Concert Review + Photos: Orianthi at Webster Hall in NYC, NY

The 14 song set (at Webster Hall’s Marlin Room), mainly featuring songs from her last two releases, sounded impressively tight considering the fact that this was a one-off gig. Perhaps most surprising is Orianthi’s voice. For someone known, almost solely, for her guitar prowess she delivers her vocals with a sweaty juke-joint blues vibe that goes hand and hand with her stage presence. Somewhere between the alley cat coolness of Stevie Ray Vaughn and the laid-back gypsy charm of Hendrix she manages to differ attention from the fact that she’s quite attractive. Too many female artist, even talented one, rely on their looks to get them attention. She surely doesn’t lack style but it’s clear that substance is paramount.

Songs like “Think Like a Man” and “Bad News” from her second album Believe are given new life in a live setting. Stripped down and delivered in a no-nonsense way that provide for some of the more stellar highlights of the evening. The instrumental “Song for Steve”, (Her tribute/Thank You to Steve Vai) made for a good vehicle to flex her guitar muscle. However, like most treats, the best are saved for last. Before she could even announce it, Alice Cooper jumped on stage. Thankfully, they didn’t take the predictable road of “I’m Eighteen” or “School’s Out” instead they ripped into an ass-kicking version of the Hendrix classic “Foxy Lady”. Alice, very much out of character, couldn’t stop smiling. His joy was genuine, which added to the fun. At this point in his career Cooper doesn’t have to do favors for “the kids” in the band. The fact that he would come down on his day off and let his hair down and be one of the guys is very telling of the kind of person he is and also quite telling of what he thinks of his gifted guitarist.

It’s comforting to see that as Orianthi’s star continues to rise her growth as an artist hasn’t been compromised. Quite to the contrary. Thankfully this shooting star is here for the long run.