Review by Maria Glover for MPM
The Outlaw Orchestra and Motorhead? Who knew. It shouldn’t work but it does!
This 3-piece orchestra are some of the finest multi-talented musicians you’ll come across and certainly outlaws with their rebel-rousing hoe-down partying quality.
They are simply magical to watch and have developed a loyal fanbase who flock to their gigs time and again.
After two albums, they release a covers EP today following on from their lockdown covers series, and it’s surprising who gets a make-over…
The Outlaw southern flavour is successfully branded onto The Beatles’ classic ‘Come Together’, the first track, giving it a complete facelift. Part modern overhaul and part southern take-over, the heavy bass adds a dark foreboding whilst the banjo lightens the mood.
The vocals are gruff and raspy, a little bit sexy (sorry not sorry). Wow. What a transformation. A killer guitar solo is accompanied by that trusty banjo (I never thought I’d say how much I love a banjo). Brilliant.
‘Itchycoo Park’ is more true to the original The Small Faces track and feels quite stripped back, honest and raw, the vocals subtler and more melodic. This is such a joyful song.
I absolutely love the depth of the vocals on the cover of Barnstorm’s ‘Rocky Mountain Way’. A chugging bass weaves its way into your mind and the musicality is sublime throughout.
I hadn’t heard of ‘Cripple Creek’ (The Band) and, if I hadn’t known it’s a cover, it could’ve been written by the band. It’s fabulous fun and deliciously authentic southern fried rock n roll. I’m intrigued by the array of instruments I can hear, not all of which I can put a name to. Genius.
Is it sacrilege? Some diehard Motorhead fans may believe so. It shouldn’t work but it does. Forget all you know about the song, sit back and enjoy ‘Iron Fist’. This is a completely different vibe to the original, country-fied and ‘outlaw-ed’ and is simply magnificent.

The Outlaw Orchestra can do no wrong by me and this EP is next in my collection. It’s an inspired collection of superb songs metamorphosed into a formula of bluegrass, country, rock blues that you cannot fail to love.
4/5
Website and socials
Web: https://www.theoutlaworchestra.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theoutlaworchestra/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/outlaworchestra
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/theoutlaworchestra