One of the first songs Scott Perry performed live with The Orchid Highway was The Beatles’ “Drive My Car,” which he loved, mainly because he got to sing the line, “Yes I’m gonna be a star!”

Judging from the reaction of the crowd at British Invasion Night at the Lamplighter on March 25, 2006, Scott may have sang truer than he knows. But I’m getting ahead of the story...Let’s have a bit of a flashback, shall we?

When guitarist John Woods relocated to Toronto, the boys of The Orchid Highway found themselves in need of a “George Harrison type” replacement. Todd Fancey (The New Pornographers, Fancey) recommended Scott, who had worked with him as a member of Orbit in Bloom in the 90s, and more recently with Fancey.

The first session with Scott took place in a dank, dark, smelly rehearsal space The Orchids shared with The Manvils. A place with standing water, a leaky ceiling, and electrical cords snaking everywhere. Any intimidation Scott may have felt coming into a situation with a band of brothers who had been together for 12 years, evaporated immediately as they began to play several Orchids tunes Scott had learned the night before for good measure and a few covers.

Scott felt that the intricate, intertwining guitar arrangements were second nature to him, exactly the types of things he would play had he been present at their inception. But it was when the rest of the band began looking around in recognition of the undeniably explosive capabilities of this powerful lineup, that they realized what they had. Adrian commented that he felt he was having an out of body experience upon hearing Scott channel Woodsy's guitar parts on " Pleasant Street!"

The debut of this new lineup was at Radio Bandcouver's British Invasion Night, where the Orchids performed four songs. “Going Out” by Supergrass segued seamlessly into Scott’s suggestion of the aforementioned Beatles’ classic,“Drive My Car.” It was after this, that Jamie introduced Scott to the packed room as the new Orchid guitarist, which took him a bit by surprise!

Next, Derek led into the first organ-drenched chords of a song the crowd would recognize in a moment, as Scott dropped power chords against Jamie's e-bowing of the signature riff of an ecstatically received “Let Forever Be” by The Chemical Brothers. They then launched into a full-tilt, note perfect rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times, Bad Times.” This was also a bit of a surprise, as it was suggested by Rory rather than Scott, who comes out of a more typically hard rock background. Needless to say, it brought the house down!

So Scott Perry is now officially on board as The Orchid Highway’s left wing, and not only is he a fab “George Harrison type,” but he does a mean Jimmy Page!

The Orchid Highway will play the Lamplighter, at 210 Abbott Street (Abbott and Water), this Saturday, May 6, with Whitfield, Cinderpop and Shukov. Admission is $10. Doors open at 8 p.m. For more information, call: 604-681-6666

Christel Loar, Orchids Press Baroness.

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