Everytime they hit the stage, Ology gives guys, girls, and even bearded transvestites "happy feet" and showers musical "love juice" on them.
Jose de la Cerda, Ology's lead singer and "el mero mero," assures that the "happy feet" syndrome stems from the band's ability to get the crowd dancing instead of slam dancing. "We try to create something that grooves and gives both males and females what I like to call "happy feet" — you know, something that gets their feet moving," says de la Cerda.
As for the bearded cross-dresser who couldn't help but shake his booty and flash his thong to club patrons at an Ology show in Austin, bassist Mauricio Ortega and guitarist Armando Cadena blame the band's rock cover of rapper Sisqo's hit, "The Thong Song," for the indecent exposure. "When we played that song, `the transvestite` just went nuts," Ortega says. "I guess we gained a new fan."
For three-and-a-half years, de la Cerda, Ortega, Cadena, and drummer Paul Casares have been garnering fans with their bilingual, high-energy rock that owes itself to a variety of musical styles and genres. This group of high school buddies cites diverse acts such as the Monkees, Led Zeppelin, Korn, the Strawberry Alarm Clock, and even salsa merengue music as influences for their genre-defying sound.
"Ology's sound can be best described as a composition of different styles because everyone contributes and brings some-thing unique to the mix," says de la Cerda, who relies on his choir and R&B experience to deliver a scatting, Spanish-flecked vocal style.
Equipped with its own recording studio and a penchant for combining radio-friendly rock with R&B and dance flourishes, Ology has not yet acquired the same fanfare as local metal bands such as Meek, Protein Shake, or Drughoney — with whom the band frequently shares the stage. "We have trouble fitting into the local scenes because we're not heavy, yet we're not "light" either," Ortega says. "A lot of people in San Antonio want heavy stuff, so the heavier you sound, the more they like you."
It is difficult to neatly pigeonhole Ology's brand of music via a trendy gimmick, cookie-cutter image, or clearly defined sound; the band contends that all it is trying to do is create music that is fun, creative, and different. Of course, that's not to say the band would mind making a little money either. "Someone once told me that if you decide to do your own thing musically, you can explode and start something new and exciting," de la Cerda says. "After that happens, you'll be able to sell millions and make billions."
The band — with only demos under its belt — has yet to experience this type of success. In the meantime, Ology will have to be content with spreading its sound to the locals — who are more than welcome to show off their thongs at the next show.
