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Local band profile: The Last Domino

by Neal Taflinger

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Video competition finalist John Orr performs as The Last Domino at the Vogue in December. (Jammy Straub / For the Star)

See The Last Domino perform at Birdy's on Jan. 30th. (Jammy Straub / For The Star)

Click here to watch the Off the Record video with The Last Domino

Carmel, Ind., native John Orr started playing music early in life, but didn't start tinkering with solo material until late in his college career.

The towering troubadour dubbed his project The Last Domino, released the "Romanicide" EP in March 2005, moved to Indianapolis from Bloomington, and served up "Seconds" in March 2007.

Just 25 years old, the lanky lyricist turns a phrase with the sophistication of veteran songwriters and has a musical style inspired by folk, punk and Lisa Simpson. Orr, a finalist in Indy.com's Music Video Throwdown contest, talked to Indy.com the Magazine recently.

What is your musical background?

I started playing the sax at age 10, because I thought it was awesome that Lisa Simpson did. I took private lessons and played in concert and jazz bands throughout junior high and high school.

When I was 13, a friend taught me the basics of the guitar and drums. I picked up the rest on my own, writing songs on a crummy acoustic that my dad bought for something like $6 as a kid, and taking over friends' drum sets for hours on end, much to their chagrin.

I started my first band in eighth grade and have either sung or played some instrument in bands of various musical styles since. I also recorded a solo album of (Nintendo classic) Mega Man covers under the name Kid Overdrive in 2006.

What inspired you to start writing solo material?

A close friend of mine bought me my first real acoustic guitar as a present after the breakup of a band I loved playing in during college. She ..... believed that I would do really well performing on my own.

A lot of singers stick to acoustic guitar. Why add saxomophone, djembe, etc?

I almost didn't catch your "Simpsons" reference. I wanted to switch it up from the typical dude-with-guitar thing. Also because it gave me a reason to bust out the sax again, which I always wanted to play live. As far as the djembe, I had recorded certain songs for "Seconds" never thinking that I would play them at shows, but realized I could adjust them a bit for live purposes.

How do you pull off the multi-instrumental arrangements live?

I use a loop pedal, which allows me to layer and repeat guitar riffs or beats while I play other instruments. It takes a lot of practice and coordination, but I don't use it for every song. It's more for subtlety rather than a gimmick.

Can you talk a little about the song "Seconds"?

"Seconds" is a fictional story about a man whose brother ..... is turned in by his parents and imprisoned for an unknown crime. The sibling commits suicide while in jail, but leaves behind a carpe diem-like message with the main character, which the character tries to live out. ..... I swear the rest of the album isn't this morose!

You suddenly seem to be everywhere. Why is that?

Elbow grease. Tubs and tubs of elbow grease. Unlike the first EP, "Seconds" was written with the purpose of getting out there and playing shows .....

What are your plans?

I've already got a few shows lined up, including one at Birdy's on March 12, which will be filmed for a DVD that I plan to release later in the year. I'm also going to release a new double album in November, and hopefully I'll have a drummer and bassist backing me.