By Lenny Strauss
Hometown Weekly Reporter.
On November 1st, the timeless pop-rock band Orleans will be taking the stage at the Needham Town Hall. Formed in Woodstock NY in 1972 by musicians John Hall and Larry Hoppen, the band released timeless classic hits like Dance with Me and Still the One, which were both top six chart hits in 1976. For the last 50 years, they have graced eager audiences with their live performances of smooth melodic pop rock songs. Praised to this day for their deeply connecting songwriting, instrumental prowess and classic harmonies, their iconic songs still resonate with audiences today, both young and old.
LS: “What has changed the most about the industry since you started your career. Is there something you miss about those early days, or something you would have done differently in the trajectory of Orleans, or you, personally as a musician?”
LH: “Everything's changed about the industry. When we started out, you could make a living playing live on a circuit, we played clubs and colleges. We would go out for three or four days at a time, come back, rehearse more songs and test them out on audiences. Do that week after week after week. Making money that way, you know, for a young kid, it was plenty, and we were able to hone our craft that way. I mean, I don't think that happens that way anymore. There's not that availability in venues.”
“People now can make a recording in their bedroom with their laptop. And who knows? From that they can become a big star, so it's a completely different animal. About how music is discovered and distributed and the barrier to entry is almost nil, and you don't need a label these days either.”
“So, everything about it is different. We wouldn't really have done anything different. We could have picked better managers instead of the wrong ones; We had choices to make and in retrospect, we made some really boneheaded maneuvers, where we could have zigged when we zagged, we had to deal with power struggles and discontent and young men like bulls in a China shop at times.”
“We as a band have had our disagreements, with members leaving, and all the subsequent cycles of getting back together, going apart, getting back together, falling apart. They never could recapture that momentum that we had going on then, and if anyone had, you know, if we had a good counselor, who could have slapped us up the head, things might have been different, but it is what it is, and I'm grateful that I'm still standing at 53 years in, leading the legacy. The quintet we have now with my younger brother Lane, who has been here half the time, is great! The guys are super, we sing and play great, and its still fun. Who could ask for more?”
LS: “You as a band have had a long record of great hits, from your album releases to worldwide hits, “Still the One” and “Dance with Me”. In the creation process, did you know or feel that songs like those would be an instant hit? Was it something about them? How does it feel for your songs to have reached and continue to reach so many listeners and audiences?”
LH: “I remember we used to rehearse in this little garage at a house I rented, it had a one car garage, cement blocks, mattresses on the walls for the neighbor's sake and John walked in and played a Dance with Me lick and Larry said, ‘That's a good one. You should finish that one’. So, he could hear that. And lo and behold it was a hit! But I don't think any of us could have foretold the magnitude of what Still the One became. Beyond anything we could have imagined, it was just a song among songs, as far as I was concerned, I'm sure Chuck heard it as a hit, and he helped make it a hit, but to have the life it's had, it's one of the most licensed songs ever. For all kinds of uses, commercial and otherwise. So, there was no predicting that.”
LS: “What new things are you exploring in music? How do you compose music now? Is there some form of self-expression that motivates you, or an existing theme that keeps you grounded when you make your music?”
LH: “Well, live is a specific medium, that's what I did. Every different iteration of the band, every different version, regardless of who else was with us, had its strengths and weaknesses, and there's things about the early the ‘70s bands that I wouldn't even attempt, because that's not in our wheelhouse, but when it comes to vocal harmony, and song structure and all that, this band does that really well, and the players are great. It’s just that it's not as funky and improvisational as it once was. It's more polished than the original.”
“You have to do live what works best live, and there's a wealth of material to choose from. Everything has to flow, be accessible pretty much immediately and show variety. That is what we did. Everybody sings lead at some point, and it’s just a great show. As far as recording is concerned, we are finally finishing what will no doubt be our last album. We’re almost done recording, with a couple already finished, so we’ll have an 11-song collection to release next spring.”
“I haven't written anything myself in a long time, I did have my big solo album, in 2017 Conjuring, and I did that to put together 15 tunes. I didn't want them to disappear. I wasn't expecting to make big waves, but it's a real Class A album It let me do everything like play, sing, produce, arrange, play some guitar. But these days I focus on performing live.”
LS: “For a newcomer or first-time listener, how would you describe the experience, or what do you hope they experience watching Orleans perform?”
LH: “You know what it is? It’s Joy. People really enjoy themselves. Lyrically speaking the music is primarily uplifting, everything is positive, fun, energetic and there's variety! People really dig that; I know because they come to the merch table afterwards, and they're so effusive about it, as well as the standing ovation at the end. Just watching the audience and interacting with them, I would say yeah, joy is a good way to sum it up”.
LS: “In a previous interview, you once described the history of Orleans as “Crash and burn, rise from the coffin, crash and burn.” What never seems to change, however, is the impact your music has had and continues to have. How would you like Orleans to be remembered?”
LH: “I'd like Orleans to be remembered as a class act, not a trend follower. Highly respected among their peers and emulated by many as an influence beyond our own dream. We've touched a lot of other artists who have built on that, God love them for it. In the hierarchy of things, we're not as well-known as some, but I think we made our mark, and it's lasting.”
Be sure to catch Lance, Lane, and the other incredibly talented members of Orleans live at the Needham Town Hall, this November 1st at 7:30pm. Tickets are selling fast.
