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Orianthi: She's a squirrely little thing.


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Posted

Meh. SRV did it better IMHO.

 

Posted

Amongst current players, Kenny Wayne Shepherd OWNS that song. The previous SRV wannabee has grown into his own man....check out the version from Live in Chicago.

I saw him play it a few years back on the Experience Hendrix tour and he dominated the stage and the night.

Posted

She's a great player, but like many "guitar gods" she really could use getting together with a top class writer/singer. Right now though I think she's touring with/dating Richie Sambora, and sadly he's a wreck like always. The videos I've seen of some performances have just been pathetic.

Posted

Well, we used to be virtual friends before she made it big.

When I see her now, playing in front of huge audiences and scoring high profile gigs, I really feel happy for her. She did make it. She could play, she had dreams, she worked hard for them and never surrendered. And I'm sure it's not over. That's why I respect her big time.

So, yes, her "Voodoo Child" lacks a bit of credibility, but she's still a great player and she's still a fighter. That's why I cannot but bowing to her accomplishments so far. She should be proud!

Posted

First I learned of her she was touring with Alice Cooper. She was fantastic. "Halo of Flies" is an all time favorite of mine and she was stellar when I saw her play that tune. 

I agree, Voodoo Chile has had some great renditions performed by other players. (I don't know if I've ever seen it played in a bar but then again I haven't been to a bar since '86.) And she may or may not have done them justice in this performance. But, she pulled it off and with more energy than most put into a performance. There are so many squirrels in our oak trees right now because of a bumper crop of acorns this year. I've been out each evening watching them run back and forth and jumping from tree to tree. Her performance reminded me of them as she scampered across the stage from one end to the other. I also didn't realize how tiny she is until I watched this video. In my mind she is a damn good player and if I have time I'm going to look up more videos of her both solo and with other bands. 

Some are quite critical of successful guitarists for some reason. Some styles are more to my liking than others and I can play armchair quarterback and say I prefer this performance over that. Some of Jimi's performances of Voodoo Chile are more enjoyable to me than others. SRV did Voodoo Chile real justice for sure but I don't care for most of what he recorded. That sort of "Swing" style just isn't my thing. But he's a damn (was) good guitarist and I would never speak ill of him and I rarely speak ill of the dead anyway. And my tastes have changed over the years as well. But even The Edge deserves some cred for what he has achieved for himself. So give the little lady a break. She's up there on a big stage and we are here typing. And I bet few of us could keep up with her. Maybe @jettsterJettster or @diablo175Diablo could. I know I couldn't. 

Posted

I thought she absolutely nailed it when she played with Cooper. I was aware of her work before that and was surprised to see them hook up. Seemed a odd pairing. I saw a few videos from their first few shows and although she is a stellar player she seemed out of her comfort zone. By the second week of touring she had a major change in confidence and attitude. Gone were the girlie outfits and reserved presence and out comes this fishnet ripped stockings, leather clad, makeup smeared guitar player seething with attitude. The best part was she use to write on her arm with lipstick "help me"". Her nickname in the band was Gory Ori. I was sorry to see her hook up with Sambora. 

 

Posted

Agree with the praise for her playing with Alice Cooper. She and Steve Hunter made quite a tandem.

Posted

I caught her with Alice Cooper a few years back and she was great in that band - a little surprising at first, but it worked.  I also got to meet/attend clinics/see her perform at a PRS event over on the Eastern Shore.  She can definitely play, and I think that she was originally in danger of getting packaged as some teeny-bopper pop act who could also shred...something that would go over big in Japan, but nowhere else really.  I think she's struggled to break free from that typecast, and that she suffers from unfair criticism from a lot of amateur male players out there.

All that being said, I think Nita Strauss is KILLING it with Alice these days.

 

Posted
17 minutes ago, cmatthes said:

I caught her with Alice Cooper a few years back and she was great in that band - a little surprising at first, but it worked.  I also got to meet/attend clinics/see her perform at a PRS event over on the Eastern Shore.  She can definitely play, and I think that she was originally in danger of getting packaged as some teeny-bopper pop act who could also shred...something that would go over big in Japan, but nowhere else really.  I think she's struggled to break free from that typecast, and that she suffers from unfair criticism from a lot of amateur male players out there.

All that being said, I think Nita Strauss is KILLING it with Alice these days.

 

Nita is definitely KILLING IT! 

Posted

Nita is definitely a shredder. It's in her DNA.  Thankfully she keeps it in the spirit of the Cooper songs, just pushes the envelope a wee bit. From what I read Alice's next release is going to have more songwriting input from both the current band and the original band members with Bob Ezrin at the helm.

Posted

I am of the opinion that this song should not be played by professional guitar players, unless those players are Jimi Hendrix or Stevie Ray Vaughan.
It just shouldn't be done.
SRV gets a pass because he "resurrected" the song, and put his subtle twist to it while still honoring the original composition.
The nonstop wankery that has followed is just embarrassing.
Nothing against KWS or Orianthi or anyone else. Obviously the crowd is digging it, so good for them, but you'll never say in 16 measures what Jimi said in 2, so stop trying.

The song should be retired from live performance, except for bar bands and up-and-comers.
Once you turn pro, it's time to get off Jimi's dick.

Posted

I'm gonna be That Guy, but there are a load of guys in every big city with equal chops. To me, what separates someone is their individual "voice" and I don't hear one very distinctive from her. Might be the nicest person in the world, but her fame is due to being an attractive woman who is a very good guitarist. If she was a fat bald dude, she'd be in a decent-paying cover band playing at Wild Wings.

Posted
Just now, polara said:

I'm gonna be That Guy, but there are a load of guys in every big city with equal chops. To me, what separates someone is their individual "voice" and I don't hear one very distinctive from her. Might be the nicest person in the world, but her fame is due to being an attractive woman who is a very good guitarist. If she was a fat bald dude, she'd be in a decent-paying cover band playing at Wild Wings.

Case in point: may not particularly love any of the takes on this vid but it aptly shows how Vai, Satch and, to a lesser degree, Tony all have a distinct voice. Orianthi? Not so much.

 

Posted

Yeah, in that video posted, I really don't feel much in terms of "feeling" or "nuance" from her playing. She's got incredible skill, but skill and musicality are not the same.

She needs to get into some classic ZZ Top, IMHO.

Posted
8 hours ago, MCChris said:

Agree with the praise for her playing with Alice Cooper. She and Steve Hunter made quite a tandem.

Whoah...hold on there a durn minnit, Babalooey. Had no idea she played with SHunter. She's talented enough to make that work. Gonna have to check youtube for clips.

On a side note, even though Metallica/Lou Reed's collaboration was a certified shitshow, I did see a video of them jamming, "Sweet Jane", and James/Kirky did an excellent job on the "R'n'R Animal", dual-guitar parts. Too bad the album was such a wash-out. I really tried to give it a chance, really. Two of my favorite artists together, but it just didn't...well...etc.

Posted
5 hours ago, polara said:

her fame is due to being an attractive woman who is a very good guitarist.

That's what all the boys say when attractive women succeed.

She was discovered by Michael Jackson while playing for Carrie Underwood.  I doubt either of them were very attracted to her.

Posted
10 hours ago, polara said:

I'm gonna be That Guy, but there are a load of guys in every big city with equal chops. To me, what separates someone is their individual "voice" and I don't hear one very distinctive from her. Might be the nicest person in the world, but her fame is due to being an attractive woman who is a very good guitarist. If she was a fat bald dude, she'd be in a decent-paying cover band playing at Wild Wings.

True. She hasn't found a convincing voice for herself and her success is highly due to the fact she's a beautiful lady who can play. But... so what? She's capitalizing on her assets. She's a marketable product which has found its niche --being "the cute hired gun" in big acts. Nothing wrong with that. Everybody has bills to pay, including Orianthi.

Posted

Also, there are fat bald dudes successful in the business. So, cutiness can't be the factor. Bet, she can actually play and perform.

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