Muso

Transmute Muso

Muso is a driving three-piece band, characterized by their intense live show. They wed jangly garage pop with foot-stomping rhythm, recalling The Stooges' raw power, the catchiness of The Clash, and the punk groove of The Minutemen. Leading the sound are vocals that mix dry humor and social commentary. Josh Caldwell (guitar/vocals) and Parker Brooks (bass) grew up in Austin, Texas, and have played music together since they were kids. When they met Brian Soika (drums) in Los Angeles in 2004, they instantly clicked. Says Josh: 'Between the three of us, we've played blues, garage, punk -- and we all kind of wanted to do something different. So we began writing songs that reflected all those genres that we loved, but also broke from their traditions.' Key to their unique sound is rawness, which is why Muso recorded Transmute live in a garage with few overdubs. The result is enjoyably raucous, with the mixing of Andrew Hay (Maimou, David Rice), and mastering of Joe Bozzi (Bernie Grundman Mastering), bringing out the finer points of the simple, but layered songs. 'By and By' and 'Wolves' capture the blistering guitars, while bass-and-drum boogie is the foundation for 'Pickled in Static' and 'Attracted'. And stand-out tracks like 'Big Bend 6' and 'Vigil Day' showcase Muso's core: a unique twist on an old style. Muso has been played on Indie 103.1 and KXLU as part of their heavy promotion of Transmute. Additionally, they've undertaken a major grassroots campaign locally and online, not unlike recent breakthrough artists TV on the Radio and Kelley Stoltz. Such promotion led to a tour that culminated in an appearance in Austin during South by Southwest. Currently, the band is playing frequent shows in Southern California and is planning another spring tour of the southwest.