The Orwells: Three-Minute Blasts Of Thrashy Mayhem
The Orwells made quite the splash in a recent appearance on The Late Show With David Letterman: During the band's performance of "Who Needs You," the charismatic frontman Mario Cuomo drunkenly strutted about the stage, writhed around on the floor doing pelvic thrusts, and plopped down in one of the set's guest chairs. And if that's not bizarro enough, when the band finished (complete with broken guitar strings) they were met with encore cheers from Letterman and Paul Shaffer -- who mimicked Cuomo's antics, rolling around on the floor himself.
For those who know the young Chicago garage rockers' music, The Orwells' have won over fans with these sorts of explosive live performances and glorious three-minute blasts of punk-inflected mayhem. The Orwells' 2013 EP, Who Needs You, is full of searing guitar lines, thrashy distortion and sneering, shout-sung vocals.
And while viewers may have scratched their heads, the band's guitarist Matt O'Keefe says Letterman told them "That was exactly what we needed." Indeed, these songs are meant to be cranked loud, and heard while bashing around in the crowd. Hear the band bring that energy to the Soundcheck studio for a short-but-sweet set.
Set List:
- "Dirty Sheets"
- "The Righteous One"
- "Who Needs You"
