Ox began in the smokey confines of East-side Vancouver’s
Profile Studios- as songwriter Mark Browning’s project to
remake Woody Guthrie’s ‘Dust Bowl Ballads’. What started as a
musical history excercise and sonic experiment quickly
transformed into an intimate expression of rambling folk
soundscape mixed with indie rock. Browning’s 2003 debut, ‘Dust
Bowl Revival’ bridged the burgeoning roots alt-country scene
into indie cult status coming out of nowhere to eventually
reach #1 on Canada’s national college radio chart- the first
time an independent record has achieved such an honour.
Following this, thousands of miles of touring across Canada,
the USA, UK, Ireland, Germany, and the Netherlands crystalized
Ox’s underground cult status. Avoiding the mainstream, and
ignoring the industry, Ox lurks on the fringe with a fiercely
independent DIY approach and through subsequent albums and
tours- each generating critical acclaim- has gained a loyal
following.
After 7 years and 4 albums, Browning moved the Ox homebase to
his hometown of Sudbury, Ontario. There, with support from
longtime Ox collaborator Ryan Bishops, and part-time sideman
Brian Dunn, he founded Cosmic Dave’s Sound Emporium- an
atmospheric analog equiped recording studio and vintage music
store situated in an iconic old-time Sudbury diner. Here, Ox
continues the tradition begun in Vancouver combining haunting
dust bowl soundtracks with reverb-soaked garage indie folk-
either providing late night playlists for all night prairie
drives. |
