The Last Domino

Artist Information

Biography

Indianapolis, IN native/Austin, TX resident John Orr, AKA The Last Domino, began writing solo acoustic music in 2005. The Romanticide EP was released soon afterward, showcasing songs that were mostly dark and moody (think Elliott Smith-meets-Jeff Buckley). The Last Domino did not perform live much in its first year due to John's desire to write more up-tempo songs, which would be conducive to putting on a live show with more variety.

In late 2006, Orr began writing new material for a full-length entitled Seconds. The music on Seconds is, in fact, much more lively than previous material, and is what started Orr on the path toward his unique one-man-band style performances. The Last Domino's solo shows implement organic beats and guitar loops, which serve as the foundation for appearances from such unexpected instruments as the melodica, djembe, kazoo, and saxophone. This all breathes a different form of life into Orr's already entrancing songs.

In November 2008, Orr released his ambitious double album, Diamond Days & Firenights. With a loose concept behind it and a collection of songs that span a myriad genres, Diamond Days is both the summation of and the glimpse into the future of The Last Domino's music. "Let's Try This Again" and "Loophole" are reminiscent of songs from past Domino albums, but incorporate full band instrumentation, which Orr then replicated live with drummer Dave Evans and bassist Matt Foster backing him up for even more powerful shows. John also stays true to his roots on the discs with singer-songwriter tracks like "Definition Of Love" and "Rift", featuring that signature saxophone.

Immediately following the release of Diamond Days, The Last Domino was invited to play the 11th annual Jeff Buckley tribute festival in Chicago. Keeping the festival mindset going into 2009, Orr conceived, booked, hosted, and performed at La Vida Variety!, which featured various kinds of local acts. The show was lauded by the Indy press, and La Vida Variety! became a recurring series with different themes and performers chosen by Orr himself.

The end of 2009 brought Orr back into his home studio to record an EP of Björk covers entitled Björksongs (Domino In The Dark). Not long after the EP's completion, The Last Domino's rendition of "Hyper-Ballad" won a featured spot on bjorkremixes.com.

The experimental nature of Björksongs prompted Orr to be more adventurous with his 2010 full-length, When Elephants In The Room Dance With Skeletons In The Closet. Stylistically, the album brought The Last Domino back to its acoustic beginnings, but with minimal electronic programming accompanying many of the songs. Orr also learned the piano and cello for a couple of the tracks.

With Elephants in his repertoire, Orr made the move to Austin, TX in early 2011. There, he continues his endeavors as The Last Domino in solo form (now even more intricate and richly textured with the new songs added to the setlist), but will soon add new members to the project.

For more information, visit thelastdomino.com.

Instrumentation

John Orr - vocals, guitars, bass, drums, percussion, keys, sax, beats, loops, misc.
Dave Evans: live drums
Matt Foster: live bass/vox
Kevin Kirk: occasional live violin

Discography

Romanticide - 2005 EP

Seconds - 2007 LP
- "Last Call" took second place in Metromix Indianapolis's Music Video Throwdown at the Vogue Theater's finalists concert

Diamond Days & Firenights - 2008 double LP
- "Let's Try This Again" has received airplay on many of Indy's local and commercial radio stations
- "Rift" was featured on SUNY Fredonia radio's jazz program
- The music video for "Muzzle", a Smashing Pumpkins cover, was promoted by Billy Corgan and The Smashing Pumpkins via their Twitter and Facebook pages and currently has over 10,000 views on YouTube
- "Bottle Lover's Waltz and the re-recording of "Last Call" were featured as character themes throughout the 2010 independent film, The Big Idea

Diamond Dust & Fireflies - 2008 live & rare EP

Bjorksongs (Domino In The Dark) - 2009 Bjork covers EP
- "Hyper-Ballad" is currently featured on bjorkremixes.com

When Elephants In The Room Dance With Skeletons In The Closet - 2010 LP

From Austin, With Love - 2011 covers EP

Links

• MySpace
• ReverbNation
• Facebook
• Twitter
• YouTube

Audio

• Alexandra, Annamarie, And Everything I Ever Wanted To Be
  Listen  
• Last Call (Or, How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bottle)
  Listen  
• Of Elephants And Skeletons
  Listen  
• Girl WIth The Rhino Skin
  Listen  
• Toby The Lionhearted
  Listen  
• Let's Try This Again
  Listen  
• (What's So Fucking Great About) New York(?)
  Listen  
• Dark Alleyway
  Listen  
• How To Keep Warm During A Blackout
  Listen  
• Loophole
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Alexandra, Annamarie, And Everything I Ever Wanted To Be
• Last Call (Or, How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bottle)
• Of Elephants And Skeletons
• Girl With The Rhino Skin
• Toby The Lionhearted
• Let's Try This Again
• (What's So Fucking Great About) New York(?)
• Dark Alleyway
• How To Keep Warm During A Blackout
• Loophole

Video

Let's Try This Again

Alexandra, Annamarie, And Everything I Ever Wanted To Be

Photo Gallery

Press

• When Elephants... write-up [+ Show ]
  

  [When Elephants...] is by far his most accomplished work to date. Even when he is whipping out his b...[When Elephants...] is by far his most accomplished work to date. Even when he is whipping out his best...on the finale “Alexandra, Annamarie, And Everything I Ever Wanted To Be” amongst a smattering of electronic sampling, his acoustic dappling never sounded more fresh. By the time the bass guitar comes into play, you are knee deep into something marvelous. You only hate the fact that the album is ending.

• Barfly comic (2009)
  

  GO SEE THE LAST DOMINO NOW!

• Barfly comic (2007) [+ Show ]
  

  He's a real talent. His songs have a dreamlike quality that seems alien and yet familiar. Little tal...He's a real talent. His songs have a dreamlike quality that seems alien and yet familiar. Little tales of small truths that are filled with moments stolen from your past.

• Interview
  

  this is just the beginning for a predominately one-man creative machine

• Interview
  

  [Orr] turns a phrase with the sophistication of veteran songwriters

• Seconds CD review [+ Show ]
  

  the solid tracks on this album demonstrate enough musical and lyrical sophistication to make me thin...the solid tracks on this album demonstrate enough musical and lyrical sophistication to make me think that it's only a matter of time and dedication before Orr starts attracting serious attention

• Seconds CD review [+ Show ]
  

  Three of its tracks have broad-appeal that should please all kinds of music fans. "Born to Runner-Up...Three of its tracks have broad-appeal that should please all kinds of music fans. "Born to Runner-Up" uses a sports metaphor to tell a musical tale of the eternal nice-guy loser. It's a lot of fun, and goodness knows there are thousands of us nice guys out there who can relate. It may be about losing, but the song itself is a winner, as is "You Don’t Know the Half." Songs don't get much more clever than this story of a man with a split personality that murders his lover. Strangely upbeat, Orr even changes vocals for the man's two personalities. Dark, yes, but the song is a blast...no pun intended. And finally, another dark-yet-lively song, "Last Call," is the biggest highlight on the entire album. It's a rollicking good time of a number about a man who drinks himself to death after losing his love, and has bar room "hit" written all over it. Thank goodness, as I think most of us have had enough of "Friends in Low Places."

Setlist

A Domino set ranges anywhere from three minutes to three hours, and includes mostly original material with covers (when necessary) tailored to fit TLD's own style. Some covers that The Last Domino has performed include:

Bjork - Hyper-Ballad
Chris Isaak - Wicked Game
Elvis Presley - A Little Less Conversation
Frou Frou - Let Go
Jeff Buckley - Grace
Led Zeppelin - You Shook Me
Marc Broussard - Home
Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Muse - Time Is Running Out
Radiohead - Idioteque
The Proclaimers - I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)

Basic Requirements

Calendar