The graze is the solo recording/performing project of Seattle songwriter Louis O'Callaghan. O’Callaghan plays indie folk/rock songs featuring Beatlesque song structures, with vocals and guitars reminiscent of Neutral Milk Hotel and Nirvana.

As a recording project the graze includes the above plus drums, bass, more guitars, and the occasional keyboard instrument. Live, the graze is usually O’Callaghan solo, but drums, bass, and lead guitar duties are performed whenever possible by Sam Jansons, Jeffrey Henry, and Seth Howard, respectively. The graze has been compared to Elliott Smith, Beck, Nick Drake, Thom Yorke, Jeff Mangum, and Jeff Tweedy. Influences also include Cat Power, Mirah, the Microphones, the Softies, the Shins, Death Cab for Cutie, Grant Lee Buffalo, Soundgarden, Built to Spill, Low, Radiohead, Azure Ray, and Modest Mouse.

The graze’s first record, Iowa Anvil, released in July 2004, was in rotation at a number of college radio stations around the country and received a fair share of critical acclaim. O’Callaghan toured the US solo following the record’s release, and continues to tour occasionally while recording a second album.

"...praise should be lavished on the Graze, the one-man project of songwriter Louis O'Callaghan. The band's self-released debut, Iowa Anvil, is full of tender-hearted laments and wrenching ballads. His tentative voice holds the perfect bland of agony and restraint."
- Tizzy Asher, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"Excellent debut from this local one-man band "the Graze" (Louis O'Callaghan). Passionate, heartfelt songs inspired by Elliott Smith or Nick Drake but with is own original voice. Great songs with the right amount of production and subtle guitar arrangement. Great debut."
- John Richards, KEXP 90.3 FM Seattle

"Regardless of the inevitable comparisons and mentioning of Neutral Milk Hotel, Elliott Smith, Beck, the vague, occasional whispers of something even Beatles-like and a hum of Nirvanasprinkled tension, The Graze navigates its way through a rugged and yet vulnerable emo landscape that's both fresh and familiar for their audience."
- CD Baby

“Iowa Anvil (J-shirt Records) is one of the most promising indie rock releases since Neutral Milk Hotel's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea and one of the most inspired since Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.”
- Michael Henningsen, Alibi

Iowa Anvil voted #19 in threeimaginarygirls.com top 50 Northwest releases of 2004 readers' poll.

For more information, please visit thegraze.net.