12 Rods has been played on NTS in shows including The Early Bird Show w/ Maria Somerville, featured first on 1 October 2019. Songs played include Friend and What Has Happened? / Glad That It's Over / Marionette.

Originally called Ryan'z Bihg Hed, 12 Rods is an indie rock band from Oxford, Ohio, USA that formed in 1992 while the members were in high school, moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1995, and amicably ended in 2004. In 2021, Ryan Olcott announced that he had begun working on a new album, which was released in 2023.

They self-released an album called Bliss in 1993 and the gay? EP in 1996, one year after moving to Minneapolis. 12 Rods signed with V2 in 1996 and re-released gay? while they recorded a new album. Split Personalities, which many consider their best album, was released in 1998.

After two strong releases, despite the departure of drummer Christopher McGuire, 12 Rods looked set to make some sort of an impact on the charts with their next album, the Todd Rundgren-produced Separation Anxieties, but it was not to be. The album failed miserably, both critically and commercially, and 12 Rods were dropped by V2.

They struggled on for one more album, 2002's self-released Lost Time, but ceased to be as of 2004.

After the disbandment of 12rods in 2004, most original members drifted away from performing music. Ev would later comment, saying (on Accidents Waiting To Happen) the one thing he learned about the music industry is that he would never do it again. Ev now develops IOS music software. Ryan currently performs as FoodTeam using circuit-bent keyboards as a part of the band Mystery Palace on ZOD Records, taking an interest in experimental/pop music until returning to 12rods. In which, in early/mid 2023 singles were teased before fully releasing If We Stayed Alive, after a 21 year hiatus.