Orianthi: Live From Hollywood

Live from Hollywood is the first live album by Australian renowned gorgeous guitar player and songwriter Orianthi, including songs from her most recent studio release O as well as some cuts from Heaven in This Hell (2013) and Believe (2009). The lineup for the live recording is Orianthi on guitars and vocals, Nick Maybury (Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts) and Carmen Vandenberg (Bones/Jeff Beck) also on guitars (the later as guest in one song), Justin Andres on bass (The Bellrays), Michael Bearden on keyboards (acclaimed music director and producer) and Glen Sobel on drums (Hollywood Vampires, Alice Cooper, Alcatrazz).

Besides being an amazing guitarist, Orianthi has managed to gather a very good band to perform and record this show, so a top-level musicianship is in fact guaranteed. The set kicks off with a couple songs (and also singles) from her last album, “Contagious� and “Sinners Hymn�, and her intention to come and rock hard is already evident with the so delicate and pungent soloing, the heavy riffing on the back and Sobel’s heavy imprint on the kit, both catchy and sing-a-long songs… the bass line on “Sinners Hymn� sets the roughness while the keyboards shoot melodic retro arrangements to make an ordinary grunge-sounding tune into something else, something a little more than just that. Earlier catalog is revisited with “Heaven in This Hell� with the big riffing and the classic blues rock vibe, “Think Like a Man� which has this late 80’s AC/DC feel with some of her clearest vocals so far in the performance, “You Don’t Wanna Know� with Vandenberg participating as co-lead guitars in this catchy rocker tune… I’m not sure who is playing which solo here, but the girls they are both shredding and rocking like hell, and “What’s it Gonna Be� which at times sounds like a better version of Whole and is the shortest track on the album.

“Blow� is one of the best songs in the set list, the melodies are hookier than any on the previous songs and the bass comes upfront again to add even more heaviness to her amazing guitar work, the solo played with her “purple beast� sounds fantastic and pristine… with very little help on the vocals they sound all warmed up by now, getting better by the minute. She interacts a lot with the crowd, cementing the engagement and taking that little time to retune her instruments. “Impulsive� is another single (and music video) from her 2020 album O, with heartfelt and auto critical lyrics that fit with the catchy music. Orianthi is very smart with the lyrical content, you can rapidly tell is girl music but never overwhelming for the male audience, very enjoyable. “Blues Won’t leave me Alone� is the bluesy and sad ballad of the album, a song that I would typically find boring and would have used to go to the bar and get a beer to enjoy the rest of the show, but this time her guitar playing grabs me back towards the solo and blows my mind once again, very clean and melodic. “According to You� might be one of the favorite songs for the fan base and I guess that’s why is played so late in the set, however I find it too naïve and flat when compared to the rest of the performance, somehow it reminds me of a heavier version of Avril Lavigne and that I don’t like, it does gain a little goodness thanks to the rhythmic section and the hook is evident… but that’s about it. “How do You Sleep� from the album “Heaven and Hell� closes the live performance with yet her best soloing so far, sharp and metallic and so freaking good that I thought Gary Moore had invaded the stage for a moment… yes… she is that good.

Track Listing:

1. Contagious (4:02)
2. Sinners Hymn (3:58)
3. Heaven in This Hell (4:00)
4. Think Like a Man (4:39)
5. You Don’t Wanna Know (5:14)
6. What’s it Gonna Be (2:49)
7. Blow (4:15)
8. Impulsive (4:26)
9. Blues Won’t Leave Me Alone (6:47)
10. According to You (3:20)
11. How Do You Sleep (7:08)

Added: July 26th 2022
Reviewer: Jose Antonio Marmol
Score:
Related Link: Artist Facebook Page
Hits: 554
Language: english

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