Getting to Know: Slaughter House, Orianthi, and Tj Edwards

Get To Know:

Slaughterhouse emerged from the South Bay of Los Angeles in late 2017 and hit the ground running with out-of-state shows and recorded music that would define their deathrock/punk sound. Solidifying their current lineup by early 2019, Slaughterhouse continues to build their name playing around the west coast with tunes from their recently released debut LP, Fun Factory, out as a split release on Todd Congelliere of F.Y.P’s label Recess Records, and Water Under the Bridge Records. With Veronica Molidor on vocals, Taylor Ramirez on guitar, Eddie Cairns on Bass, and Nick Aguilar on Drums, this group’s first LP is a Fun Factory in itself. It starts with the slow-rolling, powerful track “TV Age,” and continues to roll through with punch in the gut tracks like “Time Killer” and “Paranoia,” as well as Siouxsie and The Banshees influenced tracks like “The Rat” and “Micromanage.” Listening to the album is like a fun ride on the Tilt-A-Whirl. Fun Factory has what you are looking for to blast at high volume, or experience live, also at high volume. Playing with bands like Pennywise, the Adolescents, and Dead Kennedy’s, Slaughterhouse also blends well with the likes of popular Los Angeles bands like SadGirl and Together Pangea. So whether you’re a fan of authentic old-school punk rock or fresh sounds from current music, Slaughterhouse has a little bit of everything.

Watch: “Fun Factory” Official music video.

Sounds Like: OFF!, Distillers, The Paranoyds

Listen: Spotify, Apple Music

Follow: Instagram, YouTube

Gear: Ernie Ball Regular Slinky, Skinny Top Heavy Bottom, and Regular Bass Slinkys.

Get To Know:

Unless you’ve been completely deaf and blind to guitarists in the last 10 years, you likely already know Orianthi. Australian-born, Los Angeles-based Orianthi Panagaris is an award-winning virtuoso guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer. Performing only under her first name, she began wowing audiences at age 15 when her high school rock band opened for Steve Vai. At 18, she met and played with Carlos Santana in Adelaide. After jamming with him at soundcheck, he asked if she would join him on-stage that evening. Their half-hour collaborative jam netted a press quote from the elder musician: “It’s not cute anymore, it’s seriously ass-whipping. If I was going to pass the baton to somebody, she would be my first choice.” After issuing her debut long-player Violet Journey in 2005, Orianthi relocated to Los Angeles in 2006 and signed with Geffen Records. In 2009, she performed on national television with Carrie Underwood and joined Michael Jackson’s band for his post-retirement This Is It album and tour. Her long-playing debut “Believe” appeared that year, netted the international hit single “According to You,” and was certified platinum. In 2011 she joined Alice Cooper’s touring and studio bands. She released her sophomore album, “Heaven In This Hell”, in 2013. In 2015 she joined Cooper’s supergroup Hollywood Vampires with Johnny Depp and Joe Perry. Two years later, Orianthi and Richie Sambora formed RSO and released a pair of EPs, followed by the album Radio Free America in 2018. Her second LP, Believe, arrived several days before the movie’s release, featuring the Top 20 single “According to You.” It was re-released in 2010 as Believe (II) with four different songs, including a cover of John Waite’s “Missing You.” It also featured a guest spot from Vai on the tune “Highly Strung.” The set charted inside the top half of the Top 200. The following year, Orianthi released the digital EP Fire featuring production from the Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart. In 2013, Orianthi returned with her third full-length album, “Heaven In This Hell”. Also produced by Stewart, it contained all five tracks from the EP and centered on modern country and blues. It charted inside the Top 40 on the Independent Albums chart. Orianthi also appeared during the Top Seven week on season 12 of American Idol to play guitar for each of the performances.

Watch: The Offical music video for “Impulsive“

Sounds Like: Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Nita Strauss, Kelly Clarkson

Listen: Spotify, Apple Music

Follow: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter

Gear: Ernie Ball Regular Slinky and Super Slinky electric guitar strings.

Get To Know:

We discovered East coast raised and now Oregon-based artist Tj Edwards a while back on social media. We learned quickly that this guy had amazing tone, phrasing, and chops at a very young age. Recently, you can see Tj performing with Ron Artis ii and the Truth in his Live in the studio vol 2 music video, along with Saeeda Wright (former background singer for Prince), also he has made a great impact in the social media guitar world as well as the live gig world, his playing has been shared and reacted to by big names such as Mateus Asato, John Mayer, Tomo Fujita, Melanie Faye, Jmo (Jairus Mozee), Jubu Smith, Mark j Lettieri and many other big names.

Watch: “This Is America” official music video.

Sounds Like: Eric Gales, Melanie Faye, Ron Artis ii, Mateus Asato

Listen: Spotify

Follow: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok

Gear: Ernie Ball Regular Slinky and Hybrid Slinky electric guitar strings.