Artist description The Orange Hunters are a now defunt, Chicago based jam-rock band with catchy melodies and a rootsy sound.

Music Style jam-rock, with a rootsy, southern tinged sound

Artist History The first inception of the Orange Hunters featured Ray O'Hara and Jim Figiel. The two originally played together in college and formed the Orange Hunters several years later. How they arrived at the name is up for debate. Some say they were named after ancient hunters who shot their arrows at the sun, thinking that they would capture it's warmth and vitality. Others say it came from the back of a Cheetos bag while smoking...um...funny cigarettes? The group went through numerous lineup changes until Ray O'Hara and Pat Stavely became the nucleus and main songwriters. Over a four year span, the Orange Hunters released one full length CD and 2 EPs selling a collective total 6000 copies. They achieved this by performing 200 shows per year throughout Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan, performing with such notable acts as the Bo Deans, the Freddy Jones Band, Poi Dog Pondering, the Vulgar Boatmen and Mr. Blotto. Popular festivals the group played at included the Taste of Chicago and the Tim Carroll Barn Bash held annually in Lake Geneva Wisconsin. The group received airplay on Chicago area major radio stations, performed live on air (they were favorite, regular guests on the Kevin Matthews show)and were featured on two Fox network television specials.

Group Members Core members: Ray O'Hara - Vocals, Guitars; Pat Stavely - Guitars, Vocals; Steve Beals - Bass; Kit Bergman - Drums / Earlier members: Jim Figiel - Drums; Joel Rastamo - Bass; Mark Hague - Bass, Guitar; Rob Elrick - Bass; Tadd - Bass (one gig); Dan Laczynski - Bass / Guests: Pat Brennan - Keyboards; Greg Marsh - Drums, percussion; Arik Jenkins - Bass;

Instruments Electric and acoustic guitars, bass, drums, keys, percussion.

Albums The Orange Hunters (eponymous), Best Shoes, Southern Wind.

Press Reviews "Opening for the Bo Deans was the Orange Hunters. Semisonic had been announced, but this change of plans turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The Hunters have their own rootsy appeal, though it's far more Macon, Ga., than North Woods." Dave Tianen - Milwaukee Journal Sentinal "...dual lead vocals and aoustic and electric guitars pupming out meaty, catchy tunes." Marie Lammel, Illinois Entertainer. "...a cool sound with a great pop feel" Todd Kasten, Metro/Chicago.

Location Chicago, IL - USA

Copyright notice. All material on MP3.com is protected by copyright law and by international treaties. You may download this material and make reasonable number of copies of this material only for your own personal use. You may not otherwise reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, or create derivative works of this material, unless authorized by the appropriate copyright owner(s).