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Quickly conquering post-Katrina New Orleans’ burgeoning pop-rock scene, the five veterans of Alias:Orion – so dubbed after a period of indecision about the perfect name – take their perfectionist streak to the outside world with their acclaimed debut EP, While The City Burned, and the new nationwide tour to support it.
Rising from the ashes of a handful of local favorites, the five black-clad members of Orion play music as emotionally dark as their stage gear yet as recognizable as the radio. “Indie arena rock” is the term Robert Fontenot of the Crescent City’s premiere music magazine, Offbeat, has coined for their new sound: “These five tunes swell to stadium size yet speak to an entire generation of post-emo, post-radio, post-everything millenials ready to demolish the old barriers that keep guitar/keyboard rock stagnant.”
Founders Anthony Schultz and Thomas DeVille embrace that aesthetic: “While I don't think we sound much like it, I think a great deal of our spirit is probably that of what is commonly considered "classic rock,” says DeVille, adding, ”We have little interest in any movements that could potentially result in, through seemingly thoughtless and unimaginative labeling, the debasement of the uniqueness of our sound.” It’s an attitude that – along with their sonically potent yet militarily precise live show, has booked them at venues across the country, an unheard-of turn of events for a band that wasn’t even on stage six months ago. Look for the debut album by Alias:Orion in early 2009; in the meantime, you can catch them in concert, burning down a city near you. - Keith Janus
Discography
While The City Burned EP at aliasorion.com
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Bio
Where do you start when describing a relatively unknown band the likes of alias:orion? Whether it’s the pointed disdain from Choke On It or the soul bearing vocals on Series of Lies, front man Thomas DeVille makes sure you know they have something to say and the no mercy delivery of Coming Clean apologizes for everything but its tense and climactic lead guitar. Even with these poignant and thought provoking lyrics it is the smooth, intense melodies of Daniel Keller's ivories coupled with Randy Greff's nefarious bass that gives One Million Shoves, Get Out and Sick To The Stomach the foundation for DeVille to rock your face with galloping riffs, while Matt Chessman drives the rhythm bus with sharp snares and perfectly timed crash. No where does the tight cohesion of alias:orion become more apparent than in This Is Everything or the explosive adrenaline rush of Archangel Initiative as they manage to open and close with songs that make it difficult to breathe and brings to mind that where mere words fail, music speaks.
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