Oxymorons News

Serious Fun with DC's OXYMORONS
MTV.com (September 27, 1999)

On a recent Saturday at DC's Velvet Lounge, I had the pleasure of listening to a "seriously fun" band, the OXYMORONS. No newcomers to the music scene, they have been playing around the DC area since 1989, although only four of the original members remain.

Practice has clearly paid off for this band, whose two-hour set was extremely tight and had my feet moving the entire evening. The band has seven members who unite their individual talents in a full, well-rounded blues-based rock sound. Their instrumentation includes two electric guitars, bass, drums, and percussion, keyboards and harmonica, all of which serve to complement both the male and female vocals.

During their set, the OXYMORONS played a mixture of original songs and covers. Many of their original songs, showcased on their two CDs, include long instrumental sections where different band members take the opportunity to solo and show off their skills. The harmonica and guitar solos definitely stole the show, making the band stand out amongst the sea of local rock musicians.

Even though I am usually skeptical of cover songs, the OXYMORONS blew me away with their version of THE ROLLING STONES' "You Can't Always Get What You Want." What made this cover such a success was that the band didn't stick to the original formula but augmented the song and really made it their own. They played a few other covers also, including songs by THE PRETENDERS and TOM PETTY.

The Velvet Lounge was full to capacity, and the OXYMORONS kept the audience happy and grooving to danceable numbers. Because the stage of the Velvet Lounge is about the size of a broom closet, only four members of the band could fit on it. The other three were in front of them, on the floor with the crowd, which made for an especially intimate performance.

The band is currently selling their two CDs, Meet the Morons and Forlorn Hope. You can pickup the band's CDs at shows or online at their website @ www.oxymorons.com.