 |
| Night #1 photo: Suzie Kaplan/Surfdog Records |
Talk about an understatement.
Unlike some bands that came to prominence in the Eighties and have reunited, the Long Island, N.Y. rock trio actually seemed to be having fun again onstage at the Pacific Amphitheatre following a decade apart. Many fans in the audience got into the concert spirit by wearing vintage rockabilly-type attire.
This packed show was the fourth one the guys had done and
there were no signs of rust whatsoever. Mainly because Setzer is always on the road - whether
it’s with his swing band the Brian Setzer Orchestra or more stripped down Rockabilly Riot outfit.
Drummer
Slim Jim Phantom recently appeared at the Like Totally ‘80s Festival in
Huntington Beach, Calif. (see my review elsewhere on this blog) and upright bassist
Lee Rocker tours with his own group (an Oct. 6 appearance is booked at
the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano).
On Night Two in Orange County, Stray Cats fittingly took the
stage to Eddie Cochran’s “C’mon Everybody” and launched the whirlwind 20-song set in rousing
fashion with “Runaway Boys” (the first UK top single from 1980). Setzer got right
down to business and displayed some of his always-sizzling fretwork, then finished “Too Hip,
Gotta Go” by affirming, “That’s the rockabilly, folks!”
Rocker got a fine bass spotlight turn amid the slinky hit “Stray
Cat Strut.” Phantom was animated as ever, often doing leg kicks while standing
beside his three-piece drum kit. If they dazzled everyone with a solo,
Setzer offered an approving nod or tap on the shoulder.
 |
| Night #1 photo: Suzie Kaplan/Surfdog Records |
“(She’s) Sexy + 17,” which reached #5 on the Billboard Hot
100 in 1983, was excellent. The musicians played in close proximity, Setzer
dashed across the stage and when he got to the lyric, “Every Friday night there’s
a band you gotta hear,” it drew loud cheers.
Another highlight was “Gene and Eddie,” Stray Cats’ tribute
to their musical heroes. Rocker proved his mettle vocally by trading off with
Setzer on “Cry Baby” (off 1992’s “Choo Choo Hot Fish”) and then doing a terrific
lone take on Arthur Crudup’s “My Baby Left Me.” On the latter – once covered
by Elvis Presley - his vigorous slap bass work went down a storm.
A Buddy Holly-ish “Gina” was delightful, while Johnny
Burnette’s “Bring it Back Again” brought to mind classic Sun Records singles. The
trio pulled out all the stops during the frenetic, whimsical “Blast Off!,” where Setzer amazed
with more blazing Gretsch guitar work and briefly kneeled onstage as Phantom added some
yelps.
Toward the end, the guys still had plenty of gas left in the
tank. Setzer prefaced fiery extended standout “Fishnet Stockings” by rhetorically asking “Now
it’s starting to get good, huh?” He described what might have influenced the lyrics and
then opined on what makes a good rockabilly band: “You don’t need a lot
of money, just a lot of heat.” Rocker did some windmill motions, Setzer tore
into some Bill Haley-type riffs and jumped on Phantom’s kit.
 |
| Night #1 photo: Suzie Kaplan/Surfdog Records |
Signature song “Rock This Town” was a supercharged main set closer, with
Phantom jumping in the air and Rocker climbing onto his bass guitar.
Come encore time, the musicians changed into casual clothes. Setzer reminisced about how they initially formed and played a
monstrous “Rumble in Brighton” as well as Eddie Cochran’s “Somethin’ Else” to finish up.
All
told, it was a welcome return for Stray Cats. Here’s hoping this reunion wasn’t
temporary.
Stray Cats
Pacific Amphitheatre
Costa Mesa, Calif.
Aug. 17, 2018
Main set: Runaway Boys/Too Hip, Gotta Go/Stray Cat Strut/Double Talkin' Baby (Gene Vincent cover)/She's Sexy+17/Gene & Eddie/Something's Wrong with My Radio/Cry Baby/I Won't Stand in Your Way/My Baby Left Me (Arthur Crudup cover)/My One Desire (Dorsey Burnette cover)/Gina/Lust-n-Love/Bring it Back Again/Blast Off/Built for Speed/Fishnet Stockings/Rock This Town
Encore: Rumble in Brighton/Somethin' Else (Eddie Cochran cover)
No comments:
Post a Comment