If you’re looking for some new indie rock to start off the new year, Tommy Oeffling should be on your radar.
I recently had the opportunity to attend Oeffling and his band’s show at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco, California. This was one of their first shows on their Winter ’25-’26 tour along the West Coast.
Hailing proudly from the midwest, Oeffling has been releasing music since 2021 and has been gaining popularity in recent years for his music.
Before Oeffling took the stage, a local artist had the chance to play a few songs to warm the crowd up. Get Lost Cassidy Frost, a Bay Area-based musician, brought their acoustic guitar and great energy to start the night.
As a one-person show, they engaged with the crowd and delivered a wonderful mix of heartfelt songs that’ll resonate with anybody struggling with the current political climate. Though they may seem soft-spoken, Cassidy’s songs present emotions that may otherwise seem inaccessible in a resonant manner.
One of the biggest highlights is when they brought up their kid to the stage to perform a self-written rap. The whole crowd absolutely adored Cassidy’s energy, and it was the perfect way to prepare for the main act.
From the moment Oeffling started the first song, it became evident that Bottom of the Hill was the perfect venue for his music.
The cozy historic San Francisco venue, set to close soon, has had a rich history of housing indie and alternative rock acts for over 30 years. Oeffling more than proved that his name deserves to be among the impressive catalogue of artists who have performed there.
His band included Ethan Bailey on the drums, Caiden Dohr on bass, and Matthew Poulton on guitar, with Oeffling providing guitar and vocals as well. Anyone watching these friends perform together and their great rapport can see that being on stage as a band brings them great joy.
At this point in his career, Oeffling has already developed a strong sonic identity that clearly shines through when he performs his music.
The Saturday crowd was a mix of dedicated listeners and venue frequenters. But by the end of his set, everybody was sure to walk away a fan.
From his most popular songs like “oh, you” to songs off his 2025 record Picture of Health like “Jeans,” the band covered a wide range of his discography throughout the night. Oeffling’s soothing vocals perfectly complemented the dynamic double-guitar backing, making for a set that felt both intimate and expansive.
They performed a hefty setlist of over 15 songs squeezed into one hour, but their ability to keep the energy up throughout the relentless performance was admirable.
Even though Oeffling’s music may be taking off already, he has the potential to become a household name. He has already masterfully carved out a niche within the indie genre.
From his performance at Bottom of the Hill, it’s clear that people are ready to get invested in this bright young artist with a promising future in music.
