 Living End – (who shamelessly aped the Clash and others before him) – is superior to Orianthi? Gimme a break. Or Ross Hannaford from Daddy Cool being named above her! Now that is amusing. That geeky fossil may’ve blown the doped-out minds of surfies back in 1971, but really – just how influential was he? Exactly. Whatever – she shoulda been on that list, but I couldn’t really care – and I bet the humble Orianthi couldn’t either. Those in the know, can recognize just how special she really is. I am not going to give you the complete history – but her first gig was as a 15 year old supporting Steve Vai in Adelaide – who clearly knew that he was witnessing a once-in-a-generation guitar player – and it all started from there. Make sure you view her 2009 Grammy Awards performance – where she performed as part of Carrie Underwood’s band. If you can ignore the cliched, long-legged nonsense which Underwood carries on with – and close your eyes and listen, you will get what I am saying. The licks she lays down during those four short minutes would make Hendrix and Clapton jump in fright. She simply smokes, and without even trying – steals the show. Although landing the gig as Michael Jackson’s guitar player not long before – Orianthi, at that time was still relatively unknown. In my opinion, this was the performance which made many people sit up and take note….including me. I knew of her as the ‘Australian guitar player who landed the gig with Michael Jackson’, but shame on me for not discovering her earlier. So again, go to that Awards performance – close your eyes and listen to her playing – listen to what is actually going on along her fretboard. The feel, flair and natural ability which she possesses cannot be rehearsed and it cannot be taught. It is a gift. An instinct. Orianthi is a visionary who has magic flowing through her fingers. Fellow-femme players like Bonnie Raitt and Lita Ford (whom I adore) – do not receive the accolades which Orianthi has received. But being female does not enter the equation – her gender and looks are indeed irrelevant – you need to look further my friends. look and listen with your ears. When you have so many young women artists nowadays all vying to be the next Kelly Clarkson or discovered on one of the many ‘talent’ programs – it’s refreshing that the ass-kicking Orianthi is around. Let me ask you this – is she the greatest guitar player since Hendrix? – Hmmm – that’s a big call – but in time, you will add her name to Beck, Hendrix, Rhoads, Clapton, Ray Vaughan, Santana and the like. That I can assure you. Until then friends, be in no doubt – Orianthi is the greatest guitar player alive today….
Now you’re talking brother!! Orianthi has been on my radar since her performance with Carrie Underwood. Talk about overshadowing somebody…LOL!! Orianthi is called one of the best female guitarists of our time. ORIANTHI IS THE BEST GUITARISTS OF OUR TIME…PERIOD!! Furthermore that girl can sing her a** off too!! Oh and did I mention she is drop dead gorgeous. I’m a huge Hendrix fan, but Orianthi’s playing is far more advanced and cleaner. She is a phenomenon!! This girl is going to go far and her place in musical history is most definitely assured. Another fantastic article my friend!! Keep on rockin’!!
Hey thanks man. She is a breath of fresh air in rock n roll. I think she plays Hendrix better than most. She is very humble and appears to be grounded. Rock on Orianthi!
I’ve been trying to hit my “like” button, but I can’t find my password…LOL!! Rest assured that I have liked every article you have done. Keep on rockin’ brother!!
As you mentioned in your article, Orianthi is playing for Alice Cooper now. I am proud to be able to say that I was a temporary bodyguard for Alice Cooper back in “85. He is a great guy and nothing like his stage persona. He does a lot for charity. In fact he is The Phoenix Zoo’s largest supporter. He will do right by Orianthi, you can bet on it. I thought you might get a kick out of that little tidbit of info. Rock on brother!!
Some big statements here Mr. Rockbrat – Sheesh, I dunno. She is good – no doubt, but the greatest guitar player alive today? Leave you speechless? Really? That good? That different from anyone else? She can shred – no doubt. But if she looked like Mamma Cass, would she have garnered all the attention? Of course not. She shreds – AND she looks like a Centrefold. Hence the interest – and no, I’m not denegrading her performance, but she has the look and chops right, that’s what the A&R guys like. There have been plenty of iconic, great, original and interesting guitar players to come from the Antipodes – yet as far as musicianship, you’d be hard pressed to surpass either Phil or Tommy Emmanuel – of whom Eric Clapton once said, “He’s the best guitarist I’ve ever seen”. Speechless? I’ve seen both Emmanuel’s do things that left me speechless.
No Cowboy Col, you are missing the point. You need to listen again. She is more than a shredder. I mean even the Great Kat could shred, right. There is so much more to her playing – and the big single she had ‘According To You’ does not highlight her talent. Orianthi’s time is now – and she is the greatest player around today, regardless of her looks….Anyone ever heard of Phil Emanual outside of Australia? (silence) I am not here to denounce other players – I like the Emmanuals, and I can respect Satriani, Vai, McAlpine etc etc – but Orianthi is easily on par with those guys – and in fact – has put lead guitar playing back in the public eye. The centrefold comment made Mr Rockbrat laugh – and nearly made me take away your admin access (!). Cos, when I watch Orianthi with Carrie Underwood – standing next to eachother – (no disrespect to Underwood whom I know nothing about) – you actually witness an extremely gifted musician, next to a limited pop princess. All the leggy and salon-tanned Underwood can do is awkwardly dance and grin next to Orianthi – and the comparison was pretty obvious. Orianthi was not found by A&R guys either – it was via Steve Vai. Mr Rockbrat is not often wrong – and guess what – time will prove me correct.
Better than Yngwie? I don’t think so….
Oh great – a Malmsteen devotee – I was wondering how long it would take before one of his followers found my post. His giant ego is something Orianthi seems not to have – and how refreshing is that!? I am not going to waste time debating my opinion with you.You dig Yngwie? Cool. I bought his debut LP, and also had records from Alcatrazz, Steeler etc.  We walked out on him. We also walked out on Steve Lukather. Many people have left Crapton gigs early. Go watch the Orianthi clip from Summersonic Japan show which I linked to – where she plays Jimi better than Jimi – NO ONE is leaving. She is up on that big stage alone and letting her music do the talking. Tell Yngwie I said hi.
GAMING
8-bitrix
The Matrix: Reloaded... If it had 8-bit sound effects
The Matrix: Reloaded... If it had 8-bit sound effects
Jarett Heather, the guy who just animated the "Word Crimes" video for Weird Al Yankovic, totally rebuilt an old Tron arcade machine.
A goldmine of old video game songs, complete with download options.
An Analysis of the Incredible Game Design Found in the First Level of the "Super Mario Bros" Video Game.
It's steam sale time
or, This Is Phil Fish - Fez
Of course, they say in engine, not necessarily in console final. I hate hype trains. Wooo wooo.
Hrnnn. That F-stop.
The game is called This War of Mine, the first war game you may have ever heard of that focuses not on soldiers but on civilians. You play as people caught up in the crossfire, people who are just trying to survive.
The return of Shaq-Fu O_O
My brother made a youtube clip of the first time we beat the Twins in Terraria. It makes me emotional, but that's probably because of the 20 or 30 deaths I had before we finally beat the bastards.
Ever wonder what Pokemon looked like if played by 25,000 random trolls on 10 second delays?.
It'll take a while for this one. Watch to the end, if you can..
Video "footage" of the battle here. Any EVE Online veterans out here?
?"I made this Garfield cake for my mother’s 50th birthday, it was a big hit. If I would have had