Influenced by Prince, The Police, Jimi Hendrix, funk bands and punk bands these guys stir up an eclectic blend of rock/funk/pop music and serve it up hot! Whether it’s songs about break-ups, make-outs, shake-ups or four letter words, Olio produces electrifying, positively fun music from their studio in Los Angeles, CA. On stage Arif Hodzic sings and breaks strings (sometimes his right-hand gets heavy), DeHaven Carrington grooves on drums and croons (when the lights are low and the mood is right), and Kelley Hill is a fireball of energy, bouncing on one leg and just tearing the bass up (you may even see metal shavings come off the neck).
Currently, Olio is in the studio working hard to release a new single and 3 EPs in 2017. First up is the energetic “New Year’s Eve” single produced by Joe Solo (Macy Gray, Michael Jackson, Fergie). They will be hitting the road regionally and nationally supporting the new releases.
Last year they shared the stage with Sum 41, Reel Big Fish, Sleeping With Sirens and Crown The Empire at Vans Road To Warped Tour kickoff in Anchorage, AK. Olio spent 2014 through 2016 touring nationally dubbed “Back In The Van Tour” to support their latest full-length album Untitled released by AD4 Records on March 25th, 2014. This was a much-anticipated project, after their time with recording legend Eddie Kramer, who produced the band’s last two EP’s, Comeback Kings & the yet to be released France Sessions.
Olio hit the road in the USA the summer of 2013 for their “Comeback Kings Tour” playing a successful string of dates. Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and cities in between in June and Scottsdale, Austin, Fort Worth, Little Rock, Columbus, Philadelphia, NYC, DC, Kill Devil Hills and Atlanta in July and August. 5 weeks, 11,000 miles and 30 shows!
On December 18, 2012, Olio released the Comeback Kings EP produced by legendary producer/engineer Eddie Kramer (Hendrix, Zeppelin, Beatles, Stones, Santana, Woodstock, Kiss, Frampton, Robert Randolph, Grace Potter). This session was born from a project at Loyola Marymount University where Eddie and the band recorded their first single together “Hello/Goodbye”. This prompted a new relationship so the band & Eddie could finish an EP. Before the project was done, Eddie needed a band to do a session in France for a Recording Workshop for some of the world’s top young Producers.
So Olio got on a plane and while there, laid down the foundation tracks for the France Sessions EP. More importantly, they wrote two new songs while there. One of which is “Rich People Problems” which Eddie loved and had the band record it immediately! Old school style, no click track, just push record and go! The song is now a staple in the live shows and displays the raw energy of the band as well as their groovesmanship. The second song “Round & Round” can be heard on their 2014 release Untitled.
2011 is what kind of started all of this good fortune. Olio won the Emerging Artist Competition held by Rusty’s on the Santa Monica Pier. They were the only band to play the Twilight Dance Series twice in one summer, opening for Dawes with Jackson Browne in front of a crowd of several thousand music lovers. Shortly thereafter bassist Kelley Hill joined the band and they have been non-stop ever since.
Other accolades include the celebrated the release of their 2010 single ““Get It Good”” following the success of the 2009 11 song album Living The Dream. The songs are dynamic ranging from the nylon-stringed sweetness of “Completely Beautiful” about the profound impact of becoming a parent (received an Honorable Mention Award in the 2008 West Coast Songwriters International Competition) to a hard rock/rap collab that already has 20,000 NJ Devils fans shouting “Here We Go” at the Prudential Center. Their homage to the Mamacita de Futbol aka “Soccer Mom” inspired one impassioned UK critic to call them “sexist and subtle as asledgehammerr.” (Olio still thinks Benny Hill, John Cleese and Ricky Gervais are funny) The sound created is rich and packs a punch reminiscent of the John Mayer Trio while thematically aiming for Stevie Wonder’s “Songs in the Key of Life.”
To experience Olio only on recording is like Vader without the Darth. Whether it’s 30 minutes or 3 hours, the energy generated by these three could power a small town (or even the lesser known planet Zeta-Reticulan5). So, maybe the question isn’t Who or What is Olio but rather When and Where?
History
Years ago, we played hooky from school to get better on our instruments, painted houses, worked security for concerts, telemarketed, landscaped, worked at Wherehouse Music, Capitol Records and played “Brown Eyed Girl” and “Brick House”, too many times to count, at the Sports Page Bar and Grill and Bananaz all to make ends meet. Fortunately, those days are over.
In 1997, Arif and bassist Tony Shibumi, artists known as Vivid, release the first single, “Mind”. It gains popularity within college and university radio stations across the country. DeHaven joins in August of 1997. The name officially changes to Olio in 1998. The debut CD, titled ain’t no party like an Olio party…LIVE hits stores and radio stations in 1999. Olio captured what they do best in a 13-song live album. The refreshing energy and innovative musical approach provides a heart racing, hip shaking, interactive experience. “Sagacity” and “Olio Party” are stand out tracks. Late February of 2000, The Vivid Tapes are released. The 5 song CD goes back to their roots. The recording features Arif and Tony, before DeHaven, from 1996 and 1997 recording sessions. Tony plays drums on three of the songs. This collection includes “Mind”. The 2001 EP titled 3P marks the first official studio release by Olio. Three well crafted songs with rich, dynamic production takes Olio to fiery heights filled with attitude, emotion and atmosphere. The beautiful song “Love You I Do” is destined to be a classic.
In May 2002, Tony Shibumi amicably left the band. After many years together, good times and lots of laughs, the time had come for a change. Arif & DeHaven forged ahead, pushing themselves creatively, in the 2003 release Colour Of Music. They toured in 2004 as a 5 piece band adding a keyboard player and background vocalist, Debbie Dee Morris. In 2007, they went back to their roots as a power trio, always changing, growing and creating.
In 2007, Matt Sherrell from Chicago joined Olio and they recorded the Living The Dream album in 2009 and “Get It Good” single in 2010. They toured the west coast supporting both releases. In September of 2011, after a successful 4 year run with the band, Matt amicably split from Olio to pursue other interests.
In October of 2011, bassist Kelley Hill, joined the band. This is Olio as a trio version 3.0!
SOURCE: Official Bio (http://www.oliomusic.com/about-2/)
LINKS:
http://www.oliomusic.com
http://www.facebook.com/oliomusic
http://twitter.com/oliomusic
https://olio.bandcamp.com
