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Thanks to everyone who is everything I am not

2015 Holiday Gift Guide

<p>The festive surroundings were indicative of a Christmas show, with bow-adorned trees, garland and stockings decorating the stage, but despite the holiday tunes that were performed, yuletide music was delivered with style that made the Kirby Center feel like a sock hop during The Brian Setzer Orchestra&#8217;s 12th Annual Christmas Rocks! Tour.</p><p>The 19-piece band filled the Wilkes-Barre theater Wednesday night, donning their Christmas best, horn sections in green leisure suits, backup singers in red velvet dresses and a contrasting front man whose suit was grey with a tinge of red in the pocket square. The freight train of sound delivered rockabilly and swing versions of classic Christmas tunes as well as Setzer&#8217;s originals and better known covers, and the crowd made merry all through the night.</p><p>The big band led off the evening with &#8220;Rockin Around the Christmas Tree,&#8221; which sounded a bit like the 1958 Brenda Lee version until Setzer first let one of his outstanding saxophone players take the lead and then ripped a contemporary rockabilly solo for the ages, reminding the house of exactly what he does best.</p><p>The Gretsch wielding, fast-fingered guitar guru, really let loose on the follow up, &#8220;This Cat&#8217;s On a Hot Tin Roof.&#8221; He worked whole scales into speedy phrases and held them back again with soulful bends.</p><p>Setzer gave many members of the orchestra solo opportunities as they deftly poured through Christmas arrangements like &#8220;Boogie Woogie Santa&#8221; and &#8220;Rockabilly Rudolph,&#8221; which made Rudolph swing so hard the sleigh went down.</p><p>The ensemble even took time to play some of Setzer&#8217;s most notable rockabilly and swing hits like &#8220;Stray Cat Strut&#8221; and &#8220;Jump Jive An&#8217; Wail.&#8221;</p><p>The classical highlight of the show was a swingin&#8217; version of &#8220;The Nutcracker Suite.&#8221;</p><p>Check back for a full review &#8230;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Brian Setzer performing with the Brian Setzer Orchestra. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_Setzer1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Brian Setzer performing with the Brian Setzer Orchestra. </caption0><photoCredit0>Submitted photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Matt Mattei</p><p>mmattei@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Matt Mattei at 570-991-6651 or <a href="mailto:mmattei@www.timesleader.com">mmattei@www.timesleader.com</a></p></shirttailMeta></div>

Brian Setzer Orchestra swings into Wilkes-Barre with Christmas Rocks! Tour