OXES

OXES emerged from the Baltimore underground in 1999 as a central pillar of the 'Baltimore Rowdy Collective.' Their sound is a distinctive evolution of the math rock and noise rock templates established by bands like Don Caballero and Shellac, but infused with a Dadaist sense of humor.

The band is famous for their confrontational live shows, which historically featured wireless guitars and the use of black pedestals to physically elevate themselves above the audience, satirizing rock superiority. Their discography is marked by technical brilliance and conceptual pranks, most notably a split 10 inch where they impersonated their tour mates Arab on Radar. Critically, they are viewed as a bridge between the rigid structures of 90s math rock and the more chaotic, performance-art-leaning experimental scene of the 2000s. Despite long periods of dormancy and members moving into diverse projects like Novo Line and Microkingdom, OXES remains a cult touchstone for instrumental music that refuses to take itself seriously while remaining technically formidable.