Larry Sabo / Tahoe Onstage
There are several ways to define Orgōne (Or-gōne). 1. A universal life force. 2. A cosmic unit of energy, the creative force in nature. 3. A soul music juggernaut with eight heads and one heart.
All will be in play at 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, at Crystal Bay Casino when Orgōne joins San Francisco’s Con Brio for a full night of funk and soul in the Crown Room. Tickets are $25 in advance or $28 at the door, and guests must be 21 or older. The Humidors will take the party into the early morning hours with a free Red Room after-party.
Orgōne has a couple of reasons to celebrate and is doing so in a monthlong Western U.S. tour. The SoCal stalwarts of soul are hitting the road in support of two albums released by Colemine Records, “Big Day” and “Undercover Mixtape.” It is a Big Day Tour indeed, starting Jan. 11 at the Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley and ending Feb. 13 in Salt Lake City.
The band’s website defines its mission: “Now and always, Orgōne delivers dirty, organic, California soul with heart; music that grabs you by the collar, pulls you to your feet and shoves you wantingly onto the dance floor. It all started with two kids from the San Fernando Valley, whose shared affinity for gritty soul records of the ’60s and ’70s collided with the colorful music cultures brewing in Los Angeles during the late ’90s. That friendship sparked a movement, and Orgōne has been delivering nothing but gold to the funk faithful ever since.”
“We intend our music to have an inhibition-canceling effect,” founding guitarist Sergio Rios explains. “It speaks to those who may have wallflower tendencies, encouraging everyone to own the freakiness that lives inside them and enjoy the spotlight for a little while. Sometimes it takes a nudge to let go and get on the dance floor. And sometimes it takes a big ‘ol push… a love shove, if you will. And we’re well versed in those.”
Lead vocalist Adryon de León, a sassy and soulful songstress, leads the charge. She is joined by guitarist Rios, trombonists Ricky Lucchese and Darren Cardoza, trumpeter JJ Kirkpatrick, drummer Sam Halterman, percussionist Will Phillips, and bassist Dale Jennings.
Crystal Bay fans are in for a special treat, as Con Brio joins Orgōne’s 16-stop tour for this show only. Also inspired by a retro sound, Con Brio is led by dynamic frontman Ziek McCarter. Tahoe Onstage music critic Garrett Bethmann described the band’s vibes:
“When you listen to the beautiful funk of Bay Area’s Con Brio you become captivated by the shimmering, colorful music that is coming from the speakers. There is a glowing intensity to it, not only in the notes wafting over you like Technicolor clouds but in the effervescent spirituality imbued in the music’s message. It’s hard not to get pulled into the band’s orbit…” Check out Bethmann’s 2017 interview with McCarter. LINK
