Just Sit Back And Enjoy It
Today Lileks recommends Boogie Woogie Christmas by the Brian Setzer Orchestra as a Christmas gift, a suggestion that I whole-heartedly endorse. It's a terrific Christmas album and the song Nutcracker Suite has even been nominated for a Grammy.
Last Friday I caught the Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas Extravaganza. And it was a whale of good show. Show being the operative word as the BSO was all about entertaining. Spiffy outfits, set changes, special lighting and effects brought to mind a Christmas variety show more than a straight up concert.
Despite the fact that Setzer has a new album out, he didn't play a song from it. Instead he mixed in favorites from The Dirty Boogie, Ignition!, Vavoom! (my personal favorite), around heavy doses of Boogie Woogie Christmas. He even cranked out a couple of 'Stray Cats' classics to keep the crowd rocking. He aimed to please and did that just.
My only complaint of the evening? The people in the audience who couldn't make it through the ninety minute show without getting up multiple times. It was so bad at times as to be distracting. They're putting on a show up there people. Take care of business before the music starts. Get your drinks, go to the can, have a smoke outside, whatever it is you need to do.
My God. I was once at a Semisonic show with Atomizer at the State Fair and, rather than risk missing anything with a trip to the facilities, he relieved himself in a cup. Now few are as dedicated to the music as he, and I'm not suggesting that such extreme measures need to be employed, but is it too much to ask to wait until the music stops? It makes the experience so much more enjoyable for the rest of us.
No comments:
Post a Comment