Concert Review: Chris Isaak – Schermerhorn Symphony, Nashville, TN – Sept 11, 2012
13 years ago Liv Carter 1
(Photo: Liv Carter/UCN)
“If you don’t make the effort to come out and support live music, I would be wandering around Nashville in a sequined suit…just like everybody else.”
This combination of honoring his audience and self-deprecating humor colored Chris Isaak‘s performance at the Schermerhorn Symphony in Nashville, TN on September 11, 2012. Stepping out in his sparkling black suit, his custom white Gibson Gretch 6120 draped over his shoulder, and his 5-piece band, Silvertone, in tow, he admitted to some extra nerves as the capacity crowd included the legendary Cowboy Jack Clement.
There was, however, no sign of those jitters as he worked his way through his 2-hour set. With smooth-voiced charm, he played to all sections of the venue, and ensured he built a connection when early on he took a long stroll through the crowd. After up-tempo opener ‘American Boy,’ the pace ebbed and flowed all night in a well-thought-out set where his own songs including ‘San Francisco Days,’ ‘Dancin’,’ and ‘Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing,’ were alternated with amped-up rock ‘n’ roll classics like Carl Perkins’ ‘Dixie Fried.’ Worldwide smash-hits like ‘Blue Hotel’ and ‘Wicked Game’ were tucked in between newer songs and the set was peppered by cover versions of his favorites, ‘Ring of Fire’ and ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ among them; songs he recorded at the historic Sun Studios for his most recent studio project, Beyond the Sun.
Punctuating the music were near-stand-up-comedy stories – the object of ridicule mainly himself – showing off his experience as an entertainer. The Nashville crowd was paid many compliments (“In this town there is more talent in the audience than anywhere else”) and though fans had been instructed by venue staff that photographs were not allowed, halfway through the night Isaak encouraged them anyway – “I didn’t dress up like this to then not have my picture taken!”
Each of the bandmembers was given time in the spotlight and several songs were cheered up by their silly-yet-funny practiced dance moves. Guitar player Hershel Yatovitz was sent on his own walkabout through the audience, and several lucky ladies were called up on stage to dance with bass player Rowland Salley. The worldclass band was completed by drummer Kenney Dale Johnson, pianist Scott Plunkett, and percussionist Rafael Padilla.
The main section of the show closed with fast-paced rocker ‘Miss Pearl’ and a raucous rendition of ‘Great Balls of Fire,’ which sent Cowboy Jack dancing in the aisle. Isaak returned in a mirror-suit for a trio of encores including ‘Pretty Woman.’
After decades together, Chris Isaak and his band have all but perfected their performance. This was a highly enjoyable evening of all-round, old-school Entertainment.
Set list:
American Boy
Pretty Girls Don’t Cry
Blue Hotel
Notice the Ring
San Francisco Days
I’m Not Waiting
Somebody’s Crying
Wicked Game
Always Got Tonight
Dancin’
All I Want Is Your Love
Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing
Ring of Fire
Dixie Fried
Can’t Help Falling In Love (Fools Rush In)
It’s Now or Never
Trying to Get You
Miss Pearl
Great Balls of Fire
————————–
Pretty Woman
Wonderful World
Worked It Out Wrong
Liv Carter
She holds several certificates from Berklee College of Music, and a certificate in Positive Psychology from UC Berkeley.
Her main influences are coffee, cats, and Alexander Hamilton.
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