Ode to O’Death

The Phoenix team arrived at 2:55, five minutes before our scheduled interview with A.A. Bondy. None of us knew quite what he looked like, so after wading through a crowd of gangly, flanneled folkies Marrota was fortunate enough to find him. He’s a nice dude, digs festivals. Video to come.

From my periphery during the interview I saw a drummer perched on his throne karate kid style, stalking his high hat ready to strike, across the festival ground in a small covered tent. It was O’Death’s drummer, who literally threw himself into the set. I’d heard of them over the years and after connecting a compelling sound with a familiar name I ran over to catch their set. O’Death killed. They sound like a more melodic, less gnarled Gogol Bordello. Good start to the day, more to come.