Orso

Led by Phil Spirito of Rex, Brian Deck from Red Red Meat, and Ben Massarella of Califone, Orso blends experimental elements with folk influences. The group centers its songs on banjo while fleshing them out through unconventional instruments including typewriters and toilets. Its first studio album, a self-titled release on Perishable Records, appeared in 1999. Long Time By, a more concentrated work, arrived the following year, with My Dreams Are Back and They Are Better Than Ever following in 2004. Ask Your Neighbor........... became the band’s initial release on Contraphonic, the Chicago label, in 2008.