Southern California’s own Big Bad Voodoo Daddy played their Christmas show to a sold out crowd at the West Herr Riviera Theatre this past Tuesday night. The swing revival band led by vocalist/guitarist Scott Morris, dished out a strong hour and a half set consisting of Christmas classics and original material.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy swing revival was in full effect right from the offset. The band went into the up-beat Rock-A-Billy Christmas. A few covers were followed including the classic “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.” Morris talked about how the band wanted to make their own Christmas record. “You & Me & the Bottle Makes Three Tonight” was highlight of the record that they made back in 1998 called ‘American Deluxe.’ Morris took to the banjo for “Snow Miser & Heat Miser.” The horn section exited the stage and the band tackled the simple “All I Want for Christmas (is My Two Front Teeth.)” Morris talked about how he wasn’t a fan of the song originally but, his daughter requested that they record it. The horn section also exited during “Winter Wonderland’ as well. I was fan of the cover “Minnie the Moocher.” It was such a fun song and the band totally did Cab Calloway’s version justice. It should be noted, besides playing the stand up bass, Dirk Shumaker handled some co-lead vocals throughout the show too. It was smooth sailing throughout a seamless show. The band fed off the energy off the crowd the entire night. It made for an overall terrific performance.
This was the first time that I witnessed BBVD in a live setting and came away very impressed. I had a smile from ear to ear and thoroughly enjoyed their Christmas show. This was our last show of the year to cover and BBVD put an amazing end to a great year of coverage.
Setlist:
Rock-A -Billy Christmas
Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (Harry Reser and His Orchestra cover)
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Gene Autry cover)
You & Me & the Bottle Makes Three Tonight (Baby)
I Wanna Be Like You
Merry Christmas Baby
Snow Miser & Heat Miser (Jules Bass cover)
Minnie the Moocher (Cab Calloway and his Orchestra cover)
Zig Zaggity Woop Woop/Frosty the Snowman
All I Want for Christmas (Is my Two Front Teeth) (Spike Jones and His City Slickers cover)
Mr. Pinstripe Suit
King of Swing
We Three Kings (John Henry Hopkins Jr. cover)
Christmas is Starting Now
‘Zat You, Santa Claus? (Louis Armstrong cover)
Run Rudolph Run (Chuck Berry cover)
Encore:
Winter Wonderland (Richard Himber and His Orchestra cover)
Why Me?
Go Daddy-O
We would like to thank David Fillenwarth from the Riviera Theatre for the credentials to review the show.
