ORION 224 in Dallas, TX - June 21, 2024
Written by: Wendy Morales
June 21, 2024 - I had the pleasure of seeing ORION 224, an upcoming local band from Houston, Texas. Cristian Gonzalez (better known as Cris), drummer Gavin Gonzalez, bassist Victor Perez, and lead guitarist Sean Sticker, dominated the stage with their powerful sound.
It’s not everyday you hear about a band from Houston Texas. If you’re a fan of Late Night Drive Home, The Strokes, Sun Room, and Cage the Elephant, you might wanna check this band out. Their genre consists of indie, pop, punk rock, and more. I can’t say they cover just one genre, as their sound explores through multiple mixed together. They opened for “Late Night Drive Home” in Houston just recently. I found them while scrolling on my for you page through TikTok, and what really caught my attention was their newest debut album, “Take My Hand”. This album truly shows off who they are musically as a band.
“Strawberry Horchata” was the first song I heard, and I knew I was hooked since then. A nostalgic feel mixed with romantic frustration that’s voiced clearly throughout the song. You can really hear the stretch of Cris’ vocals in this. When they played this live he went all out, giving it more drama by taking his voice to another length, scratching an itch in my brain.
“Self Obsessed” - more on the alternative indie side - was another track that they played live, making the crowd sway back and forth. Despite the flowy feel, the song was an obvious jab to a narcissistic ex, have you ever had one of those? In the middle of the set, they surprised us with a cover of “As it Was” by Harry Styles, with their own personal kick (or should I say multiple kicks, because Cris kicked his legs impressively high multiple times throughout the whole show.)
After a few songs, they launched a big bag full of balloons into the crowd. The room was full of black and red, balloons were getting pushed left and right. Keep in mind, we were in a teeny tiny outside venue, there was a tree in the middle of the place. Which by the way, if that isn’t the most Texan thing I’ve witnessed, I don’t know what is. I respect the DIY, no matter the place, they gave us a fun experience.
The set felt fast, yet they interacted with the crowd as much as they could, making sure the energy was kept. They were dedicated to making sure the crowd was having a good time. As of right now, they have 20.8k monthly listeners on Spotify. I truly believe their listeners will significantly go up given their work ethnic. These small bands from Texas are impressive, and their hard work goes unnoticed. Their music is perfect for people who are looking for a fresh sound of indie alternative rock. I highly recommend seeing them if they’re ever in a city near you!
Photos by: Wendy Morales
