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Post subject: Brian Setzer Orchestra - review
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 3:13 pm
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My wife won tix and room so we were off to CT on Sunday and all in all what an amazing experience we had.

The Brian Setzer Orchestra's Christmas show, at Foxwoods MGM Theatre, had falling suds (subbing for snow), TV theme song cameos (including "The Flintstones," "Peter Gunn" and "The Andy Griffith Show") and covers from Setzer's Stray Cats rockabilly days.
But it all began with, curiously, the theme song to "The Munsters." It was a jarring way to start things off, particularly with Setzer looking like, well, a stray cat, not strutting so much as strolling aimlessly.


But with the very next song, "Dig That Crazy Santa Claus," the show was in full swing and Setzer started sprinkling his festive, retro guitar riffing with occasional leg kicks, knee bends and one-legged hopping. And his band mates started acting as if there was an unspoken battle for most animated player of the night. Sticks twirled in the drummer's hand, a smile of clenched teeth on his face. The stand-up bass, with a Christmas hat on top, was flipped around in circles by a bassist with a shock of green hair; he even played it upside down during "Rock This Town."



All the other horns and saxes swayed in unison, fingers snapped to the rhythms, and a pair of female singers dubbed the Vixens, dressed in glittery red dresses with white trim, did the Twist and shimmied like '60s go-go dancers.


Setzer had the best live sound that I've heard in several years using 4 different Gretsch guitars through a mic'd Fender Bassman with an Eventide echo and he was having a great night riffs wise. I think I only heard one 'clam'
in the 2 hour show and it was hardly audible (unless you were a player).


He had the perfect tone and riffage for the Stray Cat material as well as the big band swing tunes that they performed. He could grind into that gritty and edgy growling tone, or flutter all over the fretboard with what looked like a walk in the park for him.


Setlist:

The Munsters Theme
Dig That Crazy Santa Claus
Sleigh Ride
(Arthur Fiedler & Boston Pops Orchestra cover)
This Cat's on a Hot Tin Roof
Boogie Woogie Santa Claus
(Mabel Scott cover)
(She's) Sexy + 17
(Stray Cats cover)
Joy To The World
(Instrumental)
Stray Cat Strut
(Stray Cats cover)
You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch
(Thurl Ravenscroft cover) (back into Stray Cat Strut)
Sleepwalk
Angels We Have Heard On High
Jump, Jive an' Wail
(Louis Prima cover)
Little Town Of Bethlehem
(Instrumental)
Mystery Train
(Trio)
Folsom Prison Blues
(Johnny Cash cover) (Trio)
Peggy Sue
(Buddy Holly cover) (Trio)
Jingle Bell Rock
(Bobby Helms cover) (Trio & Vixens)
Fishnet Stockings
(Stray Cats cover) (Trio)
Brand New Cadillac
Encore:
Flinstones Holiday Song
The Nutcracker Suite
Rock This Town
(Stray Cats cover)
Jingle Bells




These weren't done as per the recordings but rather as a big swing band
having a lot of fun and enjoying it immensely...and the guitar and tenor sax solos especially were just amazing!

When leaving the theater we found someone's cell phone on the floor and
turned it into security, but waited until the owner came forward (in case the workers weren't honest, if ya know what I mean)...after about 20 minutes of talking with some of the opening act's musicians (they never did play as Brian felt like he wanted to 'Rock This Town')...the owners came for the phone and gave us a $100 voucher, so we also had a great breakfast
and lunch before getting back home today.

Words really can't describe how much we really enjoyed this show and our trip to CT. If you get a chance to see this show, both my wife and I highly
recommend it, even if you're a grinch. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Brian Setzer Orchestra - review
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 3:28 pm
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That really sucks to be told you are going to play only to be snubbed by the headliner.

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Post subject: Re: Brian Setzer Orchestra - review
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 3:40 pm
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wferguson wrote:
That really sucks to be told you are going to play only to be snubbed by the headliner.


Firebird are good friends with him and a good Australian band to watch if you dig the rockabilly stuff. Their bass player joined the show and did a bass-off/face-off for a good part of the middle of the show. We were led to believe that they didn't mind at all and we're still getting paid and will finish the tour.

http://www.briansetzer.com/setzer-news/ ... stmas-tour

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Post subject: Re: Brian Setzer Orchestra - review
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 6:04 pm
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An amazing experience indeed, my wife and I have seen them twice for the X-mas show and both times they rocked. He is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated guitarist/vocalist in history.

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Mike,
Thanks for posting this thread, glad you had a great time.

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Last edited by socal323 on Mon Dec 02, 2013 7:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Brian Setzer Orchestra - review
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 6:47 pm
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Nice, Setzer's awesome. Yet another great player from Long Island. :D

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Post subject: Re: Brian Setzer Orchestra - review
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 6:57 pm
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Glad that you had a good time Mike! Monster set-list!

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Post subject: Re: Brian Setzer Orchestra - review
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 7:44 pm
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Thanks guys!

Yeah, it's pretty amazing how good he sounds without using
any stompboxes - seems like he learned more about playing
and singing than caring about effects. I think he only used
the echo on Sleepwalk.

You can tell that his band respects him as the bandleader
and he gives them all props for what they do. Great show!

I posted a clip of 'The Flinstones' ditty in the YT thread.

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Post subject: Re: Brian Setzer Orchestra - review
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 11:34 pm
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Yes, he puts on one heck of a show.

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Post subject: Re: Brian Setzer Orchestra - review
Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 5:08 am
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socal323 wrote:
An amazing experience indeed, my wife and I have seen them twice for the X-mas show and both times they rocked. He is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated guitarist/vocalist in history.
Mike,
Thanks for posting this thread, glad you had a great time.


Great pics man!

I just have the phonecam pics:

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Post subject: Re: Brian Setzer Orchestra - review
Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 3:08 pm
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Miami Mike - Thanks for posting that review! I've caught a full concert clip from Japan of the BSO and they rocked. I'd love to see the Christmas show but I don't think they will be in my neck of the woods.

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Post subject: Re: Brian Setzer Orchestra - review
Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 12:17 pm
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ckfoley wrote:
Miami Mike - Thanks for posting that review! I've caught a full concert clip from Japan of the BSO and they rocked. I'd love to see the Christmas show but I don't think they will be in my neck of the woods.


I think I've seen that clip - is that the one where his amp is covered by
an old Seebring or similiar Jukebox?

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Post subject: Re: Brian Setzer Orchestra - review
Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 12:43 pm
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Ahhh - envy's not a nice thing, but...

I saw the Stray Cats right back at the very start, late 1980 when they'd just had their first couple of singles. Man, that was an exciting show, pressed to the front in a tiny club, the guys going at it like it was their last night on earth! An all-time great gig-going experience.

I love what Brian does with his big band thing, far as listening on records goes. And I'd love to see him do it live too. But as far as I'm aware he hasn't brought it to my part of the world, or I missed it if he did. Shazam, I'll be in the front row if he ever does! What a player.

Thanks for the review, Mike. Got my taste buds going. And my jealousy.

Cheers - C

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Post subject: Re: Brian Setzer Orchestra - review
Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2013 1:52 pm
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A friend of mine had an extra ticket a Brian Setzer Orchestra show at the Orlando House of Blues back in 98. He was a huge fan and wanted me to see the show. Boy was I simply blown away. Great show, great band and what a great player.

thanks for sharing Mike. I got a hankering now :D

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