Some cities have well-deserved reputations for breeding great hard rock and metal bands: Detroit (MC5, the Stooges, Ted Nugent), Birmingham, UK (Black Sabbath, Judas Priest), Los Angeles (Guns N’ Roses, Mötley Crüe). Port Of Spain, Trinidad has not been on that list – until now. Orange Sky may be the band that changes that. Lead guitarist and singer Nigel Rojas insists that he and his bandmate/younger brother Nicholas aren’t the only metal fans on the island. “We grew up listening to the radio stations that played music from the States,” he recalls. “Every Thursday night there was a show that would come on called Rock Concert, and that guy would be playing Ozzy, Scorpions, Judas Priest, you know? So then the record stores started to bring records in, because people who’d been listening to...
Some cities have well-deserved reputations for breeding great hard rock and metal bands: Detroit (MC5, the Stooges, Ted Nugent), Birmingham, UK (Black Sabbath, Judas Priest), Los Angeles (Guns N’ Roses, Mötley Crüe). Port Of Spain, Trinidad has not been on that list – until now. Orange Sky may be the band that changes that.
Lead guitarist and singer Nigel Rojas insists that he and his bandmate/younger brother Nicholas aren’t the only metal fans on the island. “We grew up listening to the radio stations that played music from the States,” he recalls. “Every Thursday night there was a show that would come on called Rock Concert, and that guy would be playing Ozzy, Scorpions, Judas Priest, you know? So then the record stores started to bring records in, because people who’d been listening to the shows wanted to have the music, and about four record stores opened up and those guys became millionaires really fast, selling Ozzy stuff, and Scorpions, and Mötley Crüe.”
Meanwhile, Nigel and Nicholas were learning to make music of their own. “Nick is five years younger than me, so we grew up jamming together,” Nigel says. “When I was about ten, my aunt taught us to play a couple chords on guitar, and I showed Nicholas what I knew, and we’ve been jamming ever since. We’ve never really parted ways, in terms of having this dream that we could grow old together play music and see the world.”
The brothers formed Orange Sky and began playing gigs in their home country, rapidly gaining a reputation as a highly entertaining live act. They opened for a wide range of touring stars, from Metallica to Ludacris. Signed to Granite/Universal, they released their first album, Upstairs, in 2006, and supported it with a 44-date U.S. tour opening for Yngwie Malmsteen. As a guitarist, Nigel recalls the experience of watching Yngwie night after night as “like penis envy. I just wanted to pick up a ukulele and go home.”
Still, they won fans. “Our live show is sex for us,” says Nigel. “That’s where we make our real connection. The recording is one thing, and we respect that, but the real connection is the live show. We love to play and we love to connect in that way.”
Nigel Rojas
Nicholas Rojas
Obasi Springer
Richard Hall
Mark Dopson
Thursday 30 May, 2013. 03:00AM
Carnival City Ultra Sports Lounge
Sunday 07 July, 2013. 12:00AM
Phoenix Bar & Lounge (Formerly Rock of Ages & New Age)
Sunday 25 August, 2013. 12:00AM
Phoenix Bar & Lounge (Formerly Rock of Ages & New Age)
Sunday 02 November, 2014. 02:00AM
Carnival City Ultra Sports Lounge
Thursday 30 May, 2013. 03:00AM
Carnival City Ultra Sports Lounge
Sunday 07 July, 2013. 12:00AM
Phoenix Bar & Lounge (Formerly Rock of Ages & New Age)
Sunday 25 August, 2013. 12:00AM
Phoenix Bar & Lounge (Formerly Rock of Ages & New Age)
Sunday 02 November, 2014. 02:00AM
Carnival City Ultra Sports Lounge
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO