Review by Shawn Perry
Photos by Joe Schaeffer
There are countless traditions that spring into action during the holidays. For 15 years, Brian Setzer and his “orchestra” have been tapping the Christmas well with an upbeat extravaganza that gets bigger and better every season. Tonight, it was an all too-perfect scene — the Microsoft Theater, Saturday night, three days before Christmas, the last show of the tour.
LA Live, the complex that comprises the Microsoft, Staples Center, Novo Theater, Grammy Museum, and any number of restaurants and bars, was a-buzz. LA Kings Holiday Ice took center-stage, sponsoring an ice rink for outdoor ice skating in the Microsoft Square, packed with seasoned and well-intended skaters.
And, beyond the skaters, there it was on the marquee: The Brian Setzer Orchestra: 15th Anniversary Christmas Rocks! Tour. We were definitely at the right place. So we went in, and got sucked in on all that was bright and bouncy with a festive glow. There were photo ops with the Grinch and Setzer’s guitars, and lots to drink and eat. Topped off with leopard-skin BSO Santa hats, and it was go daddy go.
In the main arena, Lara Hope and the Ark-Tones — Hope in a white dress splattered with musical notes and her three-piece backing band, neatly outfitted in black trousers, black vests and cherry-red dress shirts — were flogging the masses with doses of rockabilly-flavored love songs. In a nine-song set, “Love You To Life,” with its refrain, “I love you more than yesterday, because yesterday you kind of pissed me off,” was sumptuously delivered by Hope, catching everyone’s ear, especially those still looking for their seat. By the time they rolled into ‘”I Drink To Your Health,” there was dancing in the aisles and anticipation in the ozone.
It was just before 9:00 when the Brian Setzer Orchestra took their places. And what an “orchestra” it is with a 13-piece horn section (four trumpets, four trombones, five saxophones), drummer Noah Levy, bassist John Hatton, pianist/ guitarist Kevin McKendree, plus the Vixens — Julie Reiten and Leslie Spencer — on background vocals. Together, the ensemble came out swinging, packing a brassy, rockabilly-flavored wallop, bubbling over with holiday cheer.
Setzer strolled out, looking dapper and satisfied, and jumped right into “Dig That Crazy Santa Claus.” And va-room went the energy in the room as Setzer scooped up his signature single-cutaway Gretsch hollow body and sliced off a few sweet-smothered ringers through the F-holes at the break, booming horns answering back…
Indeed, Christmas permeated the theater as the stage came alive with candy canes, a Christmas tree, snowmen, and other tokens of yuletide merriment. Red and green lighting adorned the horn section’s music stands, and everyone except Setzer was wearing a Santa hat, including Hatton’s standup bass. And the Christmas songs kept coming — “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” “Boogie Woogie Santa Claus,” and “Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane).”
Of course, it being Brian Setzer with a rich history all his own, there were plenty of side dishes outside the usual Christmas fare, including five Stray Cat numbers — “Stray Cat Strut,” “Runaway Boys,” “Gene And Eddie,” “Fishnet Stockings” and “Rock This Town.” At one point, Setzer paid tribute to Roy Clark, and at another, handed off the mic to the Vixens for a spirited poke at the Beatles’ “Hey Bulldog.” BSO’s zesty arrangements of “In The Mood,” Louis Prima’s “Jump, Jive an’ Wail,” and “Ring Of Fire” left the house gasping for more.
What I and the thousands of others couldn’t ignore was the stellar musicianship. Setzer is undoubtedly a master showman and picker with incredible timing, dexterity and a classical crooner’s voice. He seems to be having the time of the life up there. And it likely helps that everyone on that stage measures up to Setzer’s standards, enriching the chemistry with solos, interaction and other feats of virtuosity.
For the big two-song encore, extraordinary takes of Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite” and James Lord Pierpont’s “Jingle Bells” had the horns on the frontline and a special visit from Santa to cap off the evening. All through the house, every creature was grinning…and you get the idea…
