| Om | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Background information | ||
| Origin | San Francisco, California, USA | |
| Genres | Stoner Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Doom, Ambient, Post-Metal, Avant-Garde Metal | |
| Years active | 2003 - present | |
| Labels | Drag City, Southern Lord Records, Holy Mountain Records, Sub Pop | |
| Associated acts | Sleep, Grails | |
| Website | Official Website | |
| Current members | Al Cisneros Emil Amos Robert Lowe | |
| Past members | Chris Hakius | |
| Band Logo | ||
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Om (sometimes formatted as OM) are a three piece Stoner Metal, Doom and Drone band from San Francisco, California, USA. Formed in 2003, they are known for their experimental, avant-garde approach to the stoner rock sound.
History
Om originate from San Francisco, California.[1] Their sound could be categorized as traditional stoner metal, but also has influences in doom and psychedelic rock, as well as Middle Eastern sounds in their recent years. They were formed in 2003[1] by original Sleep bassist and drummer, Al Cisneros and Chris Hakius, respectively. Currently, the band functions as a three-piece with Cisneros, Emil Amos (Grails, Holy Sons) and Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe[1]. In a departure from Sleep's stylistic influences of Black Sabbath and marijuana, Om's influences are driven from spirituality and the concept of freedom. The name of the band itself is derived from Hindu culture, where the sound 'om' represents the natural vibration of the universe.[2] All of the bands studio albums from Pilgrimage onward, feature Eastern Orthodox iconography.
Original lineup (2003-2008)
After Sleep had officially disbanded in 1998, Chris Hakius joined former Sleep guitarist Justin Marler to form The Sabians, who lasted from 1998 to roughly 2003. Al Cisneros on the other hand stopped playing music entirely, at one point becoming a chess teacher[3]. At some point in 2003, Cisneros met up with Hakius about possibly forming a new band, opting to not have a guitarist due to the intrigue of exploring music as a duo.[4] Om officially formed in 2003 and sporadically played shows around the San Francisco area, notably the ArthurBall[5] in 2005. Their first official live performance was on Sunday, August 14, 2004.[6] On February 14 of 2005 their début album Variations on a Theme was released via Holy Mountain records[7] billed as the triumphant return of Cisneros and Hakius.
Conference of the Birds followed on April 17, 2006[8] Two split releases, recorded during the Conference of the Birds sessions, followed that year; the first was a split with Current 93 titled Inerrant Rays Of Infallible Sun (Blackship Shrinebuilder) released in June[9], with the second, a split with Six Organs Of Admittance, dropping in July[10].
At some point after the release of their second album, Om toured with Grails, where Cisneros would meet and befriend future drummer Emil Amos. On September 13, 2007 another album would follow in the form of Pilgrimage, their only studio release on the Southern Lord label,[11] with a North American tour supporting the album. Shortly after, the band performed two nights in Israel. Their December 5, 2007 show in Jerusalem has become infamous due to a set that spanned five hours[12], a portion of which saw a physical release on the Southern Lord LP Live at Jerusalem in 2008.[13]
OM @ Echoplex - Gebel Barkal (last song Chris Hakius played w OM)-0
In 2008 the band performed a short tour of the west coast of USA, with a short east coast tour in the works. On January 20, Om performed at the Echoplex in what would be Chris Hakius' final performance with the band, with a jam including sections from future songs "Thebes" and "Gebel Barkal" being the last song played.[14]. Chris Hakius would retire from music after this show, barring a brief return at the beginning of the Sleep reunion in 2009.
Post-Hakius (2008-present)
Shortly after Hakius' departure, Cisneros reconnected with Emil Amos, which ultimately led to Amos becoming the new drummer for the band.[15] The first recording with Amos as drummer was the single, "Gebel Barkal" which was recorded on March 8, 2008 and released on the Sub Pop label on August 15, 2008.[16] The first known performance of this lineup is May 17 2008 at the Victoriaville Festival in Quebec. Tours of Europe, Japan and the United States would follow. Notably, one of these performances on September 20 in Monticello, NY was at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival. This set would end up being released as Live Conference (sometimes titled "Conference Live") on Important Records a year later.[17]
God Is Good was recorded in March 2009. This was around the same time Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe would join the band's live lineup, expanding it to a three-piece. Eventually, God Is Good was released on September 29, 2009 via Drag City.[18] Various tours and festival appearances would follow before the following album, Advaitic Songs, was released on July 24, 2012.[19] This album explored Middle Eastern and experimental influences more heavily, a drastic shift from their prior sound.
Om - At Giza live at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC, 07-19-13
In 2013, the band performed at the Temple of Dendur, located in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York , performing a special, site-specific version of "At Giza"[20] In November 2013, the band played the final holiday camp edition of the world famous All Tomorrow's Parties festival in Camber Sands, England.[21] In December 2014, they released a third live album, titled merely Live[22]
Om continue to play sporadic live dates and are scheduled to play another All Tomorrows Parties event at the Electric Ballroom, London, England in November of 2015.[23]
Discography
Studio Albums
- Variations on a Theme (2005)
- Conference of the Birds (2006)
- Pilgrimage (2007)
- God Is Good (2009)
- Advaitic Songs (2012)
Splits
- Inerrant Rays of Infallible Sun (Blackship Shrinebuilder) (2006)
'with Current 93 - Om / Six Organs of Admittance (2006)
with Six Organs of Admittance
Live Albums
- Live At Jerusalem (2008)
- Live Conference (2009)
- Live (2014)
Members
Current Members
- Al Cisneros - Bass, Vocals (2003-present)
- Emil Amos - Drums (2008-present)
- Robert Lowe - Vocals, Guitar, Synthesizer, Percussion (2011-present)
Former Members
- Chris Hakius - Drums (2003-2008)
External Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Om Facebook Info, first accessed 3rd August 2015
- ↑ Huffington Post The Meaning of Om, first accessed 6th August 2015
- ↑ L.A. Record Om@ The Current is Beyond, first accessed 3rd August 2015
- ↑ Arthur Mag Interview with OM from the pages of ARTHUR MAGAZINE, first accessed 3rd August 2015
- ↑ Setlist.fm Om Setlist at ArthurBall 2005, first accessed 3rd August 2015
- ↑ Holy Mountain via Wayback MachineHoly Mountain Tours Page, accessed February 2, 2016.
- ↑ Discogs Variations on a Theme, first accessed 6th August 2015
- ↑ Discogs Conference of the Birds, first accessed 6th August 2015
- ↑ Discogs Inerrant Rays Of Infallible Sun (Blackship Shrinebuilder), first accessed 6th August 2015
- ↑ Discogs Om / Six Organs of Admittance, first accessed 6th August 2015
- ↑ Discogs Pilgrimage, first accessed 6th August 2015
- ↑ SF Gate Om: Sleep bandmates Cisneros, Hakius reunite in new duo, first accessed 6th August 2015
- ↑ Discogs Live at Jerusalem, first accessed 6th August 2015
- ↑ Youtube OM @ Echoplex - Gebel Barkal (last song Chris Hakius played w/ OM), first accessed 3rd August 2015
- ↑ A.V. Club Om's Al Cisneros blazes his way through sonic archaeology, first accessed 3rd August 2015
- ↑ Discogs Gebel Barkal, first accessed 6th August 2015
- ↑ Discogs Conference Live, first accessed 6th August 2015
- ↑ Discogs God Is Good, first accessed 6th August 2015
- ↑ Discogs Adviatic Songs, first accessed 6th August 2015
- ↑ Youtube Om - At Giza live at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC, 07-19-13, first accessed 3rd AUgust 2015
- ↑ ATP Festival THE END OF AN ERA PART 2: CURATED BY ATP & LOOP, first accessed 3rd August 2015
- ↑ Discogs Live, first accessed 6th August 2015
- ↑ ATP Festival OM & LIGHTNING BOLT + SUPPORT TBC, First accessed 6th August 2015
| V·T·E Om | |
|---|---|
| Current Members | Al Cisneros • Emil Amos • Tyler Trotter |
| Past Members | Chris Hakius • Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe |
| Studio Albums | Variations on a Theme • Conference of the Birds • Pilgrimage • God Is Good • Advaitic Songs |
| Splits | Inerrant Rays of Infallible Sun (Blackship Shrinebuilder) • Om / Six Organs of Admittance |
| Singles | Gebel Barkal • Addis Dubplate • Gethsemane Dubplate |
| Live Albums | Live at Jerusalem • Live Conference • Live • BBC Radio 1 • Live at Amoeba |
| Associated Bands and Artists | Sleep • The Sabians • Shrinebuilder • Grails • Holy Mountain Records • Billy Anderson • David V. D'andrea |