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The Island Hopper: Ringer for Rod
Rock-star allure is only one reason why George Orr's dead-on impersonation of Rod Stewart makes for a memorable evening
By TIFFANY YATES, Special to the Islander
November 26, 2004
George Orr was born to be a rock star.
Not because he looks, sounds and moves so uncannily like Rod Stewart that he'd be easily mistaken for him - though he does.
Not necessarily because he's a talented singer who has excellent vocal control, while still letting his voice roar out all over the musical map - which he is.
No, I give Orr this title because the man has the rock-star MO down pat: onstage charisma, great audience rapport, hilarious between-song patter and an enjoyment of the whole thing that is so evident, you can't help but be caught up in it.
Think I'm being hyperbolic? How's this: Orr and his partner, keyboardist and singer Larry Janca, offer one of the most polished, professional, enjoyable evenings I've seen on the island.
Ever.
Here's the background: I knew all week I would be covering Orr and Janca at Blú Fusion, and I wasn't really looking forward to it. Tired old Rod Stewart songs, I thought, and some cheesy impersonator. Ugh.
Well, shut my mouth. I've been hearing raves since the two started playing Blú Fusion, where they appear once a month, and on Nov. 20 they played to a packed house. I had what I needed for my column more than an hour before I finally left - but I hated to tear myself away from what had become, very soon after the show began, a party that included the entire restaurant.
Orr claims never to have seen Rod perform, never to have even heard his CDs until he was "discovered" as a look-and sound-alike just over four years ago. He was a successful singer in his own right in his native Scotland (before his resemblance put the kibosh on a career) as well as a professional photographer and a martial artist.
He and Janca also have a six-piece band with which they do the Rod show for larger venues, but all by their lonesome the two present a smashing good time. There's synth and canned music, sure. But I swear - and knowing how I feel about tracks, you can believe me - it's not that you forget, but you DO NOT CARE.
Janca, I suspect, is a hell of a keyboard player. The playlist requires that he use plinky, thin effects like electric guitar and violin, but did I mention YOU DO NOT CARE? His fingers dance over the keys in what would be impressive solos on a baby grand. He provides harmonies for Orr, as well as taking the lead on a few songs, such as Key Largo and Smooth.
And Orr ... folks, I was half in love with him, and I don't even like Rod Stewart all that much!
You get your Rod, oh, yes - you get your Maggie May, your Do You Think I'm Sexy, your Hot Legs.
You get the love songs: The First Cut is the Deepest, the haunting and sad I Don't Want to Talk About It, Have I Told You Lately That I Love You.
But wait, there's more! You get old torchy songs (which I love): Until the Real Thing Comes Along and As Time Goes By - sung very, very well. You get Motown: Ain't Too Proud to Beg and This Old Heart of Mine.
And that's not all! You'll also see George Orr play the flute! You'll see him strum guitar! You'll see him twist nearly to the floor on the dance floor while surrounded by women, then drop into - I promise this happened - one-arm push-ups AS HE SINGS, for half the length of a song. Chicks dig him, as you can imagine, but come on, guys - can YOU do that many, even with a spotter at the gym?
And then there are his quick one-liners as the show builds to what Orr terms "a crescendo of fun."
On tips: "Please don't be a cheap weasel."
On audience participation: "Remember we are live tonight, and if you don't clap we can see you doing it."
On pyromania: "Wave your table candle for this song, and if you don't have one, just set fire to anything close to you."
The dance floor is jammed all night, but Orr still goes out into the crowd to solicit dancers, to sit in laps, to invite audience members (pretty female ones ...) onstage with him to sing backup. And all the while he sips Chardonnay, which he also shamelessly solicits from appreciative fans.
And all that, my friends, is why Orr should have been a rock star - a little thing called showmanship and charisma that separates the men from the boys and sets the Hot Rod Show, as they call it, well above the level of your average impersonation show.
Now, you pick up the phone right now and make a reservation for their next public appearance here - the weekend of New Year's Eve, Friday through Sunday. I'm not kidding - grab a group and come prepared to have dangerous amounts of fun.
Me ... I'll admit it - I came home and dug up my old CD box set of Rod Stewart songs. And don't mock me about it until you've gone and seen Orr and Janco and find yourself wailing out Hot Legs in the shower.
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