Foss (band)

Foss

Company type	Independent band/DIY collective
Industry	Music
Founded	1993
Founder	Beto O'Rourke, Cedric Bixler-Zavala, Mike Stevens, Arlo Klahr
Defunct	1995
Headquarters	El Paso, Texas , United States
Products	Music albums and EPs
Website	https://web.archive.org/web/20071025003204/http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=28347930

Foss was a rock ensemble originating from El Paso, Texas during the early 1990s. The group is especially recognized for including future notable figures such as Cedric Bixler-Zavala, who later rose to fame as the frontman of At the Drive-In and the Mars Volta, and Beto O'Rourke, who pursued a career in politics as a U.S. Representative and ran for U.S. Senate, President, and Governor of Texas.

Identified primarily as a post-hardcore outfit, Foss incorporated influences from punk rock, emo, and indie rock. They adhered to a DIY philosophy, inspired by independent record labels like Dischord Records and punk publications such as Maximumrocknroll. Throughout their active years, Foss produced multiple recordings and toured across various regions in the United States and Canada. Notably, the band appeared on El Paso’s evangelical public-access television program Let's Get Real With Bill Lowrey after convincing producers they were a Christian rock group; this unusual performance was later shared widely online.

The band’s commitment to DIY principles shaped O'Rourke’s political tactics, including his Senate campaign's decision to reject PAC funding. Media outlets frequently pointed out the link between O'Rourke and Bixler-Zavala, emphasizing how O'Rourke's punk background enhanced his authenticity and appeal, particularly among younger demographics. The Texas Republican Party notably ridiculed Foss's album The El Paso Pussycats, which featured O'Rourke dressed in women's clothing on its cover.

Background

Raised in El Paso, Beto O'Rourke experienced feelings of detachment during his teenage years in the 1980s. He described the city at that time as lacking vibrancy and adventurous spirit. His early introduction to rock music led him toward punk rock, influenced by groups like The Clash and independent labels such as Dischord Records. By his mid-adolescence, O'Rourke was deeply involved in El Paso’s punk scene, attending concerts and engaging with punk culture through zines like Maximumrocknroll and Flipside. According to The Washington Post, O'Rourke established Foss with ambitions of touring internationally and finding camaraderie within El Paso’s punk community.

While attending Woodberry Forest School, a boarding school in Virginia, O'Rourke returned home during breaks to remain active in local punk venues such as Campus Queen, run by Ed Ivey of Rhythm Pigs. It was there that he met Cedric Bixler-Zavala, who later acknowledged O'Rourke as a significant influence on his musical path.

After enrolling at Columbia University in New York City, O'Rourke joined his initial band called Swipe, performing at various bars and clubs and opening for Olympia-based punk band Fitz of Depression.

History

Foss was formed by O'Rourke and Bixler-Zavala along with Mike Stevens and Arlo Klahr. The name "Foss" is derived from the Icelandic term for "waterfall". The group launched their own label, Western Breed Records, through which they released a 7-inch record titled The El Paso Pussycats. The album cover depicted O'Rourke wearing a floral dress borrowed from his then-girlfriend Maggie Asfahani, reflecting the band's irreverent style. Their discography also includes a self-titled demo along with the full-length album Fewel Street. Western Breed Records subsequently released early material from Bixler-Zavala's later band At the Drive-In.

During college summer breaks, Foss embarked on two tours throughout North America. Tour management was handled by O'Rourke and Klahr using resources such as Book Your Own Fucking Life, a DIY touring manual. On one occasion, O'Rourke secured a San Francisco show by impersonating a Sub Pop founder; however, the band was asked to leave after performing only two songs. During these tours, Foss encountered Feist before she became widely known.

In 1994, Foss made an appearance on El Paso’s public-access program Let's Get Real With Bill Lowrey. To gain entry onto this evangelical show, they misrepresented themselves as performers of gospel and Christian rock music, quickly composing a new song specifically for the broadcast. The host Bill Lowrey later commented on their surprising success.

Video clips from this appearance emerged on YouTube, capturing an intense and chaotic performance that defied typical expectations of 1990s Texas music scenes. According to The Dallas Morning News, O'Rourke showed noticeable improvement in his musicianship compared to these early days.

Musical style and influences

Andy Cush from Spin characterized Foss as a post-hardcore group. The band has also been described as "emo-punk", reflecting the early emo movement's impact on their sound. O'Rourke, influenced by Dischord Records acts such as Minor Threat and Rites of Spring, embraced their independent DIY philosophy, prioritizing a direct connection between artists and fans rather than mainstream music industry channels:

Cedric Bixler-Zavala acknowledged O'Rourke for introducing him to punk and indie acts like Rites of Spring and Dinosaur Jr., which shifted his musical preferences away from dub and classic rock. Meanwhile, Klahr contributed influences from the punk scenes in Australia and New Zealand, bringing bands such as The Saints and The Clean into Foss's musical palette.

In 2018, Rolling Stone released "Rise", significantly expanding Foss's audience. Tessa Stuart described their sound as "lo-fi slacker rock" shaped by influences like Fugazi and Guided by Voices. Eric Grubbs of the Dallas Observer compared it to "13 Songs-era Fugazi combined with Pavement's lo-fi Slanted and Enchanted". Eduardo Cepeda from Remezcla detected traces of Rites of Spring and Government Issue. Michael Roffman at Consequence of Sound referred to it as a "chalky slice of alternative rock" reminiscent of Sunny Day Real Estate.

After Foss

The dissolution of Foss partly stemmed from O'Rourke's realization that music was not his strongest suit, coupled with familial pressure concerning the student loans he had incurred attending Columbia University.

Following Foss, O'Rourke participated in various bands including Fragile Gang, the Swedes, and the Sheeps. From 1999 to 2002, he co-managed the alternative weekly newspaper Stanton Street, serving alongside former Foss member Stevens as managing editor. Reflecting on his tenure on the El Paso City Council, O'Rourke remarked that his former bandmates had "all gone on to successful musical careers, confirming their talent and my lack thereof."

Cedric Bixler-Zavala later rose to prominence as the frontman of the post-hardcore band At the Drive-In, as well as the Grammy-winning progressive rock ensemble the Mars Volta, among other ventures. The earliest public reference to Foss appeared in a post on the webzine Buddyhead just before At the Drive-In's 2000 album Relationship of Command. The 2005 publication New Wave of American Heavy Metal also mentions Foss (under the name "Faus") within its coverage of At the Drive-In.

Impact on Beto O'Rourke's political career

When O'Rourke launched his 2018 Senate campaign, numerous media outlets highlighted his history with Foss, linking him to notable rock figures such as Cedric Bixler-Zavala. Reuters referred to him as an "ex-punk rocker," underscoring this facet of his background. By 2018, commentators observed that O'Rourke's punk rock image was a recurring element in media profiles.

O'Rourke often mentioned his experience with Foss during interviews, with political commentators considering his punk roots essential to his public identity and campaign strategy. His rejection of corporate funding and commitment to grassroots touring echoed his punk principles. Mimi Swartz from The New York Times argued that this background enhanced his resonance with millennial voters. Furthermore, recordings from Foss confirmed that O'Rourke had used the nickname "Beto" long before entering politics, dispelling notions that it was adopted solely to attract Hispanic voters.

Former members of Foss actively supported O'Rourke’s Senate bid; Stevens performed at fundraising events while Bixler-Zavala publicly endorsed him and even encouraged a presidential run following O'Rourke’s defeat.

In August 2018, a tweet from the Texas GOP mocking O'Rourke’s punk past by referencing Foss’s album artwork backfired spectacularly, instead increasing his popularity among younger demographics and the general public. This exchange went viral and included a photo of Ted Cruz dressed as a mime, highlighting contrasting cultural approaches in political messaging.

On March 3, 2020, Cedric Bixler-Zavala openly criticized O'Rourke on Instagram for endorsing Joe Biden over Bernie Sanders during the 2020 presidential primaries, expressing his disappointment publicly.

Personnel

• Cedric Bixler-Zavala – vocals, drums
• Arlo Klahr – vocals, guitar
• Beto O'Rourke – vocals, bass guitar
• Mike Stevens – vocals, guitar

Albums

• Fewel Street (1995)

EPs

• The El Paso Pussycats (1993)
• Foss (1993)

External links

• Foss on Myspace (inactive; archived version via the Internet Archive)
• A vinyl rip of Foss's The El Paso Pussycats hosted on SoundCloud, provided by Cedric Bixler-Zavala