Tag Archives: Brian Setzer

Stray Cats @ The Tivoli, Brisbane 26-27 February 2009

It’s been a long, long, too long a wait but finally Brian Setzer, Slim Jim Phantom and Lee Rocker will be back down under on their Farewell World Tour.
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Formed in 1979 the Stray Cats took the world by storm with their infectious rockabilly musical stylings and frenetic live shows.

Having created their own version of the standard rockabilly sound by blending Brian’s jazz & swing sensibilities with the band’s love of the 70’s UK punk sound, the Stray Cats have built up a devoted following and maintained an enviable live reputation throughout their 30 year career.
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Brian Setzer

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Brian Setzer has made a career of bucking trends, going against the grain, ignoring popular culture, discarding rational thought, and, all the while, blowing people away. In a pop music era dominated by twenty-something contest winners and angst-ridden suburban kids, his latest project couldn’t be any further removed from the mainstream. Recording centuries-old music with his 18-piece Rockin’ Big Band and enlisting the help of a long-retired octogenarian, Setzer has achieved what is surely his finest musical hour with his upcoming Surfdog Records release, “Wolfgang’s Big Night Out.”

As a teenager, Brian Setzer drew inspiration from 50’s rockabilly, fused it with new wave punk, and created a phenomenon with his band Stray Cats. During the 1990’s (when grunge ruled the charts), he assembled his monstrous big band complete with a 13-piece horn section that ignited an international modern swing explosion, sold millions of albums, and racked up 3 Grammy wins. If that wasn’t enough, Setzer found tremendous success in redefining Christmas music for a generation desperately desiring something new and exciting around the holidays.
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Lee Rocker

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Since the release of his Alligator Records debut Racin’ The Devil, bassist/vocalist/songwriter (and Stray Cats co-founder) Lee Rocker’s solo career has been skyrocketing. Publications from USA Today to Billboard and The New York Times raved about the undeniable power and foot-stomping fun of Rocker’s Americana-based roots rock. OffBeat declared, “What’s most satisfying about Lee Rocker is his ability to graft classic Sun licks and shuffles onto Americana. He bridges the gap between Bruce Springsteen and Hank Williams, Sr.” Bass Player magazine simply said, “He absolutely kills.” Lee’s live shows, fueled by his barnstorming, rocking band, grow wilder each night out. And now, on the heels of the national Stray Cats 2007 summer reunion tour, Lee Rocker is back with his second Alligator album, Black Cat Bone.

The Chicago Tribune describes Rocker’s playing as “muscular and passionate.” The Washington Post says his music consists of “impressive, catchy, driving original songs, frantic romps, finger-snapping swing and brooding slow blues.” Rolling Stone declares, “Lee Rocker’s singing naturally captures the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll. His catchy, well-written songs are very difficult to get out of your head.”


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Slim Jim Phantom

Slim Jim Phantom has secured his place as a true rock n roll icon.

As the legendary drummer for the Stray Cats Phantom, alongside band mates Brian Setzer and Lee Rocker, spearheaded the neo-rockabilly movement of the early 80s. With a love for 50s rock n roll the Stray Cats took inspiration from the bygone era and mixed with their youthful energy and aggression produced the updated hard-edged rockabilly sound that saw them conquer London, Europe and later the US, gaining fans among the likes of Keith Richards, Mick Jagger and Robert Plant along the way. slim-jim-phantom-sml

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