Owl at the Map Room

Chris Wyse, bassist of the Cult since 2006, has formed a new band, a Los Angeles-based rock trio called Owl. Wyse is singing lead and playing bass, and is joined by Jason Mezilis on guitar and vocals and Wyse’s childhood friend, Dan Dinsmore on drums. The band has released two albums, a self-titled debut in 2009 and The Right Thing, which was released a month ago.

Owl returned to New York for the second time in two months to perform at the Map Room of Bowery Electric tonight. The set was eclectic, from the Irish rocking style of “Rover” to melodic singer-songwriter songs to heavy progressive compositions. Wrapped in rock structures, the songs showcased a healthy combination of accessible hooks and harmonic phrasings, but the songs never stayed that way for long. Soon enough, the trio moved into crafty, instrumental intricacy, sometimes touching on experimental noise. For a few songs, Wyse led the band with an upright bass, sometimes jumping around with a bow, and later played the electric bass as a lead instrument. Mezilis played clear, stinging leads, but then bent the rules to produce rude sounds. Dinsmore changed the rhythms often as a jazz drummer would do. Overall, Owl impressed with the way that the musicians moved between polar opposites, from mellower rock songs to heavier, noisier songs. This music can easily open a concert at large rock stages and perhaps even experimental music venues like the Stone. For fans of adventurous music, Owl may be the band to watch.