REVIEW BY HEATHER PENFIELD MACNEILL | PHOTOGRAPHS BY: NADINE SWIGER

Orgy is BACK ON TOUR after a seven year hiatus and sounding just as tight as ever!!!! A lot of bands these days just don’t seem quite able to deliver live what you hear in the studio, but Orgy always was able to and still is!!!! This is even more impressive considering Jay Gordon has remained as vocalist, but the rest of the band is entirely new. If Orgy has always been about the music for you, then this change will have little significance as Orgy sounds just the same as it always did, with that killer death pop sound you know and love. With Jay Gordon on vocals, Carlton Bost and Ashburn Miller on guitars, Nic Speck on bass, and Jamie Miller on drums you can expect a totally tight performance with that classic Orgy sound, while still having some fresh blood on the scene to give the music new energy and a new spin. We caught Orgy at their New York City show at Irving Plaza where turnout was so strong that they had a packed house before the first band even hit the stage! Orgy will be continuing its trek across the country on its Bad Blood Tour with tour dates listed below. If Orgy is coming anywhere near your town you need to be at these shows as they have a special energy and passion that only a triumphant return can have.

Preceding Orgy to the stage that night was Texas power rock duo One-Eyed Doll. If you have not experienced One-Eyed Doll yet you need to as it defies categorization. Described as “Strawberry Shortcake meets Gwar” this is a band that you have a suspicion will be memorable the minute they enter the stage. Front woman Kimberly Freeman appeared wearing a blue bodysuit and a large silver crown Statue of Liberty style which proceeded to fly off as she nailed power chords, banged her head, and gave some impressive kicks which were no less than head height. With her unique mixture of telling stories in a singsong voice followed by an almost demonic scream, her performance was kind of like what you’d get if Alice from Alice in Wonderland were possessed by Pazuzu the Exorcist demon. And I mean this in the best, most kickass way possible. Her songs are quirky and wildly entertaining, while she keeps the audience fully engaged with her wild stage antics (which included actually climbing down into the crowd while shredding licks on the guitar). After her set was over she crowd-surfed over to her merch table bringing with a wave of her arms her almost religiously crazed fans and new devotees behind her. See this band as live so you can experience it in all its glory! And pray that “Nudie Bar” is on the setlist!

Beta Plus Embryo brought a dark, brooding element to the line up that night, an atmospheric change which gave the evening a nice set of dynamics. This is a local New York City band with a melancholy, and at times even haunting, edge. It was interesting to get to see Beta Plus Embryo and hear their sound as they are produced by Jay Gordon, and gave a heartwarming thanks to him at the opening of their set. One can see why Jay would choose to work with these guys as there is a lot of talent and substance going on in Beta Plus Embryo, a welcome change from a lot of the lighter bands out there in New York City. Check out their new full length album “Time Kills Everything” and be entranced.

Kicking off the whole evening right was Star Killer. This band is a great mix of late eighties metal along with an industrial kick that gives it a unique vibe all its own. With influences like L.A. Guns, Skinny Puppy, Korn, and Jane’s Addiction, you know this is going to be music you will be replaying in your head for a while. Star Killer has a great combination of catchy choruses while still maintaining a gritty New York edge which keeps it from being glammy and turns it into something darker and somehow sinisterly provocative. You can download their EP “As the Sky is Falling” free at www.starkillerband.com. I suggest you do this now as their work is not going to remain free for long!

________________________________________________________________________

PHOTO GALLERIES :

ORGY :: PHOTO GALLERY :: IRVING PLAZA

ONE EYED DOLL :: PHOTO GALLERY :: IRVING PLAZA

BETA PLUS EMBRYO :: PHOTO GALLERY :: IRVING PLAZA

STAR KILLER :: PHOTO GALLERY :: IRVING PLAZA

________________________________________________________________________

TOUR DATES:

3/11 Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live
3/13 Little Rock, AR @ The Rev Room
3/15 Houston, TX @ Scout Bar
3/16 Dallas, TX @ Tree’s
3/17 San Antonio, TX @ Backstage Live
3/21 Los Angeles, CA @ Key Club
3/23 Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory
3/29 Tacoma, WA @ Backstage Live
3/31 Oakland, CA @ New Parrish
4/2 Tempe, AZ @ Clubhouse

________________________________________________________________________

LINKS:

ORGY : orgymusic.com

____________________________________

ONE EYED DOLL : oneeyeddoll.com

____________________________________

BETA PLUS EMBRYO : betaplusembryo.com

____________________________________

STAR KILLER : starkillerband.com

________________________________________________________________________