Stray Cats - Touring Down Under

man, as I'm reading this, Brian Setzer starts play'in on the computor (live365.com motorbilly station). saw them in 1982, what a great show. been listening to them since 1998 or so, great band.

 

I wish they'd come to New England!

 

i went last night, it was the best, old friends everywhere i looked and the cats ROCKED!!!

 

Hey S***ch - you might not want to wait until April for the show, because the Stray Cats are playing the Powerstation on Tuesday 3rd MARCH !!

Followed closely by the Old Crow Medicine Show on Wednesday the 4th of March.

Ha, ha, funniest half hour I ever spent was with Slim Jim at the Beach Hop (in a Chemist) trying out different skin moisturisers and discussing the merits of moisturisers on tattoos

 

Going to the last gig in OZ...sunday night, cant wait..........Bert

 

Same here....last one EVER !!

Rat

 

Are they coming to NZ and what are they dates and towns??

 

Tanks Stovebolt & RatB. While my memory may be like a slice of swiss cheese, Im with you Stovebolt that SCs Dallas Brookes performance in Melbourne was more like 1984 or 85. I am going to track down a guy I know who is big cats fan (says he has been to every Melbourne performance) and if I can get proper chronology will post it. BTW I went Sat night and while certainly enjoyed the concert, thought the show lacked a bit of edge. They were all very good but just something missing? I think the roadies for slim jim changing hi-hats or whatever was a bit over the top. Saw jim at winterson couple of year ago and he was more into it? Maybe they are all too rich now? However, if they are, then good luck to them - they deserve it for doing the hard yards.

 

XL FALCON

The Cats are slowing down man, 30 yrs of touring together and seperately has taken its toll imo. Yes they're shows definately lacked the edge of yesteryear. Age and touring and maybe even the "scene" does have its effects. They have paid their dues and have had their share of trouble within the band AND the Biz....but the key is that they HAVE worked their ***es off worldwide in live shows and so deserve the succes they have had. They took a creative risk and made it a success, more kudos to them !!

These shows that Ive been to in 09 ae very different to the shows I saw them play in 1990 ( 6 of them). The intensity, stage antics and overall energy is NOT the same this time around but they ARE nearly 20 years older than that time. More mellow is the right way to describe what I have seen so far. Maybe, just maybe their last gig in Oz EVER will go off a bit more on Sun nite....we shall see !!

Theyre certainly NOT doing it for the money atm if they ever did at all, but playing all over the world in a different town every few days while living out of a suitcase and time away from home, family and friends can have its drawbacks (as well as its pluses)

I know Brian wants to cut out touring the world as he don't see his wife or get to see his kids grow up.

And after all, in the end whats it all for?

Rat

 

Yep, one show only in NZ at Auckland....... Tuesday March 3rd at the Powerstation...... tickets still available.

 

I had the good fortune of meeting Brian Setzer while my 55' Chevy, my girlfriend, and myself were all performers in his "In the mood" music video.

My 55' Olds had been t-boned a few months prior by an idiot who ran a red light and was in need of a door and quarter panel, upon hearing this story Brian immediately got on the phone and found them for me in 5 minutes after I had been searching for months. I also paid less for totally rust-free parts than I was going to for needs-repair stuff.

I have had the good fortune to work on camera doing many fun things, surfing, skating, street luge, etc. but racing up and down p.c.h. all to ourselves, Brian in a 32 roadster followed by a gang of Hamb-friendly cars myself included just may take the cake. (His roadster was a new addition and he was eager to see how fast it was)

Brian's personal cars present included a 57' eldorado convert. with stock tripower, 57' custom chopped dodge, and the old 32 coupe featured on an early cats' record cover. The video has a great shot of my face in the side mirror of his 60' cad, then my girlfriend leans into camera and kisses me.

Favorite quote's from Brian on the set include: "Hey, lets get all the primer cars in the front" and "Me and Jim built that old 32 there, but I was already rich when I got the eldo and the dodge so they were already done"

A couple years later I was driving the now ***embled (thanks to Brian) 55' Olds into griffith park to run with my dogs. There was a ton of traffic due to an event at the greek theater, I was about to abort my mission then the traffic cops open the cones for me and let me ahead of the traffic. I drive by an immense line of cars then they try and direct me to the "preferred" parking right up front which looked like a hot rod meet, the marquee of course read "The Brian Setzer Orchestra".

Brian Setzer rules!

 

Previous page you thought they were the best you have seen them play? Saw them monday at the Metro and i thought they lacked very little, i mean give me a ****n break their older than my buick, they were vry tight with stetzer plucken the strings just right, the vibe in the bar was electric with anticipation and few were disappointed, they played solid for a good two and a bit hours followed with two generous encors all to the sound of stompin feet, lots of hair product, lots of ink and a **** load of grinnin cats, rock on!

 

Previous page you thought they were the best you have seen them play? Yeah back in 1990 where I had something to make a comparison to. Did you see them in 1990 ?

I wrote:
"Hey Striper I went to that gig at the Palace and the one in Moorabbin at Transformers in 1990....The Transformers gig was of ****ing unbelievable intensity and energy that nite....best Ive ever seen them play. The rods and kustoms in the car park didnt go astray either !!"

Mate please read the posts properly - my comments were directed to the above gig in 1990 where the energy and intensity was LIGHT years ahead of what I saw this time around....NOT what I saw this time around. Simply a comparison of this Tour and what they were like in their Australasian Tour in 1990.

And if you read further I actually explained WHY I think this is the case, WITHOUT raggin on them at all...

3x2 - yeah he DOES kick *** in many ways. I hope I get to meet him after their last Oz show on Sunday nite.

Sheesh....

Rat

 

is the sunday show sold out? anybody know? i went last friday and wouldnt mind heading down after work for a second helping.

 

Hey Monster Kid...I think there are some tickets still available.

www.ticketek.com.au

Rat

 

cool thanks rat, ill check it out.

 

Correct March that is !!!!
See you there. Old Crow on Wed, I would need another b'day to get a ticket to that and they only come around once a year

 

Sooooo, what was THE last show in Oz like?

 

Saw 'em in Sept '08 at the show where slim jim fell off the stage and broke his arm!
Great show and great finale!

 

Xl....the last show was the best IMO.....different playlist and done really really well. Brian spoke to the crowd quite a bit and intimated that they sould love to come back.

Molly Meldrum and some VIPs were sitting to the left of us takin it in. Seems like Molly really dug the Cats - would have brought back some Countdown Memoried for him thats for sure.

Maybe some Promoters were in the VIP section too....hmmm

Rat

 

Back in the 80's I worked for Dave (jew-bear) Hansen at The Shop in Ventura. Brian used to bring his Indian in for us to work on from time to time. He is really a nice guy.
I wish they would tour around here. The "Brian Setzer Ocherstra" played at Foxwoods but I think it was a different group than the original Stray Cats. Todd