DT: DECEMBER 10, 2015
FM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/AARON FETERL
MIKE GOWEN/BARI LIEBERMAN, MSO PR
THE BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA
SET TO APPEAR ON ‘CONAN’
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16
12TH ANNUAL “CHRISTMAS ROCKS! TOUR”
CONTINUES ON THE WEST COAST THROUGH DECEMBER
WITH A LOS ANGELES PERFORMANCE
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18 DOWNTOWN AT MICROSOFT THEATER
NEW CHRISTMAS ALBUM
‘ROCKIN’ RUDOLPH’
OUT NOW VIA SURFDOG RECORDS
Above: ROCKIN’ RUDOLPH cover art
Iconic guitarist, songwriter, vocalist and three-time Grammy-Award winner BRIAN SETZER and THE BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA are set to perform “Here Comes Santa Claus” from the recently released ROCKIN’ RUDOLPH album-their first studio Christmas album in 10 years-on TBS‘ CONAN this Wednesday, December 16 (check local listings for time).The 19-piece band will be in Los Angeles on a stop during their major 31-date 12th annual “Christmas Rocks! Tour” for a performance Friday, December 18 at the Microsoft Theater. For ticket information, visit: http://www.briansetzer.com/tour-dates/. See critical praise for album and tour below.
Released October 16 via Surfdog Records, ROCKIN’ RUDOLPH-which exclusively premiered on YAHOO! Music (10/12)-was produced by Peter Collins(Rush, Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper, etc.) and recorded in both Nashville, TN and Hollywood, CA. The 12-track album includes highlights such as “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Yabba-Dabba Yuletide,” and “Rockabilly Rudolph” (premiered exclusively via Billboard.com 10/9), among other notable Christmas classic tunes, with SETZER’s trademark guitar work and vocal stylings matched with THE BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA‘s rockin’ big-band horn arrangements. Click hereto watch a short sizzle video for ROCKIN’ RUDOLPH.
Catch the remaining dates of the 12th annual “Christmas Rocks! Tour” in the following cities:
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Thu-Dec-10
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Austin, TX
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ACL Live at the Moody Theatre
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Fri-Dec-11
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Allen Event Center
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Sat-Dec-12
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San Antonio, TX
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Majestic Theatre
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Mon-Dec-14
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Tucson, AZ
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Fox Tucson Theatre
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Tue-Dec-15
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Phoenix, AZ
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Celebrity Theatre
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Fri-Dec-18
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Los Angeles, CA
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Microsoft Theater
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Sat-Dec-19
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Fantasy Springs Event Center
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Sun-Dec-20
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Temecula, CA
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Pechanga Resort and Casino
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Tue-Dec-22
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Bakersfield, CA
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Fox Theater
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Wed-Dec-23
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Santa Rosa, CA
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Wells Fargo Center for the Arts
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Thu-Dec-24
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San Francisco, CA
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Warfield Theater
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Sat-Dec-26
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Spokane, WA
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Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox
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Sun-Dec-27
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Seattle, WA
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Benaroya Concert Hall
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Tue-Dec-29
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Calgary, AB
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Grey Eagle Resorts and Casino
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Track listing for ROCKIN’ RUDOLPH:
1. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”
2. “Yabba-Dabba Yuletide”
3. “Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
4. “Rockabilly Rudolph”
5. “Here Comes Santa Claus”
6. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
7. “Swingin’ Joy”
8. “Carol of the Bells”
9. “Little Jack Frost”
10. “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
11. “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
12. “Yabba-Dabba Yuletide” (extended)
CRITICAL PRAISE FOR ‘ROCKIN’ RUDOLPH’:
“…the Brian Setzer Orchestra succeeds with a remake of the ‘Flintstones’ cartoon TV show theme, with Christmas lyrics substituted. ‘Yabba-Dabba Yuletide’…features the former Stray Cats leader’s fast-picking guitar solos, backed by a kicking horn section. ‘Joy to the World’ shows up here as ‘Swingin’ Joy,’ a rollicking big band instrumental that defies you not to dance to it, followed by a guitar-heavy ‘Carol of the Bells.’ For the Flintstones-themed song alone, this is worth getting. But there’s enough alongside it to keep this album in your annual go-to holiday playlist.”
“This collection of Christmas songs is the second such album that Setzer and his very talented 18-piece band have released. It is a worthwhile purchase for those looking for Christmas music with some punch. Setzer’s band is fantastic, and they give new life to several standards. Opening track ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’ sizzles, and it features a terrific sax solo as well as Setzer’s fantastic fretwork. ‘Yabba-Dabba Yuletide’ pays a holiday homage to ‘The Flintstones’ with swinging horns and a trebly guitar break by Setzer. ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ is the standout track of the album. It’s slower and more mellow than most of the other tracks and features a nice vocal from Setzer. Other album highlights include a subtle ‘Most Wonderful Time of the Year,’ the guitar work in ‘Rockabilly Rudolph,’ a rocked-up ‘Here Comes Santa Claus,’ a light and easy ‘Little Jack Frost,’ and a slowed-down but great ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem.’ The song selection on the album is very good, the horn arrangements are stellar, and Setzer’s guitar work is excellent…In a genre often filled with cheesy, cringe-inducing albums, this collection is a standout and well worth checking out.”
–John Curley, GOLDMINE MAGAZINE, January 2016
CRITICAL PRAISE FOR THE 12TH ANNUAL “CHRISTMAS ROCKS! TOUR”:
“There can’t be a more entertaining rocking Christmas show than the one guitar wizard Brian Setzer and his swing orchestra puts on.”
“Setzer and his players were truly rocking. Whether it was ‘Boogie Woogie Santa,’ ‘Fishnet Stockings’ or a riotous ‘Let’s Shake,’ BSO rocked this town. Setzer stretched out often on guitar, showing a wide vocabulary of rock, rockabilly, jazz, blues and surf licks.”
“Ninety minutes of frenetic musical joy. That’s what Brian Setzer and his big band gave Omaha for an early Christmas present Sunday night…Setzer brought [his] 12th annual Christmas tour to the Orpheum Theater with all the relentless enthusiasm and unparalleled electric-guitar virtuosity – fully emulated by his 20 bandmates – that have made ‘must-hear’ experiences out of both his recordings and concerts…Setzer’s guitar solos are beyond description. He uses virtually every trick in his vast arsenal of styles, speeds and sound effects, not only throughout his concerts but seemingly in every song. And he throws maximum energy into his performance from the first song to the last…If music isn’t fun, there isn’t much reason to do it. Few teach us that lesson better than Brian Setzer.”
“Reimagining Christmas songs has been done before, but never this unusually and rarely this well. The reason for that became clear as the night wore on: He is not just that tattooed, pompadoured skinny guy from the Stray Cats. He is a Musician, with a capital M…what Setzer does is become music… his guitar face is one of pure joy, for him and for us. But the depth of his immersion into the music allows him to turn otherwise holiday chestnuts like ‘Here Comes Santa Claus,’ ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,’ ‘Jingle Bells’ and especially ‘Angels We Have Heard on High’ into something wholly different. And there’s not enough praise for the genius in morphing the theme song for the cartoon ‘The Flintstones’ into a new holiday classic, ‘Yaba-Daba Yuletide.’”
About Brian Setzer:
Iconic guitarist, songwriter, vocalist and 3-time Grammy-award-winner, is a “Musician’s Musician” credited with continually taking chances with innovative and daring musical styles, while single-handedly resurrecting two forgotten genres of music (rockabilly in the ’80’s and swing in the ’90’s). Along the way, he has scored chart-topping hits, sold 13 million records and received the Orville H. Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award throughout his decorated career as founder/leader of the Stray Cats, his 18-piece Brian Setzer Orchestra, and as a solo artist. He is consistently cited as one of the world’s greatest living guitarists, and has a best-selling, extensive line of elite Gretsch signature model guitars bearing his name. Brian appeared in the 1987 film, La Bamba, portraying rockabilly pioneer Eddie Cochran. In 2002, Brian earned the privilege of being one of the few musicians to be animated in an episode of “The Simpsons,” alongside Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Tom Petty. That same year, Setzer was personally requested to induct Chet Atkins into the 17th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2014, SETZER received the distinct honor of being asked by the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. to donate a replica of his original 1959 Gretsch 6120 “Stray Cat” guitar, joining an elite collection of musical instruments at the museum including Dizzy Gillespie’s trumpet and John Coltrane’s saxophone.
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