Orleans

Orleans are the kind of band that one should respect whether you’re into their brand of Seventies pop-rock or not. The last two years or so of their career have been some of the most inspirational (By the way, how many bands who formed in the early two-thousands can say that with a straight face, let alone those who formed in the early seventies, as Orleans did?) in the face of great tragedy, as founding member, singer and guitarist Larry Hoppen took his own life after a long struggle with depression. After deciding that it was what he would have wanted the band to do, the remaining members of Orleans continued touring and have since been playing the best shows of their four decades in the music business. With far more vim and vinegar than is expected from a group of men in their sixties, each of their big hits, from Dance With Me to Still The One all the way through to Love Takes Time sound immaculate. Special mention must go to the bands harmonies, which can still send chills down any given spine at a hundred paces. Every show of theirs has had an extra significance since 2012 for obvious and understandable reasons, and as a band they’re better than ever. In all this is truly a show to see at the next chance you get and discover a band with far more to offer than history seems to remember. Highly recommended.

Fun concert. Lance & Lane Hoppen and the rest of the band did a great job backing the eclectic musicians who performed. Peter Beckett of #playertheband rocked the house as did John Cafferty. Loved the tunes by Jim Yester of The Association & Terry Sylvester of The Hollies. Everyone was great.

Orleans were awesome. Great harmonies and the duel guitar leads, an Orleans trademark, were spot on. The New Orleans style songs were excellent and they got the older crowd actually moving.