Atlantic City Weekly

SWING, SANTA, SWING: Brian Setzer is no stranger to swingin' Xmas tunes.

Holiday Rockin'

Brian Setzer Orchestra to strut its Christmas stuff at the House of Blues

By Jeff Schwachter CAP: SWING, SANTA, SWING: Brian Setzer is no stranger to swingin' Xmas tunes. --> This Thanksgiving weekend, Brian Setzer is coming to town. With his retro Gretsch guitar slung around his neck, the ex-Stray Cat-turned rockabilly bandleader comes wrapped up in ribbons and bows along with his big band orchestra for two nights at the House of Blues, this Friday and Saturday, Nov. 25 and 26.

The Brian Setzer Orchestra's fourth annual Christmas Extravaganza tour kicked off earlier this month in Minneapolis, Minn., and runs until Dec. 23, when it closes in California. Shortly after the two Atlantic City shows (check out briansetzer.com for shots of the local HOB fa�ade advertising the concerts) this weekend, the BSO will perform during the live telecast of the Rockefeller Center tree lighting ceremony on NBC. Setzer will perform along with Brian Wilson, Rod Stewart, Sheryl Crow, Earth, Wind and Fire and other invited musical guests.

The holiday season started early for Setzer in 2005. This fall, the Surfdog Records label released the BSO's 13-track Dig That Crazy Christmas CD featuring revved-up versions of popular holiday tunes like "Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!," "Jingle Bell Rock," "White Christmas" and "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch."

Like Setzer's 2002 album, Boogie Woogie Christmas, the new release is a rousing and very entertaining assortment of hits from the Winter Wonderland catalog.

Setzer also penned two new Christmas tunes for the album -- the smokin' "Hey Santa!" and the cool "Santa Drives a Hot Rod," which is slated to appear in next year's Tim Allen follow-up, The Santa Clause 3.

During this eventful Christmas season for the BSO, PBS is airing Setzer's latest DVD release, Christmas Extravaganza (check local listings). The concert DVD, filmed last December in Los Angeles, is packed with good holiday fun featuring Setzer's unique rock 'n' roll twists on timeless holiday songs. In addition to selections from the new Christmas CD, as well as Stray Cats tunes ("Rock This Town," "Stray Cat Strut"), classic instrumentals ("Caravan," "Pipeline") and Louis Prima's "Jump Jive an' Wail," which Setzer had a big hit with back in 1998 from his The Dirty Boogie album, the new DVD features a special performance of "The Nutcracker Suite."

The hard-playing, retro-style of Setzer's orchestra and the holiday tunes is a perfect marriage. If you can't make it to any other holiday show this year, this is one that is guaranteed to please Christmas revelers of all ages.

And for those Gretsch-lovin' rock 'n' rollers on your Christmas list, Setzer's Rockabilly Riot! Vol. One -- A Tribute to Sun Records should make a good stocking stuffer. Released earlier this year, the 23-track disc is loaded with some well-known and many lesser-known gems from the rockabilly catalog of Sun Records, the seminal label that helped launch the careers of Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley. Highlights on Setzer's tribute include Warren Smith's "Red Cadillac and a Black Moustache," Cash's "Get Rhythm," Billy Lee Riley's "Flying Saucer Rock and Roll" and Billy Emerson's "Red Hot."

VH1 Classic presents the Brian Setzer Orchestra with the Slaptones at the House of Blues at Showboat, Nov. 25 & 26 at 9pm. Tickets are $38-63. Call 236-BLUE or go to www.ticketmaster.com.

A classic formal dining room leads to a paneled den, both heated by hot water radiators.

The Brian Setzer Orchestra: Christmas Extravaganza (Live DVD)
More than two-dozen electrifying performances from the BSO's Christmas Extravaganza tour, filmed Dec. 18, 2004 at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles. Choice cuts include "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus," "Run Rudolph Run" and a brass version of the Ventures' classic "Pipeline." (2005, Surfdog Records)

The Brian Setzer Orchestra: Dig That Crazy Christmas (CD)
A follow-up to 2002's Boogie Woogie Christmas, this 13-track CD covers everything from Bing Crosby ("White Christmas") and Bobby Helms ("Jingle Bell Rock") to Dr. Seuss ("You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch"). (2005, Surfdog Records)

Brian Setzer: Rockabilly Riot! Volume One - A Tribute to Sun Records (CD)
Setzer took the time to pick his favorite Sun rockabilly numbers and record them with a respectfully authentic sound. Twenty-three tracks of pure, scorching American roots music.