While the Queen Bean in downtown Modesto is always the place to be, as is evidenced by the signs hung overhead. The September 22 CD release party for The House of Orange put a particular emphasis on the Bean’s slogan.  The mingled scents of gourmet coffee and Nag Champa incense filled the air while Matty Comer’s signature tapestries and the valley’s setting sun manipulated the light to provide an atmosphere of perfectly mingled calm and anticipation.
Local artist Bonnie Ohara (also the artist responsible for the CD artwork) sat at a table with hand-painted jewelry for sale while Ray Vazira of The House of Orange took a minute to talk about the history of the band. “It was really just a beautiful accident,” said Vazira when asked how the group came to be.  
One day Vazira and Irene Carrillo were in the midst of an impromptu jam session, when Carrillo scribbled out their first song in a burst of inspiration on the back of a piece of junk mail. It was in that moment that the band was born. The band takes its name from the place they call home, a house in the heart of downtown Modesto that had been christened “The House of Orange” and that regularly provides sanctuary and jam sessions for some of Modesto’s most talented musicians.  
The House of Orange is a seven to eight piece band, depending on the schedule of band members. Beautiful back up vocalist Katrina Severin has recently left the band, due to increasing collegiate responsibilities, however she was kind enough to lend her voice and talent to the show for Saturday night, as well as being a large part of the CD.
Irene Carrillo provides lead vocals with a voice that will pick you up and carry you away.  Her strong and soul-filled voice is matched only by her sassy, Hollywood-bombshell stage presence. Providing support for Carrillo’s songwriting prowess are Ray Vazira on ukulele and back-up vocals, Adria Bay on the clarinet and violin, Chandler Pratt on the mandolin, guitar and backup vocals, Doug McKinnon on the Bass, Amanda Wood on the trumpet and Paul Muncy on the drums.
At some points jazz, at others blues: The House of Orange is difficult to classify as a single genre. The bands Facebook page states as much, “new-age saloon, gypsy-rock, and old-world-jazzy-bluesy-floozy describe parts of their work”
Be they ever so difficult to pigeonhole, their work is incredible. Each piece of the band melds seamlessly with the others to produce a sound that is at once totally new and like a long-forgotten memory.
While many local bands sound like they have never practiced together before, the chemistry of the members of The House of Orange is unmistakable. This is a band made up not just of talent, but of countless hours of practice and friendship. The performance was completely live and I didn’t catch a single dropped note or misbeat.
The rest of the show was just as enjoyable. Opening acts by Nathan Ignacio, The Dustbowl Children, and Dr. Blue and The Bad Medicine provided a cheerful backdrop for the all-ages venue. Little children ran around on the deck while teenagers snuck cigarettes in the parking lot and those who were of age sipped beers sold by the outdoor bar. Audience members were struck by the quality of the sound system provided by Matty Comer and the Acoustic Rock Society.
While surprisingly not nominated for a MAMA this year, that slight shouldn’t prevent listeners from making it out to the next show put on by The House of Orange. This band is a must see. Given the scope of their talent, they may very well be one of those bands that originates here in Stanislaus County and doesn’t stop until they’ve become a national icon. Find them on Facebook to stay informed about upcoming shows.