Someone who hasn't spent time in southern California might not fully appreciate the title
Behind the Orange Curtain
. Back in the '70s and '80s -- when there was still a Soviet Union and the communist governments of Eastern Europe were referred to as "behind the Iron Curtain" -- folks in Los Angeles County jokingly referred to Orange County (their neighbor to the south) as "the Orange Curtain." That term became dated when the Cold War ended and there was no longer an Iron Curtain separating Eastern and Western Europe, but it's still a funny term. Well, the L.A.-based
Bulletboys
ventured "behind the Orange Curtain" when they recorded this live
hard rock
/
metal
album at
the Galaxy Theater
in Santa Ana. The credits, unfortunately, don't tell listeners when
was recorded, but it was probably around 2002-2003 because lead singer
Marq Torien
refers to
Sophie
(a 2003 release) as a new album that would be out soon. The
lineup heard on this 55-minute CD is not the old
Torien
Mick Sweda
Lonnie Vencent
Jimmy D'Anda
lineup;
, the only remaining original member, is joined by guitarist
Tommy Pittman
, bassist
Jimmy Nelson
, and drummer
Pete Newman
. But a lot of old favorites are performed, including
"Hang on St. Christopher,"
"Hard as a Rock,"
"Shoot the Preacher Down,"
and
the O'Jays
'
"For the Love of Money"
-- and
fares well by letting his bluesy,
R&B-ish
instincts prevail. Occasionally,
ventures into
alternative rock
post-grunge
territory (
"Walls"
"Toy,"
for example), but much of the time, this album is a tribute to
the Bulletboys
' late-'80s/early-'90s heyday (before
alterna-rock
became an influence for the band). And while it falls short of essential,
is a generally enjoyable release that
' die-hard fans will appreciate. ~ Alex Henderson