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Owl (l to r) Jason Mezilis, Dan Dinsmore and Chris Wyse play five New York shows this month.
Chris Wyse doesn't understand why some people mistake his upright bass for a cello. “Cellists sit. Upright bassists stand,” says The Cult bassist. But he'll let it slide. Wyse is more excited about the momentum of his new band Owl and their current tour, which brings the Los Angeles trio to New York for five shows, including The Gramercy Theater on July 13 and Arlene’s Grocery on July 30.
Still, he recognizes that a stand-up bass in a hard rock band is not the norm. “I’m trying to transcend what the instrument is known for, so I understand why it's confusing,” he says. "Maybe we should say Obama please keep music in schools. Hey, but they've seen Britney Spear's p----, and they know what that is—they just don't know what a stand-up bass is.”
Wyse, originally from Woodside, Queens, picked up the nickname owl in school ever since he pulled out Wise potato chips—branded by the iconic owl—from his lunchbox. After some time, Wyse (pronounced “wise”) says that he and his family would get Waterford crystal owls and other gifts throughout the years. Owl just stuck, so when the time came, Wyse had no problem finding a band name. Along with drummer and longtime friend Dan Dinsmore and guitarist Jason Mezilis, Owl have picked up attention in Hollywood and hope to do the same on their upcoming tour.
Despite this cello-bass debacle, Wyse is quite content with his current state of affairs. Currently playing with The Cult on their Love Live tour, Wyse is working overtime touring with Owl. It's a challenge balancing out playing bassist in a legendary rock band with his new role as lead singer and bassist in Owl, but it’s driven by passion. In fact, it’s something that he and drummer Dinsmore have talked about doing since they played in bands together in high school in Saratoga, N.Y.
“Sometimes I'm pulling my hair out,” says Wyse. “But I try not to think about it. There's no band or outlet existing that does what Owl does."
Don’t get Wyse wrong. Being in The Cult puts a smile on his face, but when there’s down time, he doesn’t want the work to stop. “When I play in The Cult, it's the same thing," he says. "I put the same 150 percent energy in it. If you're drawing a river, you draw the river with the blues and color of the water. You don't want to go against it. You have to honor your art.”
Melody is important says Wyse, who grew up on Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden—all still a force in his musical creations. Most recently, Wyse says that he was inspired again after watching the Maiden documentary Flight 666. “They are still on top of their game,” he says. “I’ve never heard them that tight, so in control and in fire. That's what I want to be—in control and have that fire. I’m influenced by mystical bands, and that’s the reason why we go on musical bits and take you off the beaten path. It may even be spooky or exotic. I try to instill colors and emotions rather than I woke up this morning and got myself a beer. I like that, but that's a different approach—and I'm having coffee right now.”
From the 41-second intro “Brainwaves” to heavier prog-driven tracks like “Pusher” and “Alive” to a trashier traipse into “Violent Crime,” melody thrives on the 14-track self-titled album (Overit). Indeed, a bit mystical, sexy and confusing at times, like addiction-laden “More on Drugs” to Sunset Strip recollections in a slower, moodier “Apples," all are glued together by mid-album guitar instrumental “Degeneration.”
“I try to keep some fantasy, so people say what the hell is he talking about?” says Wyse. “One person said, ‘I like the album, but that song “More on Drugs” is all over the place.’ I'm like, it's called “More on Drugs!” The rules aren't that strict. I came up with some heavy duty bands growing up that did whatever the hell they wanted, and they weren't apologizing—and neither am I.”
Tour Dates
July 13 Gramercy Theatre, New York
July 22 Village Pub South, Amityville, NY
July 24 Sheppard’s Cove, Lake George, NY
July 25 Red Square, Albany, NY
July 30 Arlene’s Grocery, New York
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