Oso Closo parts ways — final performance tonight in Denton at NX35

by Sarah Crisman

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A bittersweet break closes a chapter on Denton rock as two new projects emerge from the group.

DENTON — As the world turns eyes and ears to a tiny town and the community braces for the changes rattling about, a chapter of Denton rock has come to a close. Oso Closo will perform their last show tonight at the Boiler Room (after the inescapable Flaming Lips, that is). Word of Oso's split is a sad reminder that an era of our scene is at an end, and well before fans are ready to let go.

The split is mutual and will give way for the evolution of two new projects involving the Oso's. Frontman Adrian Hulet will pull back from live performances to focus on a solo project, including a new album. The remaining four members of the band, Chris McQueen, Danny Garcia, Andy Rogers, and Ryan Jacobi have begun an as-yet-named project that will take over Oso's remaining commitments after NX35.

There remains a profound sense of loss for fans who have poured their attention, love, and energy into the creative manifestation of five men making music as best they know how. In retrospect, the writing has been on the wall. There has been a distinct drain on the energy compared to shows of only a few months ago. If the band is not having fun anymore, it comes across live (even if you can't quite put your finger on what has changed from the front row). Nevertheless, they stood apart from other rock bands when they took the stage at Dallas Theater Center's Tommy and won over new fans with an irkingly catchy Chipotle jingle.

Personally, I have been given a lot of grief for my open support of the band -- but I don't give a damn at this point (I never really did). I will continue to support these musicians in whatever musical endeavor they pursue. I trust their decision. We may not be able to see them again after tonight (though they have said that reunion shows are not out of the question whatsoever), but we have two albums and four years worth of headbanging, melodic-rock memories to cherish.

I had the pleasure of seeing them perform on a tiny stage for a crazy ass Cajun crowd in Lafayette, then open at House of Blues for Everclear (where my high school buddy vowed to give Chris McQueen his firstborn son as rock god offering after seeing him shred "The Ruiner" onstage); I watched Miranda George inadvertently punch a guy in the face at Chat Room during the requisite air punch on "Back is Broken"; I was there when they filmed their forthcoming DVD of the Today is Beauty's Birthday album release -- complete with a full string section orchestrated by McQueen. Every show yielded much headbanging from the crowd (at the very least on my end), McQueen's catlike-leap from Jacobi's drumkit (or any other launchpad worthy surface available), and Adrian's attempt at piano-murder-by-way-of-chair. I was with them while they rallied support for Beauty's Birthday and saw how fans and friends took ownership of the band's creative vision. I ate that whole damn burrito without taking a breath. I named Beauty's Birthday album of the year, and I meant it.

I would like to leave you with a song for my friends -- because in the end it does not matter what I say. No turn of phrase could ever match the power of music -- the most important thing I can do is get you to press play and listen. The music will take over from there.

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