Oso Oso and other bands pay tribute to late guitarist Tavish Maloney
Earlier this week, the sad news broke that Oso Oso guitarist Tavish Maloney had passed away. Oso Oso leader — and longtime friend of Tavish — Jade Lilitri penned a lengthy tribute:
I feel like Ive been putting off writing this as long as I can because I don’t want it to feel anymore real then it does. I don’t want to say goodbye, I don’t want the fucking world to keep turning with out you. This past Thursday was without a doubt the worst day of my life, Our family lost Tavish. I mean it when I say I didn’t even know it was possible to hurt like this.
I can’t stop thinking about the very first time I met you as a little boy coming up to me at your birthday party saying “I got dardt maul on my cake”(not a typo) or you sitting in the shopping cart at the supermarket singing creed (the take me higher song lmao). I can’t believe our relationship or how it developed or the things we did and saw together. I wish I could go back to riding around Long Beach in your car after your 18th birthday smoking blunt after blunt talking about music. I wish I knew how different my life was going to be after that, you on the other hand knew exactly (this was before oso oso even existed and he was like ‘you’ll see were gonna be playing music together touring all the time’-less than two years later we were playing music together on tour.)
I wish I could go back to the times where I felt depressed and lonely and asked you to chill and you drove for hours to chill for days no questions asked, even if we did nothing. I feel like nobody can understand the special thing we had, and I know a number of people are feeling that way because the love you gave wasn’t bullshit, it was real and authentic, and unique to each person every time.
My heart is broken and I cant call the person who has bailed me out every time before when my heart has broken. I would give anything in the world to see you again. Im so glad I got to spend 5 weeks with you the last month, I wish I would’ve known those were going to be some of the most special days of my life.
The last thing I wanna say for now is I want people to know how well Tav was doing well, he was healthy happy and ready to thrive, we were filming a movie together, he had just started writing music for his album we were going to produce in the summer and couldn’t wait till we could get to tour again.
Tavish was literally a rockstar in every sense of the word he found the coolness in everything creative, he treated the stage like church and the audience like god. I cant believe your gone I miss you I miss your voice I miss your smile I miss the stars in your eyes whenever the world would give you back a fraction of what you gave it. Tavish I love you so fucking much, and thank you for telling me that first all the time otherwise idk if i wouldve had the courage to say it back and this would be even harder.
This life is so fragile. I dont know what to say other than Love hard. I cant believe ill never get to watch adam sandler with or hide in weird places and scare eachother, or argue about whos going to roll the next blunt with my little baby brother i never deserved in the first place. Tavish there will never be enough words or enough time for the rest of my life, i love you i love i love you.
Thank you if reached out this week im sorry if i didnt respond i will look at every message when i can and i appreciate it. Please dont stop sharing stories of Tav, he was the funniest person i knew and seeing stories is the only thing making any of this more bearable.
RIP TAVISH SLOAN MALONEY
Tributes have also come in from Prince Daddy & the Hyena, Kississippi, The Hotelier’s Christian Holden, Mom Jeans, Retirement Party, California Cousins, Triple Crown Records, Counter Intuitive Records, and more. See their posts below.
Rest in peace, Tavish.
Update: a GoFundMe was launched to “support his family while they make arrangements for him, and will remain open to raise money for some kick-ass memorial ideas like a mural painted by local artists, a bangin’ party to celebrate his honor with all those he loved and that loved him so much, and donations to music programs for children in his name.”
lost an actual wonderful best friend. truly dont even know what to say yet. hope u know how loved you are. hope u know how much you impacted everyones lives. were gonna miss the hell outta ya. pic.twitter.com/ncCfEluWc6
— prince daddy & the hyena (@Pdaddynthehyena) March 26, 2021
thank you for everything. i wish i could turn around on stage and see your sweet smiling face one more time. i will never forget you and the impact you had on our community. love you forever and ever tavboi. pic.twitter.com/iT4T4lGHR7
— kissy bitch 💋 (@kississippiPHL) March 26, 2021
Sending love and condolences to Tavish's family and friends and everyone in the extended @osoosoband family. We're so sorry for your loss.
Wonderful photo and memories courtesy of our friend @KrisHerrmann pic.twitter.com/1xIWDvPxel
— Triple Crown Records (@3crown) March 26, 2021
We played bled fest in 2018 right before puppy love came out and someone gifted me a cute little hand-decorated pipe that had a dog on it. That night at the metal frat after show, Tav convinced me to smoke out of it even though it I wouldn’t be able to bring it on the plane…
— Mom Jeans. 💔💔 (@momjeansca) March 28, 2021
i was completely broke at sxsw 2017 & i asked tavish for some weed. he said yea, in exchange for 50% of cirecs & gave me a handful. when i tried to pay him back he said a deal is a deal, so for the last 4 years every time i saw him he reminded me he owns half the label
— Counter Intuitive (@CIRecs) March 28, 2021
Tavish was such a kind and generous person. Always welcoming. Always a light in the room. Always down to hang. We love u buddy. We are sending all of our love to everyone who knew and loved Tav. Rest well, friend.
— Retirement Party (@rtrmntprty) March 26, 2021
I’m not prepared for this now and I literally was never prepared when I met Tav for the first time, when I toured with them for the first time, when I really got to know how sweet Tav was. Just the enormous positive energy. Love this fucking kid. RIP Tav. https://t.co/P4To78vOWN
— Christian Holden (@moldyfish) March 26, 2021
Tavish always called me Dordan and I'd call him Davish. It was really fucking dumb, which is right up my alley. He always had a big ass smile on and somehow had the energy to be friendly and supportive to everyone he came across. May he rock on forever in our hearts. ♥️
— calicuzns ⭐EP out now⭐ (@calicuzns) March 26, 2021