Red Hot & Live!

Brian Setzer, Brian Setzer And the Nashvillains | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 24, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Surfdog
• ASIN: B000QTD4I0
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #47,501 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #24 in Music > Jazz > Swing Jazz > Retro Swing

Editorial Reviews

From his most recent sold out tour of Japan, this release features some of Setzer's most searing guitar work to date. Includes his biggest hits ("Rock This Town", "Stray Cat Strut", and more) alongside songs from his recent "Rockabilly Riot" and "13", all with a new energy that could only be captured in a live setting among his most rabid fans in the world. Adding a piano player and second guitarist to the line-up presented an opportunity to take some of his Stray Cats classics and solo hits into fresh territory. A must have for any Setzer fan.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No False Claim in the title of this CD, August 12, 2007

By 

Scott Hedegard "Scott" (Fayetteville, AR USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Red Hot & Live! (Audio CD)

Brian Setzer has long since proven since the Stray Cats prowled all over the punk scene he is no retro retread or passing fad. The period of rock and roll that fuels his passion is the seed of all great rock and roll music - note I say "rock and roll", not just "rock". Rock without the roll is pizza without cheese.
Every track is blistering with no ballad material to cool the flames. Setzer, one of the great rock and roll guitarists alive, if not the best, absolutely smokes with an equally flammable backup band in the Nashvillians, who make Phantom and Slick look like Air Supply.
Three Cat cuts from "Built For Speed" appear here, but the whole set is a great reminder of how great and important late '50's rock and roll ala Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran, whom Setzer eulogizes in "Rocking With Gene and Eddie" is to all modern rock music. A five-alarm masterpiece.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Essential 'Modern' Rockabilly Live CD, August 29, 2007

By 

Jeff Feezle (Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Red Hot & Live! (Audio CD)

The rabid fans of Twang (also called Rockabilly) rock and roll have long anticipated a Setzer recording that would accurately reflect the verve of his concerts. You don't go to a Setzer performance to `listen' to the music: that would be too simple. You go to be part of the music. Rockabilly is a form of early rock'n'roll that has been maligned incorrectly as red neck rock. Instead, it was the building block that Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley honed their skills on. Now, nearly 50 years later, the heir apparent King of Rockabilly is Brian Setzer (formerly of the Stray Cats).

Brian is a throwback to that generation of greased back hair, loud tattoos and even louder twang hollow-out guitar chords. After parting ways with the Stray Cats, he formed the Brian Setzer Orchestra which largely had a swing sound to it among other things. His 2007 release goes back to the original rock and roll roots with his backup band the Nashvillains. ...and yes: it IS RED HOT and very LIVE! It's been a while since twang rock has had a musical piece that the casual fan can hang their hat on and say: "Oh THAT is what Twang really is!" I believe this torrid paced cd is that missing cd that could bridge the music scene from rock to rockabilly for them. For the Setzer fan, they finally have their wish: a 5 star live album without the strings, without overdubs, and with the awesome raw energy that Setzer possesses live.

If you want your live cds to be fun, energetic and something special, instead of a retread of hits, you have it here. Setzer is one of rock's premier guitarists and displays all his skills holding nothing back on this cd taped in Japan. He plays not only the Stray Cat hits, but other classic rockabilly songs as well. Brian, to his credit, has kept the genre of rockabilly alive, and this time it is LIVE!

Jeff Feezle of Macafeez

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't hesitate because it's live, March 18, 2008

By 

ET Faux Gnome (NE Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Red Hot & Live! (Audio CD)

I avoid "live" recordings because usually the audience applauds for the first notes, then they (maybe those who can't recognize the tune alone) applaud again for the first words. Anyway, the audience is not intrusive here. The sound quality is just fine. Nothing would be gained in a studio with regard to musicianship. And the "live" energy just can't be fabricated there.

If you don't know if you'd like this music, go to Google Video and search for "Brian Setzer Fishnet" (Stockings) and watch a song or two. You'll see him there with the Stray Cats (bass and drums) versus here with the Nashvillains (larger drum set and piano added) but, you'll get the exact flavor and energy of this CD.

I hope that addresses all your "unknown" issues. This is an excellent choice if you like this kind of music. No one does it better.