First Time Blues (featuring Joe Bonamassa)

The Zoo Crew is spinning the soulful track "First Time Blues (featuring Joe Bonamassa)" by Orianthi, a single that’s got the Zoo Freaks vibing with its bluesy riffs and heartfelt lyrics. This song, recorded at Robby Krieger’s Love Street Sound studio, captures the raw emotion of heartbreak, with Orianthi describing it as reflecting “that first time you feel the pain of something different happening to you,” emphasizing the importance of holding onto a childlike love of life despite life’s challenges. The track features blistering solos from both Orianthi and Bonamassa, a longtime friend with whom she’s jammed many times, though this marks their first studio collaboration. Orianthi shared her excitement on X, posting in December 2023 about Bonamassa laying down “fire” on the track, and later in January 2024, she hyped the song’s abundance of guitar solos, urging fans to pre-save it.

The recording process was a blast, with Orianthi noting the “wonderful vibe” at Krieger’s studio, where she’s a big fan of The Doors. She cut the track live in just a few takes, a testament to her and her band’s tight chemistry after performing it on the road for a year. The single, mixed by renowned producer Kevin Shirley, also features a stellar lineup including Nick Maybury on guitar, Justin Andres on bass, Carey Frank on keyboards, and Elias Mallin on drums. Orianthi’s connection to the blues runs deep, and she told Blabbermouth that the genre “resonates with me more than anything,” shaping the song’s organic, 60s-70s rock-blues vibe. Fans got a treat when Orianthi and Bonamassa performed it live at the Whisky a Go Go in May 2024, trading licks in a solo-heavy show that also included a cover of B.B. King’s “Never Make Your Move.”

Orianthi, born Orianthi Penny Panagaris on January 22, 1985, in Adelaide, South Australia, kicked off her musical journey at a young age, picking up the guitar at six and performing by eleven. Her Greek-Australian roots and early exposure to rock and blues shaped her fiery style. She gained early recognition in Australia, releasing her debut album, Violet Journey, in 2005 at just 20. Her big break came when she was tapped as Michael Jackson’s lead guitarist for his ill-fated “This Is It” tour, showcasing her virtuosic skills in rehearsals captured in the documentary This Is It. This led to high-profile gigs with Alice Cooper, Carlos Santana, and Carrie Underwood, including a standout performance at the Grammy Awards. Elle magazine named her one of the “12 Greatest Female Electric Guitarists,” and she won the 2010 “Breakthrough Guitarist of the Year” from Guitar International.

Connect with Orianthi on her official website, where you can find tour dates and merch, or follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest updates. Fans can dive deeper into her world through communities like the Orianthi Fan Club on Facebook, where Zoo Freaks and other devotees share their love for her music. Her music’s resurgence on TikTok, especially with over 100 million views on the “According to You” hashtag, has introduced her to a new Gen Z audience, cementing her status as a modern guitar legend.