In the fall of 2010, Irene Carrillo and Paul Muncy began hosting “jam nights” for local musicians at their house on Orange Avenue. For kicks, they toyed around with songs written by Irene and Ray Vazira. When Irene was offered a gig at a local venue the following January, the House of Orange solidified itself as an official band, playing their first show on January 28th, 2011 for Greg Edwards’ “Of
f the Air.” From their inception, the band has made it their goal to make music that speaks from their hearts, not to create tunes that fit into a specific genre. Even if they wanted to fence themselves into a specific pasture, the diversity of the group would never allow for it. Front-woman and songwriter, Irene Carrillo, cut her teeth in Modesto’s queer–punk music scene, fronting such bands as Anteria, The Femmebotz, and Addaline. Her partner in crime and the House’s ukulele player, Ray Vizera, recorded his first album with the world music group, La Sanga, and drummed with the alt-country band, Panhandle. A drummer by birth, Ray’s Persian music roots bring a raucous rhythmic flare to the House. Chandler Pratt plays mandolin, guitar, and banjo for the band; he was a member of the psychedelic sensation, Fat Skeleton, and currently plays with the alt-country hit, The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit. Bassist Doug McKinnon built his chops playing grunge in his home city of Seattle and currently plays with the shoegaze band, Solar Powered People. The House’s violinist and clarinetist, Adria Bray, is a product of Modesto’s community music groups such as the Modesto Junior College Orchestra and Night Band. She is currently completing her Master of Arts in History, specializing in the evolution of American music, from the melodies of old world fiddle tunes to the rhythms of Congo Square. Amanda Wood brings her twenty plus years of jazz training as a trumpeter to the sounds of the House. She has performed in Egypt and Ireland, as well as a variety of American venues in Chicago, upstate New York and Florida, sharing the stage with jazz greats like Clark Terry. Rounding out the group on drums is Paul Muncy, who spent his twenties as a drumline instructor and has recently returned to his roots on the kit. Katrina Severin, who recently left the group to focus on her college career at University of the Pacific, brought back-up vocals to the House in its first year and is an integral part of the sound on their debut album, Jumping Flea.
