Customer Reviews

Red Hot & Live!

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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

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.

This is a another great live album put out by Mr. Setzer. This time you get some piano thrown in for good measure. I agree with the other reviewer, that Brian is the greatest rock and roll guitarist alive today. You get a little of everything here. Songs from his new cd 13, all the way back to early Cat's. As usual, Brian's guitar is on fire, nobody plays rock and roll like him. The Nashvillains are top notch musicians and they blend in quite nicely with Brian's unmatched guitar playing. I can listen to this music all day long, buy this cd, you will be glad you did.

always been a big fan of Brian Setzer. I bought this disc SOLELY based upon the reviews I read right here at Amazon. Thanks to all who reviewed before me. The reviews were right on the money, as this disc ROCKS, from beginning (Red Hot) to end (Gene & Eddie). THIS is what Amazon is all about. Thank you !!

I can't stress enough how enjoyable this album is, for Stray Cat fans and Brian Setzer fans alike. This album has a rehash of Stray Cat songs that are simply amazing and a good portion of his songs come from my favorite of his albums "Rockabilly Riot". The production is simply flawless on this album. I can't really get into details cause I'm not much of a reviewer, but Setser fans know what this guy is capable of as an artist and it shows in this live album. This album doesn't slow down for a second.

I think that The Nashvillains are my favorite of all of Brian's bands. As much as I love the big band stuff, nothing compares to the raw power and excitement of a stripped down rock and roll band. Each version of the newer songs, covers and Cats classics are tightly played and smokin hot. Setzer just keeps delivering over and over again. Most artists who have been around for over a quarter century begin to sound as though they are just going through the motions. But not Brian. He just keeps finding new ways to breath new life into a timeless genre of music.

Brian Setzer could have VERY easily spent the last decade banging out Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran covers and rehashing note-for-note renditions of Stray Cats and BSO songs. Instead, like any true artist, he continues to amaze with his refinement and evolution in his output.

The album "13", in support of which the tour from whence this live performance came, is a bit of a departure from his previous work. Stray Cats were bare minimalist rockabilly (at least in the beginning). BSO is, of course, a big band sound. Of late, Setzer is forging new ground with more elements of country and a somewhat more "polished" sound, rounded out with piano and louder, slightly crunchier guitar sounds.

This should not be mistaken to mean that Setzer and his band have strayed (ha) from the elements that make this music so great -- it's simply a natural evolution that is not only more tight and refined, but also "Red, Hot, and Live" indeed. Another bonus -- there is something here from every period of Setzer's career - Stray Cats, BSO, even a searing cover of Carl Perkins' "Put Your Cat Clothes On."

It's difficult to get a signature sound with a guitar. So many great players have come before you that it really takes a lot of research into your gear, excellent practice habits, a few great teachers along the way, and some kind of drive that other players just don't have.

In Brian Setzer you have one of the major guitar players of our day. If you've liked and enjoyed his music before, this one will light you up.

Song selection is great, recording quality in the various LIVE venues is superb - clear and clean and full - and his playing has never been better. I think some of it is his obvious joy in lighting up a crowd comes through here on this disc. When that FEELING comes through in a recording, you really have some of the actual magic that happens between musician/band and audience in a LIVE performance.

When you pick this one up, listen to it on a big system if you can. You'll get to enjoy the classic Rockabilly sound as generated by a master musician on one of the finest Gretsch guitars out there. In my humble opinion, you just can't go wrong with this one.

A great selection of Rock A' Billy standards, If they're not standards they should be. Favorite Track, "Runaway boys"