Rockabilly Riot! Live From the Planet

Personnel: Brian Setzer (vocals, guitar); Kevin McKendree (guitar, piano); Slim Jim Phantom, Noah Levy (drums).
Audio Mixer: Dave Darling.
Recording information: Adelaide, Australia (2011-2012); Amsterdam, Holland (2011-2012); Austin, TX (2011-2012); Bordeaux, France (2011-2012); Calgary, Canada (2011-2012); Chicago, IL (2011-2012); Clermont-Ferrand, France (2011-2012); Edmonton, Canada (2011-2012); Portland, OR (2011-2012); Seattle, WA (2011-2012); Stockholm, Sweden (2011-2012); Sydney, Australia (2011-2012); Tokyo, Japan (2011-2012); Wichita, KS (2011-2012); Zurich, Switzerland (2011-2012).
Photographers: Russ Harrington; Tony Nelson; Paula Kopczynski.
Brian Setzer's Rockabilly Riot! Live from the Planet compiles concert recordings Setzer made while on the Rockabilly Riot! tour in 2011 and 2012. Included are performances from such diverse locales as Japan, Sweden, Australia, and, of course, the United States. Although Setzer made his biggest comeback since his '80s Stray Cats days with his big band the Brian Setzer Orchestra, he has often returned to the more intimate, but no less rocking, small-group rockabilly and country sound. This is the sound he showcased on such albums as 2001's Ignition!, 2003's Nitro Burnin' Funny Daddy, and 2005's Rockabilly Riot, Vol. 1: A Tribute to Sun Records, and this is the sound he went for on the Rockabilly Riot! tour. Largely sticking to cuts featured on his albums, Rockabilly Riot! Live from the Planet features more raw and twangy versions of such songs as "'49 Mercury Blues," "This Cat's on a Hot Tin Roof," "Slow Down," "Blue Moon of Kentucky," and many more. Backing Setzer on tour was his adept ensemble including such musicians as drummer Noah Levy, bassist Johnny "Spazz" Hatton, bassist Chris D'Rozario, multi-instrumentalist Kevin McKendree, and even fellow Stray Cat drummer Slim Jim Phantom on a few cuts. In many ways, Rockabilly Riot! Live from the Planet works as a nice follow-up to Setzer's similar 2007 Japan concert album Red Hot & Live! These absolutely high-octane rockabilly and retro-rock performances showcase Setzer's frenetic virtuoso guitar chops and exuberant vocals. ~ Matt Collar