Unless you live in certain parts of WNY and have dealt with one of the biggest snow storms to ever hit the area, you will never fully comprehend what the people (like myself) had to deal with. My first storm reprieve was going to the University of Buffalo Center for the Arts to see the Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas Extravaganza. Last year this was one of the best shows I was able to review the entire year. Would the 2014 show be just as good?
Setzer and his orchestra were primed and ready to go. Setzer even made a joke at the beginning about playing “Let it Snow” but figured we had enough of that. The band decided to play “Cat’s on a Hot Tin Roof.” The next track Setzer displayed a beautiful green Gretsch as he played the classic “Stray Cat Strut.” He also removed his coat afterward to reveal a black and white skull shirt which was stylish to say the least. When he switched to another Gretsch he was having tuning issues and remarked “if it isn’t broke then you’re not playing it right!” His sound didn’t diminish as he ripped through “Boogie Woogie Santa,” “(She’s) Sexy & 17” and especially the instrumental “Sleepwalk.” Even though Setzer signed over one of his prized Gretsch guitars to the Smithsonian a few weeks back, he occasionally doesn’t receive the credit he deserves. His playing flows seamlessly and he also gives the opportunity for others to share the spotlight during the show as well.
In August of this year, Setzer released his 9th studio effort titled “Rockabilly Riot! All Original.” He played one cut of the disc called “Let’s Shake.” It’s a very energetic track that had a few people out of their seats dancing in the aisles.
Humility is another one of Setzer’s traits as most of the strings section got to do a small solo in various parts of the show. At the end of the set before the encore, Setzer along with the drummer and bassist were the only ones left as they cranked out “Nothing is a Sure Thing,” “Fishnet Stockings” and “Rock This Town.”
The band returned for an encore and played 3 songs including an extended version of the Tchaikovsky classic “The Nutcracker Suite.”
Did Setzer live up to expectations set last year? Yes! The show was changed around some to add variety and still delivers as the best show to see during the holiday season!
Setlist:
Dig That Crazy Santa
Sleigh Ride (Arthur Fiedler& Boston Pops Orchestra cover)
Cat’s on a Hot Tin Roof
Stray Cat Strut (Stray Cats cover)
Boogie Woogie Santa (Mabel Scott cover)
(She’s) Sexy & 17 (Stray Cats cover)
Joy to the World (George Frideric Handle cover)
Sleepwalk (Santo & Johnny cover)
Angels We Have Heard on High
Let’s Shake
Jump Jive an’ Wail (Louis Prima cover)
Jingle Bell Rock (Bobby Helms cover)
Ring of Fire (Anita Carter cover)
Nothing is a Sure Thing
Fishnet Stockings (Stray Cats cover)
Rock This Town (Stray Cats cover)
Encore:
The Nutcracker Suite (Pyotr Llyich Tchaikovsky cover)
In the Mood (Glenn Miller cover)
Jingle Bells (Edison Male Quartette cover)
We would like to thank Scott Seine of Surfdog Incorporated for the credentials to review the show.
