming EP and begins with a quirky digital intro but soon blasts their signature warm wall of sound. - Free Bike Valet

I saw Hi Ho Silver Oh by accident. I’d had a shitty day and I was tired, but some lovely friends managed to coax me out reluctantly into the warm LA night. So I found myself in a rough little bar that looked like it had been slapped together by some lazy carpenters that afternoon, sipping an overpriced beer and feeling decidedly grouchy. Hi Ho Silver Oh bravely took to the stage under the glare of my sour frown. Something about them made me feel that, despite my gruff demeanour, they were genuinely happy that I’d made it there that night to see them. I wasn’t expecting that. Most bands are too cool for such warmth. Despite my best efforts, I could feel my grouchiness levels begin to drop. They launched into their set.
All remaining grumpiness was swept away on a sea of the juiciest harmonies, intriguing lyrics and layered, mature, gorgeous songwriting. I completely forgot my troubles in the wake of their uplifting, sparkling, colourful and earnest creations. Every soaring arrangement felt intricately crafted and delivered with refreshing precision, without losing any of the raw exuberance the individual members brought to the stage.


DSM’s Daryl Jones chased down HHSO frontman Casey Trela after the show to get the full story behind the glorious noises they make.
DSM: I couldn’t stop grinning and dancing through your whole set; it felt like one big exciting ear-hug. What’s the secret to HHSO having that kind of effect on audiences?

CT: We take a lot of notes from the comedy world in the sense that we address the room and the situation we’re in from the start. We play all sorts of spaces and for all sorts of people, so we try to make sure everyone in the room knows we’re all in the same place together. It’s easy for the musicians to feel like they’re in a totally different world because they’re up on a stage and amplified to be louder than everyone in the room. The music we play comes from a genuine place, so we want to be just as genuine between songs. Hopefully people feel that and get on board.

DSM: It looks like you really legitimately enjoy creating music together?

CT: We really do. I started HHSO as a solo project with the intent of bringing in friends to help fill things out. That has worked out really well- Kevin, Roxy, Chris and I actually enjoy playing music together AND non-musical hanging out.

DSM: And those harmonies! Explain how HHSO goes about writing such gorgeously layered songs…

CT: Normally I’ll flesh out the structure of the song. Sometimes that will be a fully thought out idea with harmonies demoed out, and other times I’ll have my part and know the general vibe of the song. We play it and beat it up until it feels right. Everyone brings their own personality to the way they play. Our personalities harmonize, and I think that translates into the music.

DSM: Being in a band ain’t easy, especially before you’re super rich and famous. What motivates you all to keep pouring time, effort and money into this creative project, instead of being sensible and working in an office or whatever?

CT: We were all into music and performance before we knew you could get any money from it. The main motivation is to scratch that itch we’ve all got in us to make something and share it. We get feedback, both from strangers and from people we trust, that helps us feel more secure that we’re on the right track, but the joy we get from playing music is the thing that drives the band (away from being safe and sensible).

DSM: What’s the master plan for HHSO? What’s cracking in your world at the moment? I’m an Aussie and I reckon our audiences back home would love your stuff. Any chance of getting y’all out to Australia any time soon?

CT: The long term goal is pretty general: to continue making music we care about and to get it/us in front of more people. Right now, we’re working on a big chunk of music and putting it out a little at a time. We’re always playing shows and trying to figure out the best ways to use the Internet. People can follow us on all their favorite social media sites, and shows pop up on http://hihosilveroh.com/shows – we are pretty good at responding to all comments both on the net and in real life. We should have a new EP available on floppy disc in the new year. PLEASE BRING US TO AUSTRALIA!!!
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Hi Ho Silver Oh are Casey Trela, Kevin Manwarren, Roxy Radulescu and Chris Dunn.
Hit these linkages now to listen to HHSO, and go follow/like them right this second. Now. Go. That’s an order. - Do Shit Magazine

Over the past few years Hi Ho Silver Oh has captivated us here at Pinpoint Music. We’ve spent time with them all across the US but somehow when listening to their music we always feel right at home. Subtle Majesty is Hi Ho Silver Oh’s stock-in-trade. No one builds songs like this anymore. Somehow these guys have mastered making fresh music with old world detail. Within seconds of listening to their music I feel as pure and open as I did as a kid, when I’d take a deep breath after mom gave me some Vicks Vaporub. Like prescription glasses that you’ve needed for years Hi Ho Silver Oh cuts through the haze and blur of life and simplifies things. - Pinpoint Music

In its own rather laconic way, the title of Hi Ho Silver Oh’s new album, “Big Rocks,” foreshadows what’s ahead, and it’s not quite the eclectic but harmony-laden folk of their 2009 full-length “Put It All in One Place and Burn It.” Oh, songwriter Casey Trela and his cohorts Jon Mackey and Kevin Manwarren still wield their vocals to great effect (and, often, it’s a whole gang of voices), but “Big Rocks” rocks, in the off-kilter, inscrutable way only Hi Ho Silver Oh can. The three tracks on the album that clock in at over 6 minutes are like driving a back road in mountain terrain, yet they co-exist peacefully with a twinkling pop song like “Trees.” “My Confessor” scratches the rock itch, with Trela’s lyrical bite as sharp as the licks.

-Kevin Bronson, buzzbands.la - buzzbands.la

Hi Ho Silver Oh is the best band that you haven't heard of and their second full length album, Big Rocks, is a potential dark horse candidate as one of the best works of 2012. Coming out of Los Angeles, they've been compared to indie icons like Fleet Foxes for their ability to create harmonies of all kinds and build upon sounds, but what really separates the two is the slightly more noticeable passion in Hi Ho Silver Oh's sounds. There is a bit more angst in their voice and songs build up into huge instrumental crescendos, contrasting the two bands.

Big Rocks is Hi Ho Silver Oh's step into what can be classified as straight forward indie bliss. Their past works seemed to be slightly more folk oriented, still lovely, but their new found style is a really great look at their dynamic talents.

We are first brought into Big Rocks with the opening track, High Tide I, as virtuous guitar sounds and eloquent vocals fill our melons. This represents the subtle build up of songs, that leads to the The Confessor. At this point we see the reality of their music with lyrics like, "I've always known I'd die alone" and "the blood, drip on the towel."

As the record progresses we get to songs like, Big Rocks and Showers Without Warning, that establish Hi Ho Silver Oh's album as one of this year's finest. Front man Casey Trela continues to dish out smart lyrics with very flowy vocals and the rest of the group delivers super well composed instrumentation and vocal pairings.

On the whole, this is a really awesome album. Hi Ho Silver Oh has been floating under the radar for some time and for their sake, he hope that this record and their upcoming 2013 tour will along them to gain some more exposure. As stated, their sound has been compared to Fleet Foxes, but with Big Rocks up in the airwaves, we'd say that their newest work can be best compared to one of our favorite artists, Alex Schaaf of Yellow Ostrich, with influences from many other indie-folk acts. - INDIE, BIKES & BEER

...
I walked in to see Hi Ho Silver Oh in the middle of their full band set, and frankly it was one of the best sets I saw all weekend. Last year I was floored by a stripped down set from Casey Trela, but finally seeing the full band experience got me totally sold. Their cover of Tom Petty's "Time To Get Going" was without a doubt the most beautiful track I heard all weekend, a sparse arrangement of a classic tune that ends in a subdued singalong. The rest of the day was great, including some great sets from Celestial Shore, Phil Cook and Caitlin Rose and a rooftop view of Lonnie Walker at Slim's, but Hi Ho Silver Oh definitely won the day parties for me.
... - The Bottom String

I love musicians that can also double as comedians. Hi Ho Silver Oh, Breathe Owl Breathe, and Megafaun were all really funny. I didn’t know Hi Ho Silver Oh was even playing until I got to the Echo. I think they were last minute add-ons. I saw them play on the Charlene Yi Show at UCB recently and was immediately hooked by singer Casey Trela’s introspective-yet-humorous lyrics. Trela started the show off by telling us we were in for a “homey night,” and the entire show felt like we were sitting in a living room listening to close friends telling jokes and stories and playing music for each other. - LA RECORD

Tuesday night local indie folk guys Hi Ho Silver Oh threw an album release party at El Cid with their friends Shakey Graves and Superhumanoids and just some regular people who aren’t in bands. I was lucky enough to go along as part of that regular people group.

Shakey Graves, contrary to the plural nomenclature, is native-Texan Alejandro Rose-Garcia. He took stage as friends trickled in, but played with the heart of a guy who sold out the venue. After some manual difficulties involving an untunable guitar, Rose-Garcia showed us what he’s made of. This guy is straight from the past, complete with picturesque lyrics, a pure folksy voice dotted with oohs and hums, and some talented banjo picking. He was utterly charming in his quiet nervousness, and had the growing audience listening to every note from beginning to end.

Superhumanoids followed and once they got settled into their instruments on stage, shared their good spirits with us. Frontman Cameron tickled the audience with a few jokes and sang next to the adorable keyboardist/vocalist, Sarah. The moment I thought to myself, “They should give this girl more spotlight,” she took over with two ethereal numbers that—I’m just gonna put this out there—sounded like Bends-era Radiohead, with a female vocalist, played underwater. Yeah.

Then came the party hosts, Hi Ho Silver Oh. Listen, I try not to give much attention to the god-given physical appearance of a band because that’s just not fair to a band whose members, say, have really nice personalities. However, HHSO is one good-looking getup. They looked especially snazzy that night in their slacks and tucked in shirts. You could tell this was a special occasion for them, which, as a person who has worn a dress on her birthday for 28 years now, I can appreciate.

Hi Ho Silver Oh is primarily North Carolinian frontman Casey Trela’s project, but in LA has grown to include a Phil, a Jon, and a Wil. This show, though, was a celebration of all the people who have helped Trela create this album, Put It All In One Place And Burn It. That meant the four gents, plus a backup choir of four ladies, plus a violinist, plus (yay!) adorable Sarah from Superhumanoids on the 2nd drums. Seriously, a party.

“Communion” was easily the catchiest song of the evening (until the end… wait for it). With the added touch of violin played by Daniel Hart (The Physics of Meaning), this one made me draw a little heart next to the song title in my notes.

There were a few songs that started out with just Trela, the other 9 members staring dreamily at points on stage and occasionally mouthing along to a line. But just when you started to wonder “Wait, what are these other guys doing here?” you’d hear a tsk tsk tsk on the cymbal or a delicate whine from the violin, and you knew this was about to turn into something big. Then all the sounds would ball up tighter and tighter until they’d explode into a 10-piece sonic rush that made your hair blow back a little bit from your face.

Now about that end: after dismissing the rest of the band, Trela hopped down to the middle of the room and invited us all to an acoustic sing-along of “Perjury.” I don’t know how many people in the audience knew the song—some, I suppose—but an almost unrealistic number of people sang along. It was strange, and kind of thrilling. I guess we all just wanted to be part of the party.

—Amber Hollingsworth - LA RECORD