Brian Setzer

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 26 Nov 2005 8:31 pm

If any of you saw his show on PBS, man this guy is REAL talent all the way! Great band and arrangements. His guitar playing is totally awesome and his singing is often reminiscent of Elvis. WOW !!!

David Cobb · Post by **David Cobb** » 26 Nov 2005 9:29 pm

I'm a fan.
He once said he wanted to be noticed for his guitar work over anything else, or something to that effect.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 27 Nov 2005 1:25 am

Been a fan a long time..

He's more of an Eddie Cochran kinda guy than Elvis though..in my view..

When he formed the Setzer Orchestra that was a defining moment for him...he really came to the table as a Musician /Leader/Producer...

Jay Fagerlie · Post by **Jay Fagerlie** » 27 Nov 2005 9:18 am

What PBS show was it?

J

George Redmon · Post by **George Redmon** » 27 Nov 2005 9:28 am

love'em...Stray Cat Strut..is one of my favorite Brian Setzer Orchestra songs..did you know they also played "Sleepwalk"?

Mark Metdker · Post by **Mark Metdker** » 27 Nov 2005 9:37 am

Been a huge fan of his for years. One of the greatest guitarists/performers of our time. And, as is typical of the real greats, not that well known by the masses. Caught his live show here in Dallas a few years back and I was blown away by his expertise on guitar. Great voice also.

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Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 27 Nov 2005 9:44 am

Y'know, I love'm as good as the next guy, but does he have to do EVERY song as a 4/4 shuffle?

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 27 Nov 2005 10:26 am

Prior to last nite's PBS show, I had never heard of him. Apparently he has been around for quite a long time which is obvious when you hear his fantastic picking. Just how old is he anyway ? The choreography of the band members was super...it was a great show from start to finish. I'm still in awe.

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 27 Nov 2005 11:15 am

For those in the NashVILE area,his show will be on PBS channel 8,Thur. nite (12/1) 9:00 pm.

He will be appearing at the Ryman in NashVILE on the 7th of Dec. I,normally,play that night,but I WILL BE THERE!!

(& before ANYBODY jumps on that "line",I'm gonna beat'cha to it. I don't do ANYTHING "normally"!)

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[This message was edited by Smiley Roberts on 27 November 2005 at 11:17 AM.]

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 27 Nov 2005 11:52 am

I don't know for the life of me why it's taken 10 some years for people to listen to his version of Sleepwalk.

I heard it on the radio just after it came out, and I had to pull my car off the road.

What an Arrangement!

EJL

Jim Walker · Post by **Jim Walker** » 27 Nov 2005 12:57 pm

The Stray Cats came out when I was a young lad. I was hooked right away. The stuff they were doing was so different compared to the big hair rock that all my friends were into. About 6 years ago I saw a TV special of some sort where the BSO was just Jumpin' Jivin' and Wailin'. I wish I would have taped it, it was awsome. If anyone could tape that PBS event and send me a copy I'd gladly make it up to you.

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David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 27 Nov 2005 1:25 pm

I came of age to rockabilly music in North Mississippi in the late '50s and early '60s. Then Elvis went into the army, and Pat Boone, Fabian, etc. turned rock'n'roll into schmaltz, and rockabilly became history. Then, when I was living in L.A. in the late '70s, there was a rockabilly renaissance created by Brian Setzer and the Stray Kats, The Blasters, The Cramps, and others. It was a real thrill to go to clubs and see all these young kids bopping to rockabilly again. That craze eventually passed, as all crazes do in L.A. But after awhile, Setzer took it to a whole new level with the big swing band craze. By then I was living in Philly, and some of the swing kids went back to the sparser, rowdier rockabilly roots. So for me, that has been the third coming of rockabilly. The Blue Comet in Glenside has rockabilly every Sunday evening, and Setzer drops in occassionally. Maybe this stuff will never die.

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 27 Nov 2005 1:56 pm

If the show you guys are talking about is the one from the Japanese tour (and it sounds like it might be), it's available on DVD and it's been out at least a year and a half.

It's a great DVD... I watch it often, and don't get tired of it. Brian is the real deal, and I love all those cool Gretsches.

He's a little guy, though. Look at the size of those guitars on him.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 27 Nov 2005 2:08 pm

I was going to make reference to a song "Little Pig" (pretty little pig, you belong to me!!) that I heard over & over again on a jukebox at an after work bar I frequented in the mid 80's) but I'm searching and coming up empty re: Stray Cats and this song though it was covered by a handful of other guys. Anybody know if Setzter & Stray Cats covered this or was my info wrong all this time? (I'll Huff & I'll Puff & I'll Huff & I'll Puff & I'll Blow Your House In...((bomp, bomp)) Love that.

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 27 Nov 2005 2:53 pm

Jon:

Don't know what you might have heard in the 1980's, but "Little Pig" was co-written by Merle Kilgore and first recorded by Dale Hawkins (of Suzie Q fame) in 1957, with Carl Adams on guitar. I haven't heard any other versions, but Dale's take is a classic and on CD.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 27 Nov 2005 3:11 pm

Thanks Mitch. Yeah--my research is showing what you are saying. I just listened to a sound clip and it is possible that what I heard back then is Buzz & The Flyers.
I also just gave a listen to a clip of Hawkins' Susie Q. I dig Fogerty & CCR but I had forgotten that this is actually a great rockabilly tune.

I'm not sure if this will work but here's access to the song:

Little Pig

[This message was edited by Jon Light on 27 November 2005 at 03:13 PM.]

Darryl Hattenhauer · Post by **Darryl Hattenhauer** » 27 Nov 2005 3:50 pm

I've seen a picture of him performing with a 5 string banjo. Not one of his usual appearances. There's a small audience, and he's wearing grubby clothes and looks bombed. Anybody know if he plays banjo in his real concerts?

also he does Christmas concerts.

When he went big band, I thought it would ruin him. I thought nobody would like it, and he couldn't afford to pay the players. Likewise, when ZZTop disappeared in the mid 70s, I thought their comeback wouldn't find an audience. And in the spring of '88, I saw the Berlin wall and predicted it would stand for a thousand years.

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"Elmore James kept playing the same licks over and over, but I get the feeling he meant it." Frank Zappa

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 27 Nov 2005 5:55 pm

I saw the Stray Kats in '80 or '81 at the Cal Ballroom, and Setzer packed it out. Dave Edmonds was promoting them. I'll never forget when Brian and Dave cut down on "The Race Is On"--just made you stare, you were so stunned!
A few months later, I seen Reba McIntyre, at the same Ballroom. She hardly drew 100 people. Times have sure changed. Look at both of them now---funny how things work out. Everyone knows Reba, not so many know Brian, but man what a talent!! He ain't quit, either.

Chris Bauer · Post by **Chris Bauer** » 27 Nov 2005 6:29 pm

A friend of mine toured with the Brian Setzer Big Band several years ago. He said that almost everyone on the band came in via the very same stages:

1.) They got a call from Brian and they jumped at the chance to play on such a cool gig.

2.) Brian told them the pay and they told him they'd love to do it but had to turn it down because the pay was so low. (This is in no way a slam of Brian, by the way. That's a lot of mouths to feed on that bandstand!)

3.) Somewhere between a day and two weeks later they called Brian back to say that low pay or not, the band was just too great of a gig to pass up and could they still have the job.

I heard them a couple of times in that era and it was a smokin' group. Great players with terrific charts and a wall of horns like you simply don't hear much these days. Add Brian's cool guitar playing to it and it was a pretty great experience.[This message was edited by Chris Bauer on 27 November 2005 at 06:31 PM.]