The Oxen: A Candid Conversation
The Oxen band members, husband and wife John and Jozette, sat down with The Fusion Press’ Lauren Alexis Wood to talk about Oxen City Limits, a DIY production they’ve taken on to keep the San Diego music scene alive through the Pandemic.
This pandemic has not been easy for anyone, however, for musicians who thrive on the energy and recognition from a live audience this pandemic has been near career-ending. The Oxen saw how the pandemic was effecting their own band, not to mention their friends’ projects, and came up with a solution.
”When we created Oxen City Limits, we wanted to give bands an outlet to create and still be active. We wanted to give them something to look forward to.” Jozette explained. The two have been working with The Moose Lodge in San Diego as a production location for live performances by local bands which are live-streamed and made available on YouTube about a week later.
Curious about the project? Check out a few of the Oxen City Limits recorded performances.
Blind Mountain Holler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QenCB4_7KRs&t=136s
Sweet Threats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6M4iSQ7z0U&t=118s
Modern Bummer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I-Y1qCaMpo&t=625s
Nowhereland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4ZSgP-3hDo&t=521s
“We were unbelievably bummed about our own cancelled shows and missed opportunities due to the Pandemic, we knew others felt the same way.” John has taken on all production and design of the process from an entirely DIY space, each recording and session done on-site with the equipment at-hand.
Check out all of the current and upcoming Oxen City Limit performances on their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/oxencitylimits).
Oxen City Limits debuts two live performances monthly. Up next for October? Kieth Haman and This Debacle, two San Diego side projects who will perform two weeks apart at the Moose Lodge for the Oxen City Limits recording.
The Oxen also have a split release (vinyl/digital) EP slated to release early next year with three other San Diego bands (Sick Balloons, The Gift Machine, Modern Bummer).
The Oxen were nominated for “Best Rock Band in San Diego” in 2017 and 2018 at the San Diego Music Awards. They also can be heard on ‘Loudspeaker’ on 91X in San Diego.
theoxen.bandcamp.com
instagram.com/theoxenband
facebook.com/theoxenmusic
