The Guitar remained, the plaid suit did not.

click to enlarge The Brian Setzer Orchestra November 21, 2007 Beacon Theater, NYC     I never thought a "Christmas Extravaganza" could be cool. Didn't the very term signify the overly processed, festive cheese wiz that we love to hate? Thankfully, Brian Setzer, with his Christmas albums and tours, has been working to remedy this Yule-time calamity. Swing, Jazz and blazing rockabilly meshed with Holiday favorites seems like an idea that is either; to good to be true or destined to make all in it's path nauseous. Safe to say, you need not worry when Mr. Setzer is driving the sled!     Having recently kicked off their 6th Annual Christmas Extravaganza Tour, the Brian Setzer Orchestra made a rare but welcome stop in NYC after sticking to Long Island exclusively for the past six or so years. Smartly drawing on all phases of his long recording career, Setzer assembled a show that featured the familiar along with the new, while never once crossing the line into 'Christmas schlock'. Although this was a seriously entertaining show, what the audience cheered most for was the fact that they knew they were watching a band doing something rather special: playing better than most other bands will ever play! They were in awe of the musicianship not the spectacle and how often do you see that type of response anymore? A concertgoer next to me remarked at the end of the show, "Where does he get it from? He just doesn't stop!" To which I answered, "He a natural, he does what he was put on this earth for." Don't worry; I'm not going to get all metaphysical on you!     Setzer and his Big Band tore through a few Stray Cats hits including a riotous version of Sexy & 17 and tackled Christmas classics such as Sleigh Ride, Jingle Bells and The Nutcracker Suite. Not content to simply play it safe with the 'crowd pleasers', they also played material from the BSO's recently released, Wolfgang's Big Night Out, while also running through a few of Setzer's holiday originals which are on their way to becoming classics themselves.     The NYC crowd, many with children in tow, ate up everything Setzer threw at them because by the end of the night, you just couldn't help thinking that this show was fun. Oh, and the drool-worthy display of Brian's signature model Gretsch Guitars in the lobby was pure cruelty! Then again, I've been sending Santa letters all year so maybe…. Set List November 21, 2007 Beacon Theater, NYC (Click for photos and movie clips. The movies were filmed on my digital camera and are only 1 minute each. They also display my lousy cinematography - but what do you want? I'm not Scorsese!) Take a Break Guys (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen) Dig That Crazy Santa Claus One Night With You (Hall of the Mountain King) Boogie Woogie Santa Claus Sleigh Ride Take the 5th (Symphony #5) Honey Man (Flight of the Bumblebee) Stray Cat Strut/You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch Sexy & 17 Jump, Jive and Wail Gloria White Christmas For Lisa (Fur Elise) This Cat's on a Hot Tin Roof Gene & Eddie Fishnet Stockings Rt. 66 Rock This Town Nutcracker Suite Getting' In The Mood (for Christmas) Jingle Bells