Got Cat Class & Got Class Style With a Christmas Twist

First, some history….

In the spring of 1982 I happened to be watching a show called Friday's on the Armed Forces Network while I was in Berlin. The show was sort of a Saturday Night Live clone, on a different network, and like SNL featured sketch comedy and a musical guest. I was about to flip the TV off and had out when a trio appeared on camera dressed like something out of the 1950s rockabilly era and started playing the Stray Cat Strut.  That was my introduction to The Stray Cats and I was immediately hooked. I watched the rest of the show and they played several other songs -- to include Rock This Town.  During the closing credits there was a notice that the band was not even signed to a contract in the United States.  Fortunately, they did have a recording contract in the UK which meant I was able to find some of the recordings in the local German music stores.

In the late 90s, I was attending COMDEX in Las Vegas when I heard that Brian Setzer was performing a corporate charity gig at The House of Blues. I did everything I could to talk my way into tickets for the show, but had little success. Someone had heard a rumor that they were going to sell a few more tickets that have been held back at the door, I considered it worth taking a chance and made the trip over to the Mandalay Bay casino to see if I could get lucky. I arrived at the ticket window of The House of Blues just in time to see them hang the "Sold-Out" sign. I stood there for a minute to let it sink in and as I was turning to leave someone who was in line waiting to get into the venue, asked if I might be interested in a ticket.  He explained that their group was waiting on one more person to show up, and if that person was a no-show that would be more than glad to give me the ticket because it was obvious I was a fan. I stood in line with the group of folks, who were also COMDEX attendees and when their friend failed to show I gladly took the ticket off their hands and got to see my first rockabilly performance by Brian Setzer live.  I did send a round of drinks over to my benefactors as my way of saying thank you.

Fast-forward some two and a half decades later and I am once more given a chance to see Brian Setzer live. This time it was the 13th Annual Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas Show. I was able to secure really good seats and it was in one of my favorite venues the Kalamazoo State Theatre.

The Concert

The orchestra featured a 15-person band (horns, woodwinds, keyboard, stand-up bass), 2 backup singers (The Vixens), and of course Brian on lead guitar.

They kicked off the night with a cover of Brenda Lee’s Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree and then went straight into Hoodoo Voodoo Doll.  This was not your usual Christmas concert and I was glad of it because there were just too many other songs I wanted to hear and see played.  Brian did not disappoint as the next song up was Stray Cat Strut which featured an awesome guitar solo by him that really brought the level of the evening right up.

The rest of the evening followed the same pattern with songs like Gene & Eddie being sandwiched Boogie Woogie Santa Claus and Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane).    Some serious rockabilly was set loose with (She's) Sexy + 17, Jump, Jive an' Wail and a BSO version of AC/DC’s Let There Be Rock.

between

Towards the end, Brian sent the rest of the orchestra off stage and then did a very intimate acoustic solo performance of The Christmas Song (aka Chestnuts Roasting On an Open Fire).  It was perfect for getting you into the Christmas Spirit and bringing back memories of holidays past.

The concert also featured a spotlight performance of Brian performing with just two other musicians (a’ la Stray Cats).  With Johnny “Spazz” Hatton slapping a standup bass and Daniel Glass playing a stand up drum set they truly channeled the spirit of rockabilly bands past into that theater.  They tore up a Little Junior's Blue Flames cover of Mystery Train, and also played Put Your Cat Clothes On plus the Setzer original Fishnet Stockings.  Once again I was witness to a bass player who was anything but boring. Hatton was fun to watch and his playing was so top notch that it went from

fun and into deep appreciation. Glass not only managed to play the drums “old school, drummer standing style” but he kept the driving rhythms solidly steady.   Setzer’s playing was so slick and polished, the man does not miss a 

note.  

A feature performance of the Nutcracker Suite (I love updated rocked up classics) was another stand out number that led to a two encore finish. 

I talk a lot about the attitude of musicians when I see them perform live.  Their attitude effects the entire feel and experience of the performance.  The one word that describes Brian Setzer’s attitude for this entire performance was relaxed – and I mean that in the most positive way possible.  From the minute he walked on stage until he took his last bow the entire experience felt comfortable and personal.  He appreciated the audience’s responsiveness to his performance and he was indeed the master of the stage from start to finish.  It was a perfect performance for the mix of music presented. 

The Venue

 The Kalamazoo State Theatre was built in 1928 and was constructed at a time before electronic amplification when the concentration moved from quality to quantity.  As a result, acoustics mattered since you had to be able to hear every voice on stage from any seat in the house.  It is, therefore, a spectacular place to see a concert.  A performer does not have to over amp (“Turn it up to 11, Dave!”) to fill the house with sound and as a result the front seats can be enjoyed without hearing protection as well as the cheaper seats in the back of the house. 

The interior borderlines a baroque feel with gold gilded wall stylings, stone (maybe plaster) busts and heavy (velvet?) curtains and wall coverings.

I have seen several shows there, and have tickets for 2 more in the coming months.  Given the choice I would gladly see a show here over any other venue in Michigan.  It is a unique gem that truly must be seen and experienced to be appreciated.

NOTE:  If I ever get entry into the theatre with my Nikon, I would love to do a photo essay of the building for the blog.  

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It's Been a Quiet Week in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait - My Hometown - Out on the Edge of the Desert

"Five G-o-l-d-e-n Arches, Four Texting Birds, Three French Fries...." 

Last night, was the Brigade Christmas party. Of course, it was not called a Christmas party to be politically correct and totally secular it was called "Holiday Ball".  This means that everybody wished each other a Merry Christmas, all the decorations were Christmas, and everyone was sharing Christmas memories but because it was called a Holiday Ball,  neither MSNBC nor the ACLU showed up to protest.

Normally, I work in the headquarters building and don't spend a lot of time out at the marshaling yards or in the ports so there were a lot of people at the party who I seldom see or that I have not met at all. There is nothing wrong with that because there is enough esprit de corps that everyone was friendly; it just means a lot of the faces were new and different to me.

There was a nice spread of food, a DJ who was playing a good variety of music, and themed contests. I think everyone was having a good time but maybe it's because of my own age or experience in being in these types of situations that I found myself looking around at the faces of the young troops. It was very obvious to me who was spending their first Christmas away from home. They would spend a lot of time smiling and laughing but when they thought no one was looking their expressions would change and something in their eyes let you know that they were reflecting back on what was going on in their life last year, or maybe the year before. It is never easy being away from family; it is harder this time of year.

A lot of the troops I serve with are Army reservists, and even though they not only volunteered to go into the Army – – because there's no mobilization -- they also volunteered to deploy here. There are many worse places they could be but keep in mind there are a lot better places they could be as well. They are here by choice, and they are serving our nation willingly at a time when less than 5% of the total population of our country has ever put on a uniform.

So, as you go through your Christmas holiday I would ask that you keep these young troops in mind, maybe say a silent prayer for them, and remember to give them your thanks for being here. Whereas the politics of any particular situation is not always immediately visible, in the heart of every one of these men and women is the feeling that they are here to protect America.

This will be my last entry until the New Year. I am taking off for a short vacation and some much-needed family time. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and I can't wait to see what the New Year brings.

That's the news from Camp Arifjan, where all the Soldiers are strong, all the government Civilians are good-looking, and all the TCNs are above average."

Merry Christmas!

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