The Venue, at Horseshoe Casino

Hammond, Indiana

July 12, 2009

Chris Isaak is now touring with, “Mr. Lucky”, his first new studio album in seven years and for old fans and new, it is a summer tour not to be missed. Chris has been with his band for 25 years but from the high level of energy and musicianship they still put out you’d swear it was just yesterday you witnessed Chris Isaak big breakout hit “Wicked Game”. And let me tell you, Chris and his mates still have some wicked game goin’ on.

First of all, Chris still looks the part of the strapping young buck, fit and hard as a rock at 43, okay he’s fifty three - but looks 43 - that’s what counts. Obviously playing music and surfing is a combination that keeps him forever young. He has a great sense of humor, originally showcased in his series “The Chris Isaak Show”, which he uses to good effect throughout the concert with quick jokes and snappy comebacks to his band. The audience gets to see him up close when Chris moves through them singing and sitting on some lucky lady laps during the song “Love Me Tender”. But it’s his voice that really blew me away. That voice, so clear, strong and pitch perfect, and that trademark falsetto, my God, that takes your breath away. It is his voice still going through my head, from the low grumble of his super sexy growl in “Baby, Did a Bad, Bad Thing” to the soaring, wide open vibrato of his great new song “Big Wide Wonderful World” that still makes it difficult - a full 48 hours after the show - to concentrate on writing this review.

After hearing him perform live, I honestly think he is one of the great crooners of our time, on a par with Sinatra and Elvis. I can’t recommend seeing him in concert highly enough. This was my first time seeing him live, and there were at least a half dozen times where he hit notes head on with such purity and emotion, that I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I literally shook my head and said, “What the-? What WAS that? How long did he just hold that note? Is this pre- recorded?” Amazing.

Chris Isaak’s long time band mates, Hershel Yatovitz, Rowland Salley, Kenney Dale Johnson, and Scott Plunkett absolutely hold their own with a super high level of artistry in playing and backing Chris vocally. The guitars, keys and bass are just beautiful, lush and flowing with a decidedly modern lounge sound that turns out a perfectly delicious and sensual hybrid of rockabilly and surf rock. Behind every successful pop star there is a great drummer who keeps his singer’s pace to perfection, and Kenney Dale Johnson’s swingin’ bouncy rhythms are the perfect compliment to Chris’ in turns humorous and passionate fronting.

Yes, there is high production value, with video screens and great sound quality. Yes, there are funny jokes and sexy songs to make every lady blush and dream about Chris long after he’s left the theatre, but go to see Chris Isaak and his fantastic band, Silvertone, in concert this summer for his voice. Like Sinatra and Elvis, heck, like Pavarotti - it is the kind and quality of voice you hear once in a century. I’m sure Chris Isaak and Silvertone will be around another twenty-five years, but when they are gone, like Elvis and Sinatra, you will say to yourself, I heard him sing. I felt that power pulse through me. I witnessed one of the greats.

Are you already a fan of Chris Isaak? Then be sure to check www.Buzznews.TV next week for my interview with Chris Isaak from the road when we talk about his new TV show, “The Chris Isaak Hour” now on the Biography channel.