Oso Oso Makes Every Dollar of Their $10 Tour Worth It at Club Dada

On Saturday, July 26, Deep Ellum’s Club Dada proved the perfect setting for Oso Oso’s Dallas stop on the $10 Bill Tour, celebrating a decade of pop-punk brilliance. With tickets priced at just ten bucks, the night was a steal—and worth every penny and then some. The evening was a heartfelt, occasionally hilarious and sonically impeccable journey through the band’s career, with Scott Ayotte of Born Without Bones setting the tone with an acoustic opening set that was full of moments that connected with the crowd.
Ayotte, frontman of Born Without Bones and temporary bassist/backup vocals for Oso Oso on the tour, opened the night with a solo acoustic set that was both captivating and emotionally charged. The crowd at Club Dada sang along passionately, matching Ayotte’s heartfelt delivery note for note. His stripped-down rendition of “Dancer” from the band’s 2022 album of the same name was a highlight, offering an intimate take on a song that, in its full-band form, carries a completely different energy. Without its layered instrumentation, the acoustic version unveiled a poignant vulnerability in lyrics like “I’m just a dancer, dancing for answers,” making it arguably even more impactful than the original.

Ayotte’s set culminated in a jaw-dropping mashup of his band’s 2013 hit song “Stone” and Radiohead’s “Creep,” a transition so seamless it left the room gasping before erupting into a euphoric sing-along. At one point, Ayotte quipped, “How did you get that way, Dallas?” It was a playful nod to the city that drew the audience even closer into his orbit. After a brief intermission, Oso Oso took the stage, handling their own gear with a DIY ethos that felt refreshingly authentic. Frontman Jade Lilitri led the band through a 25-song, 90-minute set that was as tight as it was dynamic. The setlist was a masterclass in pacing, kicking off with “Track 1, Side A” from their 2015 debut Real Stories of True People Who Kind of Looked Like Monsters… and seamlessly transitioning into fan favorites like “basking in the glow.”

Lilitri’s between-song banter added a layer of charm to the evening. He shared anecdotes about his brother’s brief stint in Dallas for aviation school, and his own time living in Dallas, though he cheekily clarified it was Dallas, Pennsylvania, not Dallas, Texas. “You could be weird out there,” he mused, drawing laughter and applause from the crowd.

The night wasn’t without its quirks. During a tuning break, the bass from the neighboring OTR nightclub seeped through the walls, with Nelly’s “Hot in Herre” providing an unexpected and hilarious backdrop. The juxtaposition of emo tuning sessions and “good gracious ass bodacious” had the entire room laughing, a testament to the lighthearted vibe that permeated the evening.

Oso Oso’s performance was album-perfect, with each song delivered with precision and passion. The band’s ability to seamlessly shift between their older, rawer tracks and the more polished, introspective songs from 2024’s Life Till Bones showcased their evolution over the past decade. The lighting design added to the atmosphere, with moody hues rotating in sync with the music’s emotional peaks and valleys.

The set’s climax came with their closing track, “gb/ol h/nf” (short for “Goodbye Old Love, Hello New Friend”), a 2018 single that turned Club Dada into a swirling mosh pit. A lone crowd surfer added to the chaos, capping off the night with a burst of energy that left everyone exhilarated.

Oso Oso’s $10 Bill Tour stop at Club Dada was a sincere celebration of community. From Ayotte’s soul-baring acoustic set to Oso Oso’s electrifying performance, the night was a reminder of why we show up to these small, sweaty venues: to feel something real. For ten bucks, attendees got an experience that proved that great music doesn’t need a big price tag to leave a lasting impact.

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