Scoakat's Blog: Latest Listening Pleasure 37

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Latest Listening Pleasure 37 - Code Orange

This year has been terrible for the music industry. Live shows and tours have been postponed, rescheduled, and now are starting to be postponed yet again. And with digital music being consumed practically for free, live shows are how most musical artists survive. Yet time moves ever forward so albums still get released, videos still get made, and many artists have turned to the internet to put food on the table. Code Orange is one such band, having released their latest album, Underneath, early this year in March, just in time for the rest of their plans for the year to get cancelled.

But this band has moved forward as best they can, and have put some good livestream shows together over the course of the year. First, in March, they played their first livestream show, Last Ones Left: In Fear of the End, and it was very good. Later, at the end of July, they had another, but this time it was set up like an old MTV Unplugged show. Under the Skin got rave reviews from fans and critics alike as their music translated to acoustic better than one would have thought. Then on Halloween they did it again, back to a full heavy concert feel with Back Inside the Glass (a paid livestream, no link available). A truly enjoyable show and happily a very different setlist.

Code Orange - Sulfur Surrounding (from Under the Skin)

I was lucky enough to see all those shows, and I look forward to more. But enough of the acoustic, here is the title song from the album Underneath. A tune I find very catchy, indeed.

Code Orange - Underneath

Now, I didn't know a whole lot about Code Orange (formerly Code Orange Kids) before this year, but I've been learning. What I find really interesting is how this young band has evolved over time. One guitarist used to be the bass player. The keyboards and electronics guy used to be on guitar. And the frontman used to be the drummer, might still be for the studio as they list the current drummer as a session musician.

The band does have what I find to be quite a different style and sound, yet I like it and find it refreshing and a bit unpredictable as sometimes it seems hard to catch the rhythm but it always turns up in an interesting way. Vocals are shared by the female guitarist, frontman and keyboardist, a mix of clean singing and growls. I never find my next favorite band when I'm looking for it, it just shows up when it wants. I'm happy Code Orange showed up, and continues to be active in these times. I also look forward to what this band does next and will be there to support them, whatever that may be.