Brian Setzer keeps his Rockabilly cool at Arvada Center

 

Photo by Michael McGrath, story by Amy McGrath

To listen to “Stray Cat Strut” is to climb into a personal time machine. There I am, an early 1980’s middle school version of myself, laying on my bed, chewing gum and gazing at a centerfold poster ripped from the pages of Tiger Beat magazine. The cuffed t-shirt, the tattoos, the sneer, that perfect pompadour…. Brian Setzer was my first in a long line of bad boy crushes. It was an enduring pubescent fantasy of mine that Brian would roll up to the front of my middle school, Triumph engine roaring, sweep me onto the back of his bike and rescue me from the many indignities and down-right uncoolness of middle school.

Here I am, the arguably wiser middle-aged mom version of myself, enjoying a lovely early summer evening in Arvada, gazing again at this more refined, and yes- older version of the very same man. Brian has transitioned nicely from bad boy heart-throb to elegant statesman of rockabilly. At the core of this transition, as much as his enduring cool, is his undeniable showmanship and hard-won guitar prowess.

Brian Setzer’s Rockabilly Riot rolled into the Arvada Center Monday with all the trimmings: classic guitars and warm sounding vintage amps, archetypal tattoo imagery, well-coiffed women in their best pin-up finery. The show marked a down-sized but cranked-up return to rockabilly for Setzer, whose career over the last few decades has been connected with a swing/big-band revival in front of the The Brian Setzer Orchestra.

Setzer’s set featured both the greatest hits of the Stray Cats along with a smattering of other rockabilly standards. Fan favorites “Rumble in Brighton” and “Rock this Town” had the Arvada Center crowd on its feet singing every word. Setzer’s capable backing band also shined during more subtle moments, like the gorgeous instrumental “Blue Moon” interlude, showcasing his outstanding, Les Paul-influenced guitar work.

Setzer’s 40+ years in the music business is a testament to the his ability to successfully navigate the transition from teen idol to rock icon. And even though his tattoos were hidden under a tailored pin-striped suit, and his punk rock sneer has faded into a more savvy showmanship, “Stray Cat Strut” still gave me the same flutters in my belly that I first experienced as a rebel boy obsessed pre-teen.

Editor’s note: Michael took lots of great photos of Brian Setzer at the Arvada Center. The one you see here was the only one approved for publication by his management. We’re not sure why…. we thought he looked great!!