Meet Lost&Found (or: Can you still call it a supergroup if they only have two people?)

The Parlotones have a bit of a reputation. What exactly that reputation is, I’m not sure. There was a degree of unspecified backlash when they were announced to play at Oppikoppi 2015. But maybe that makes this the perfect time for a side-project. Introducing…

Lost&Found

Lost&Found is a new Alternative Country/Rock music project consisting of Glen Hodgson from The Parlotones & Jason Oosthuizen (Black Cat Bones drummer).

Hodgson, the keyboard player and backing vocalist of The Parlotones started this as a singer-songwriter project, but then drastically changed things when Jason Oosthuizen joined as permanent drummer.

“Everything is a lot more upbeat and vibey now,” explains Glen. “My solo stuff was very chilled and slow. With Jason and the change in the songs there is a LOT more energy going around, which is awesome.”

And while the addition of a second member pushed the music into high gear, they decided that two would be enough. “I like to keep things simple, but also interesting. A two-piece, in my option, is more interesting than your regular 4- or 5-piece band.” Glen says that they get along well, and their strengths and weaknesses complement each other. “There’s no reason for another member.”

Jason likes the idea of a duo – he think’s it’s cool, and different. But who knows: “Maybe for big shows we will get all our guest artists in and be a 12-piece band for the day!”

With their upcoming album launch tour, they’ll be sticking to the duo setup. Glen: “You can expect a mixture of high energy, stripped down acoustic, and maybe some flaming cymbals.”

Their first single, Lost&Found, is available for free download from www.lostandfoundband.co.za, and the band and single gets introduced in the video below.

The single has a really honest and confessional sound. Glen finds personal expression, or dealing with personal issues, an integral part of his songwriting. “I guess in a way, it is my way of dealing with things; getting them out of my head.”

These songs are also worlds apart from The Parlotones (whose songs are mostly written by Kahn). “There is a definite difference between Kahn’s and my songwriting styles.”

Jason chimes in with his two cents: “I think we’re a tad rockier than The Parlotones.”

But the whole experience of starting Lost&Found is a shift for Glen – from behind the keyboards, providing backing vocals for The Parlotones, to fronting a band for the first time. “The thought terrifies me,” Glen admits. “I’ve always been able to almost hide away on stage if I felt like it, now I cannot do that anymore. I guess this tour will be the real test for me as a front man. Luckily Jason and I are next to each other and he’s a showman himself, so that takes a bit of the pressure off.”

They just completed recording their debut album in Bloubergstrand with producers Fred den Hartog and Dane Taylor. The album is due for release middle February 2016 – see launch tour dates below.

Speaking of the album…

…Lost&Found recruited a TON of guest artists for their debut record – a guest artist for each song. So far, confirmed guest artists include Jedd Kossew (Francois van Coke & Van Coke Kartel), Theo Crous (Springbok Nude Girls & Kobus!), Chris van der Walt (Black Cat Bones), Lee Lips (Hog Hoggidy Hog), Johnny de Ridder (Fokofpolisiekar), Hunter Kennedy (Die Heuwels Fantasties & Fokofpolisiekar), Pierre Greeff (Die Heuwels Fantasties) and Fred den Hartog (Die Heuwels Fantasties & Thieve).

Jason explains how this came about: “We were sitting at a local pub and after a few drinks, we decided it could be cool to have some of our friends play on the record. So we hit up our mates and 99% agreed to come do some stuff for us.”

“There was no real agenda behind it,” says Glen. “I think it just makes Lost&Found a little bit different to the usual.”

Their self-titled album will be available exclusively at Lost&Found shows. Thereafter the album will go live on iTunes and other platforms.

Tour dates

Date: 17 February 2016 – Lost&Found, Saarkie – Salute Restaurant and Bar, Faerie Glen, Pretoria

Date: 18 Mystic Boer, Potch – Lost&Found, Kobus de Kock Jnr., Saarkie – Mystic Boer, Potchefstroom

Date: 19 February – Lost&Found, Kobus de Kock Jnr., Saarkie – Die Mystic Boer, Bloemfontein

Date: 20 February – Lost&Found, Kobus de Kock Jnr., Saarkie – Grid & Grill Pub & Restaurant, Benoni

Date: 22 February – Lost&Found, Josie Wigget, Boxer the Ring – Cafe Roux, Noordhoek, Cape Town

Date: 23 February – Lost&Found, Boxer the Ring, Ryno Velvet, De Wallen – Aandklas, Stellenbosch 

Date: 24 February – The Shack, Cape Town

Date: 25 February – Lost&Found, Ryno Velvet, De Wallen, Cat and the Jackal, Boxer the Ring – Rabbit Hole, Durbanville

Date: 26 February – Lost&Found, Ryno Velvet, De Wallen, Boxer the Ring – La Cabane, Hout Bay

Date: 27 February – Lost&Found, Ryno Velvet, De Wallen, Boxer the Ring – SGT Pepper Long Street, Cape Town

Date: 28 February – Park Acoustics – aKing, Tidal Waves, Lost&Found, Late Night Fox, James Tuft, DJ Invizable – Fort Schanskop, Voortrekker Monument, Pretoria

Lost&Found is a two-piece alternative country/rock band consisting of Glen Hodgson from The Parlotones and Jason Oosthuizen from The Black Cat Bones. Their debut album is due to be released in February 2016. Follow them on twitter and instagram at @lost_found_band.