HIT LIST REVIEWS The Stray Cats Live At Rockpalast featuring left-hand close-ups that amount to a bonus Setzer lesson. “Storm The Embassy” illus- trates the connection between neo-rockabilly and punk – less than a stone’s throw from the Clash, musically and politically. By the time of the outdoor ’83 concert, the band was enjoying success in their homeland and were including songs from their Rant N’ Rave album, like “Look At That Cadillac” and another pressed to find a ’50s artist hit, “She’s Sexy And 17.” Setzer sporting a six-inch pompadour originals bookend covers of the UNEARTHED and tattooed “sleeves.”) Johnny Burnette Rock and Roll Likewise, aforementioned Trio’s “Baby Blue Eyes” and hits “Rock This Town” and “Tear It Up.” Edmunds joins on “Stray Cat Strut” were rocka- the latter before singing George STRAY CATS billy light and tailor-made for Jones’ “The Race Is On.” For video, respectively. Fortunately, “Foggy Mountain Breakdown,” though, the band’s chops and Setzer grabs an electrified banjo, ormed in ’79, the Tomcats – of the first one, they’d teamed research went much deeper. employing the same technique singer/guitarist Brian Setzer, with producer Dave Edmunds At the time of the ’81 show, of tucking the flatpick under Fdrummer Slim Jim Phantom, to record a self-titled debut that Setzer was 22 – already a his index that’s a major com- and bassist Lee Rocker – had launched three hit singles. The commanding presence and ponent of his guitar playing. only marginal success playing packed audience was primed, guitarist to be reckoned with. The By the time of the last encores, rockabilly at punk clubs like as was the Rockpalast staff, repertoire is a mix of originals Buddy Holly’s “Oh Boy” and the Manhattan’s CBGB. Reasoning who gave the stage a motif and covers, like Eddie Cochran’s inevitable “Rock This Town,” that they’d find a bigger audience of a graffitied brick wall. “Somethin’ Else” and Warren the trio is stripped to the waist in England, they sold their instru- The trappings perfectly suited Smith’s “Ubangi Stomp,” given a and as drenched in sweat as the ments to get enough cash for the band’s look, since they were quasi-ska treatment. The latter sardine-packed audience. With one-way tickets to London. The essentially a cartoon version features plenty of dazzling Setzer Rocker scaling his upright, Phan- gamble paid off, and the renamed of how they envisioned ’50s fretwork on his ’59 Gretsch 6120. tom standing on his kick drum, Stray Cats were a sensation. rockabilly acts – to a much Backed only by upright bass and Setzer leaping offstage, This previously unreleased greater extent than neo-rocka- and minimal drum kit, a lot rides quickly joined by a half-dozen double-CD/DVD combo features billy acts that preceded them, on Setzer’s shoulders. Rocker jive-dancing males, one thing is two televised concerts in Ger- like Robert Gordon, Rockpile, or spells him on vocals for “Drink clear: These Cats gave you your many, in ’81 and ’83. By the time the Blasters. (You’d be hard- That Bottle Down,” a slow blues money’s worth. – Dan Forte Brian Setzer: Prof. Manfred Becker. Manfred Prof. Setzer: Brian VINTAGE GUITAR 136 December 2015.