The Orion Experience
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The Orion Experience

New York City, New York, United States | INDIE

New York City, New York, United States | INDIE
Band Rock Pop

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"So You Know what Your Missing"


The Orion Experience
12.13.05
Mercury Lounge (New York)
words: Grumpy Gramps
photos: myspace.com/theorionexperience

In what can only be described as a bittersweet night, The Orion Experience played their last NYC show before packing it in for warm-weather LA this winter. It's NYC’s loss and LA’s gain. I can’t think of a better way to shake the blues than listening to the sunny sounds of TOE.

Led on vocals and guitar by Orion Simprini, with super-not-so-secret-weapon Linda Horwatt on the backup vocals and keys, TOE played a shiny, energetic set that brought to mind an aural equivalent of a John Hughes movie. I mean that in the best possible way.

Catchy two, three, and sometimes even four-part vocal harmonies sprinkled their way into the frolicsome mix of both light and dark tunes full of heartbreak, longing, and obsession. Along with Erik Paparazzi’s skilled fret work on lead guitar, Kareem Lamarr’s solid in the pocket bass playing, and Marcus Ferrar’s deft drumming, TOE performed their set with an exuberance that translated to even the most die hard, arms crossed, come on make me have fun I dare you, audience member.

Hopefully, great things will happen for the band in LA, but regardless, when they return in the spring, NYC will have a band that is the perfect candidate to provide the soundtrack for summer.



- Loose Records


"Sounds from the Galaxy"

by Rich Mendez
With their name being as far out there
as the music they produce, The Orion
Experience definitely bring something
new to the table. This cosmic quintet
from the New York area has developed
a style of play that fuses modern pop/rock
with those vintage rock sounds from the
’60s and ’70s. This constellation of
musicians will be playing in the area
when they head to The Saint in Asbury
Park on May 3.Seven days later, on May
10, the band will head across the Hudson
into NYC to perform at The Delancey.
Since their formation in January 2005,
The Orion Experience have always had
a certain edginess and carefree attitude
about them. Each member of the group
was selected by its originator Orion
Simprini (lead vocals/guitar). The
additions of Linda Horwatt (vocals/keys),
Erik Paparazzi (lead guitar/vocals),
Kareem Lamarr (bass) and Marcus
Ferrar (drums/backing vocals) have
solidified the band’s style which bears
a fresh and energetic element.
With influences that range from The
Beatles to Blondie, The Orion Experience
are certainly taking the right steps towards
making it in the mainstream market like
their idols. Recently, the band has seen
the release of their first album titled
Cosmiccandy.Now with a debut release
for the mass audience to hear and tours
scheduled for its promotion, The Orion
Experience are sure to take their success
to astronomical heights.
The Saint is located at 601 Main St.
in Asbury Park.The Delancey is located
at 168 Delancey St. in Manhattan. Visit
myspace.com/theorionexperience for
more info.
scores for the week
spotlight on
the orion experience
Sounds From The Galaxy
Sounds From The Galaxy - The Aquarian


"Cosmicandy"

I am extremely grateful that my summertime guilty pleasure has arrived early this year. The Orion Experience's Cosmicandy is an aptly named piece of sugary pop that is catchy in all the right places.

The Queen Of White Lies is a radio-hit-in-the-making if there ever was one (that is, if there were still such a thing as a radio hit). The song is built around a thumping dance groove, dripping with a smart 80s vibe that sounds like the best of Duran Duran and The B-52s mixed up in the blender. Simply perfect in every guilty way.

The only drawback comes in the form of the final two songs, a couple of tunes that have a somewhat political bent. They try a little hard to be serious here, and it's kind of a killjoy after all that fun leading up to the end. Other than that, this is THE pop album to pick up this spring. And hey, the keyboardist is kinda cute, too. - Mish Mash Music Review


"Press Quotes"

"This New York quintet has created a single worth obsessing over."
- USA Today

“My brand-new fave-rave…joyfully hooky, delightful, innocent-but-not-naïve wonder-pop.”
- LA Weekly

“…a dream team of lite modern popsters”
- NY Press

“Cosmicandy is jaw-droppingly great. Buy it. Trust me.”
- Robbie Rist in Spin Magazine

“Fun…totally new wave…”
- The Village Voice


“Quite refreshing…infectious hooks and fervent melodies, reminiscent of the B52s and Fountains of Wayne.”
- Sentimentalist
- Various


Discography

Cosmicandy (2007)
Cosmicandy (Japanese Version, 2009)
Heartbreaker EP (2008)
NYC Girl (2010)

Photos

Bio

“The song is named ‘Obsessed with You’ and we’re obsessed with it,” writes celebrity blogger Perez Hilton when describing his newfound attachment to The Orion Experience. Not an uncommon sentiment felt by those who have crossed their path, danced to their beats, and screamed out their words.

“Nothing can make me smile instantly like yalls music,” comments myspacer Stefanie (<3), when describing her emotional ties to the New York groups edgy dance pop sound. And in an age when opinions matter and everyone has a voice, the message is very clear: This band is straight fun.

Front-man Orion Simprini has been diligent and precise in the quest to bring his ideas and music to the world. In 2005, the journey began with the collaboration of longtime friend and schoolmate Linda Horwatt, whom Orion shares vocal duties, harmonies, hand claps and smiles. The two spent several years, on both coasts, honing their craft, recording music and formulating a vision. And with the recent additions of guitarist Reef, drummer Jon Weber and bassist Chris Lucas, that vision has been fully realized.

“What we try to create,” Orion says, “are very positive, high energy musical experiences.” And with their debut, Cosmicandy (2007), the band delivers exactly that. “The songs from Cosmicandy really drove us to where we are today,” explains Orion. The rock quintet boasts a collection musical resumes that aim to revive a bit of the past, and paint a smile on the face of the future.

The Orion Experience will be bringing a fresh batch of songs from the recording studio…..stay tuned!