Liverpool Academy 3: February 2006

Now it seems there is always a ‘story’ with Shake and gigs, tonight is no different. Firstly Tone never ever travels through the Mersey tunnel without being desperate for a pee when he arrives in Liverpool (“It always fuckin’ happens when I go under that blasted tunnel, must be something to do with travelling under water…”). So I arrive a few seconds after him to find him gushing water next to his car, in full glare of my headlights. Then, when we return to the venue for the show to watch this fast rising US talent, we find we are not on the guest list, but I had got two tickets from another company (cheers Harry @ Wild). So we hang around, the support band is on, 15 minutes later a security guy gives Tone his photo pass, and away we go.

We walk in to find support band Cord are halfway through their set. Initial thoughts of Radiohead or Muse are set aside as the band pull their way through emotive songs backed by strong musical presence and melody. Front man James claims, “our philosophy is to write and play whatever we like… We hate being put in a box, but it’s inevitable to make some sense of us… as far as we’re concerned it’s all music… as long as it’s good music.” I grab one of the CDs that the band has on sale and James is sitting signing every single one - it’s a great touch - I’m reminded by Tone that he photographed Keane in this very room and felt they could never return as they would be too big. I get that same impression with Cord. The band is signed to Island records, are about to record an album, and have a single out in April. You can find out all about them here: http://www.myspace.com/cordonline

So the anticipation for Orson is awesome, and there are plenty of females in the room tonight, alongside some of the cool faces from the scene looking for the next big thing. And tonight they have found it for sure… Orson hit the ground running with ‘Happiness’ and then follow that with the knockout punch of ‘Tryin’To Help.’ Both songs are up-tempo, melodic and sound like number one singles in waiting. The reception is fantastic, the crowd just bounce, and judging by the smile on singer Jason’s face, it’s a two way door.

You can tell just by these two songs that this band have spent time honing their craft, they are tight, they are right on the button, they are one part Pop, one part Rock, but with a whole lot of soul. Guitars are slung real low, imagine Justin Timberlake with the guitarists from G ‘N’ R, alongside Flea from the Chilli’s and thunder drums from hell! Not even close! They are dressed to kill; looking like they are straight off the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, everything about this band is BIG! You get the feeling that you are seeing something very special that you will not see at this level again. That’s down to the way the whole thing is delivered; they play as if they are already a million selling band; and the attitude is of no compromise in the delivery of a stunning live set. I have only seen two bands this century that I can compare them with: Linkin Park and Maroon 5, and both have become million sellers!

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The band seem slightly restricted by the stage size, this is an arena band, trying to play on a coin! But the energy they possess really does come through into the performance, like a tiger ready to pounce, they strut and stray all over the stage. They deliver suckerpunch upon suckerpunch for the rest of the set, highlights include ‘Bright Idea’, ‘Downtown’, ‘Jessie,’ and of course the single that has brought them to this point, ‘No Tomorrow’, and while the album has ten tracks, the band play twelve! Which proves that they are not even out of first gear song writing wise? Two thirds into the set, Jason has taken his hat off and sat down at the piano. This twists the band into a whole new area, it shows that they all can play, that each member plays such an intrinsic part of this band, five ordinary guys who came together to create extraordinary music. Their love of music, great music, has made them want to be as good as their heroes. When you consider where they come from (Los Angeles) you realise that to break out of that city, being good, is simply not good enough; you have to be better; and in fact Orson are and so much more…

The band reach the end of the set like conquering heroes, another night, another city, another set of new fans won over. For me, the single is the weakest song they do, and it’s fuckin’ great! That should tell you all you need to know, but the band return to the stage to encore with two songs, the last one is a cover of a band that in all my years I have never heard covered, because it’ just too hard. Orson play ‘Can’t Go For That’ and it’s simply stunning; they make it their own; and 99% of the crowd think so too. That’s how good they do it, the original band is Hall & Oates who you should dig some out. We exit stage left, say goodbye to the boys in the band, walk out into the cold air and realise that in the city that gave us the greatest band ever (no debate, just a fucking fact), we have seen their legacy passed down to yet another generation. Pretty soon New York, Paris, London, Munich, everyone will be loving Orson’s music!

Jj - 2006

Set List:

Happiness

Tryin’ to help

Bright idea

Already over

Downtown

Jessie

Everything

Look around

Okay song

No tomorrow

Go ahead

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Yours truly

Can’t go for that