Be sure to check out the photos at this link:

http://blogs.denverpost.com/reverb/2008/08...otanic-gardens/


As consistent as he is, Chris Isaak could use a little change in his shtick.

Chris Isaak is a smooth cat – the inoffensive guy who flirts with your girlfriend and makes you like it. But over the course of his career, Isaak’s music and shtick has taken on some of that likable, if bland, inoffensiveness.

If you’ve seen Isaak once, you’ve seen him a million times. His music hardly changes, as shown at his Thursday show at the Botanic Gardens. Even the new stuff sounds a lot like the older material. He jokes with the band? Yes, and a lot of it’s practiced patter. He comes out and sings the encore in the mirror-ball pants? Yes, always.


While it’s all the same, it’s hard to hold that against Isaak. The fans – mostly ladies – love it. And why not? They want to swoon each time he takes on “Wicked Game,” with its sentimental wistfulness. They want to scream at every turn of “Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing,” with its growls of sugary blues.

But fans crushing on Isaak is one thing. Taking him critically serious is another. He’s likable and charming and a solid songwriter, yes, but if he doesn’t change his act sooner than later, he’ll end up a novelty act.

Isaak’s Botanic Gardens show was, in a sense, a repeat performance of his show last summer opening for Stevie Nicks at Red Rocks – and numerous shows before that. Ever the charmer, Isaak had the sold-out crowd wrapped around his finger. They ate up the shtick, and they sang along with his songs of love and loss. “Somebody’s Crying” remains a particularly winning tune, but many of his other songs have aged poorly.

Even “Wicked Game,” with its weepy guitars and syrupy lyrics, sounds dated. Isaak has always loved a good cover, and after he showed a little love the King’s way, he took on Cheap Trick’s “I Want You to Want Me” – and while it was incredibly straightforward, it was nice to hear Isaak try out something different. (The cover is available on his latest release, a greatest hits collection.) Lord knows we don’t need to hear “San Francisco Days” again.

The evening’s most lovely moment came when Isaak gave a nuanced treatment to “Forever Blue.” It’s what Isaak does best – the sentimental ballad that allows him to show off his ivory vocals. And he nailed it.

Ricardo Baca is the pop music critic at The Denver Post and the co-editor of Reverb.

Candace Horgan is a local writer/photographer and a regular contributor to Reverb.

Ok, I'm sure you are going to hate me, but I have to say I agree with most of it. I wouldn't be so harsh though, because going to the concert is also about the eye candy to us women and some don't care what he says.
But come on, I'm sure deep down inside some of you think things should be changed up a bit. I've read on this board that many of you wish he would add some songs, like Breaking Apart.
I wonder if Chris is the one that plans the show, or maybe some kind of concert manager.

It could just be me too. I paid quite a bit to fly down to Denver to see him. Ok, I did see my Grammy too, but it would have been nice to have a fresh concert. I've seen other bands over the years, and those are changed up.

I think one reason Chris plays the same old standards, Wicked Game and SF Nights, is because many people don't know him well, and only know him by those songs....like half of my relatives....Who is Chris Isaak? Oh, he sings Wicked Game.

Sorry, just one girls opinion, but I do love Chris, and will continue to support him.....even if he ends up in Branson. [size=3]

I remember last summer, Ricardo Baca, the author, gave a glowing review of Isaak's show at Red Rocks, so he's not a grouchy critic by any means. While there is some merit to what he's saying, especially about the similar sound to lots of his music, there are two things I would rethink if I were Ricardo....

1. If you listen UP, to this year's show, you'll hear different arrangements. My hubby was asking if Move Along and Dancing were NEW. I thought that took some songs out of the "oldies but goodies" category.

2. Click on the link to the article. Not just great shots of the band and him (Roly and Hershel - great shot!), but also, the crowd all around him is obviously enjoying the show. Men and women both. That's who buys the tickets, right?

3. I recall when Always Got Tonight came out, some critics disliked it specifically because he "strayed" from his usual sound. You can't have it both ways. BTW - they should put AGT back in the show... what a nasty, hot song that is! (I know that's three things, but I thought of the third one at the last minute

My two cents. RRGirl

PS - Kenney's journal mentions that venue, too.

Thanks for the article Firefly.
I enjoyed seeing the pictures.
I wonder what fun and/or goofy thing Chris said [or did] here that you could tell had the crowd very amused???

Well, I'm not one to talk, 'cause I'm going to 2 concerts this month for the eye candy alone, but I would like some new jokes..... and I would LOVE to hear Breakin' Apart and Somebody To Love this year, please.

That's always the way it is with critics. They bemoan the fact that a particular artist has a certain sound or a certain way of going about things, and then when the artist changes it up, they smugly sit back and snort over how the change is no good and the artist should've stuck to what works. I find that egregiously obnoxious and tend to ignore what the critics say altogether. I mean, really, what is a critic anyway, but just another idiot with an opinion?





This made me laugh out loud.

Heya Firefly.

That is some review mate.The pics are just fabulous too.

Thankyou,Thanyou,Thankyou.

I can't wait till he comes Down Under again.I'm so jealous.

Cheers,

Really nice colored pics. Well done photos...

Was just thinking, though...about the Upcoming *new* CI Show... Don't you think CI would also be great hosting his own comedy-style show??

I mean, he and the band are already really polished and professional, and even if we do sometimes see a similar show during the different tours, Isaak's deliveries are always bust-up funny. I'm being serious here.

I think it could totally work. Would almost be like the old Sonny and Cher comedy hour, only Chris' *Cher* would be Uncle Kenney, and of course, they have a lot more talent....well...you know...then afore mentioned. What do you all think?

Kenney is freakin' hillarious sometimes. And Chris, well we all know the guy has a really noire deviant sense of humor.

; )

UP

OH My GOD...yes! I LOVED Kenney in the episodes of "The Chris Isaak Show".....

...he IS freakin' hilarious!!

Or it could be kinda like the old Flip Wilson show....I can almost picture Isaak now (except for the dress part, of course...) "The Devil made me do it!?!?" Hmmmmm......or do you think your Uncle Kenney would consider doing the Geraldine imitation?......Hmmmmm.....I wonder.....

All kiddin' aside Cheryl, yeah, they would do a GREAT comedy show I think.

Once the new Isaak Bio show starts, some of you all will have to start sending the show's producer some subliminal messages about a comedy show for Isaak and the boys, too.....Gotta keep our boys with plenty o' options, right?!?!

Uncle Pat

P.S. And if our Uncle Wayne N. ever gets tired of the USO thing, we all know who would do a WONDERFUL job continuing in Ol' Bob Hopes footsteps....

; )

UP

I can see the guys doing the USO gig, not the schticky Flip Wilson thing. It's done and old.

I hate bad reviews.

I hate the people that write the bad reviews.

This happens to my Stevie so often that I'm just so tired of it.

I love Chris. So what if I'm a crusher.

I dunno. I don't think the review was really that bad, doll. And a lot of what the guy said had some validity to it.

The guy says how CI is a solid songwriter, and how the fans swoon over him, but that some of the new music (and jokes) sound the same as the old (they do).

CI and the band put on a REALLY GOOD show.

You tell me any other band or performer (other than Isaak) that could get away with telling the same jokes or performing the same songs from one tour to another, and not fall on their face?? I've never seen one (except Isaak). He has that rare quality that he could tell you to go to hell in a hand basket and do it in such a way that he would leave you with a smile on your face, and you would be happy that you were going. Really, he is that charasmatic...

Maybe part of the problem is that Isaak/his management seem to have him playing his gigs like he is a *heritage act*. What I mean by heritage is someone, say, like the Eagles or the Stones, that you kinda only expect the big hits and that's it. Not a lot of change-UP on that type of thing.

Since I (and maybe some others like your REAL reviewer guy) don't see Isaak as one of those crusty old fart heritage acts, we sometimes expect more in the way of a few different songs. I could go into more detail here but I don't want to bore the rest of you all.

Which is all to say, acts like Isaak (non-heritage acts) usually have more change-ups (song rotation, etc.) during their tour.

Isaak seems to like things more comfortable. And in reality, perhaps that's what the majority of Isaak's fans (that's where I differ here) want/expect. I believe most enjoy that *familiar old Isaak*, kinda like that favorite pair of worn out shoes...you know.... the ones that you would never think of parting with....

Since he and the guys are really good putting on a show, I can't be too knitt-picky about the*schticky* stuff as some of you have put it.

UP

P.S. I see you Cheryl ; )

Well I have to say the first time I ever heard Chris was when I heard Wicked Game on the radio & I fell in love with the man's voice. It took me forever to find out who he was. I mainly went to see him in concert to try to get his attention. I still think he's the SEXIEST MAN ALIVE ! WITH THE SEXIEST VOICE ! If I was his woman, I'd be wanting him to sing to me all the time. He may have the same style, yes I've wondered about the same things ya'll have been saying. But I still have to support him, he let my sister take our picture. No seriously, I think he really is funny with a dry sense of humor. He's smart to keep his life so private though.

I'm with you.

I just....I love the guy. I don't really care. Hopefully he doesn't care either.

hahahahah

the picture on the right looks like he has horns!!!!!!

He drew them on his head. It was the first thing he did before he signed it.

I don't think he does either. I honestly think he's having fun with all the attention & HE LOVES US WOMEN ! haha

You know I've been thinking on this subject. Chris doesn't need to change at all. He's got a name for his self. This is Chris. He's sharing what his passion in life is with us. Why change someone for what they are?

yeah! I mean he's just having fun. why fuck that up?

Well, I must admit that I admire everyone's honestly around here that said they like CI (partly) because he is *eye candy*. Mighty refreshing hearing those kind of words from a gal I think...

No wonder I got this subject all wrong, huh?!?!

Makes a heck of more sense now. Geeze.

Well shoot, then I can totally see why the expectations in the music department from the board's not so high. I'm mean no disrespect when I say this either. Just the reality of things the way they are I reckon.

Well, he DOES put on a good show though.

So if he was short, outta shape, balding (or even grey, for that matter) and had a big nose, and bad teeth, would y'all expect more in the music department from our fair haired Journalism Major?? Guess I'd better not open that can o' worms, huh??

Did I mention what a good show he and the band puts on?? Hmmmmm.

Now when did everybuddy say that new album is set to drop again??

UP

Okay...I had a hard time interpreting the previous post.....but...um...Yeah! He IS *eye candy* to most of us gals! But that does NOT dismiss our respect and love for his talented music and performances. Alot of us may swoon over Chris....but I can speak for most of us and say that we also respect and LOVE the music and talent behind the handsome hunk.

For example.......I also LOVE and respect Kenney and Hershel! They are so cool!

Chris may be *eye candy* for us gals.....but we love and respect the music too....don't get us wrong or underestimate our love and respect for the music!

If he was balding....yeah....we may [or may not] like him just the same....but that's not the point. We love Chris & Silvertone! [of course, there are gonna be those gals who only love Chris for his looks...but I hope that's NOT most of us]

Cool. That's what I was hoping someone would say, Cheryl.

Thanks.

UP

The eye-candy-ness is a bonus, although a much appreciated bonus.

I had no clue what the man looked like when I first started listening to his music, honestly. He's got a fantastic voice, he writes great songs, and he's got a dry, crazy sense of humor that would make him attractive to me even if he were the troll under the bridge. It just so happens he's damn fine, and I don't feel guilty about enjoying that aspect of him along with his musical talents.

There are plenty of musicians out there who aren't necessarily physically attractive but whose music I absolutely adore. Tom Petty? Scary as hell looking, but the man ROCKS. Steve Perry? I could listen to Journey til the cows come home, but I'd really rather not have to watch the lead singer, eek. Chris has it all and pulls it all together very nicely. It's the total package, not just one aspect.

I am offended by that statement. I have very high expectations "in the music department" from Chris. Even though you say you mean no disrespect, you are disrespecting me and a good number of others on this board when you make that kind of statement. I agree with you, he DOES put on a good show. Why? His "show" is so good because it's not just a "show" -- it's full of solid songwriting, singing in a super-human range, and amazing musicianship from Chris and his band, representing years of practice and rehearsal. I admire Chris Isaak and Silvertone from a musical perspective. That's why I buy every one of their CDs and will continue to do so.

And that's the OTHER response I was hoping for FifiK.

I've always thought of Isaak as a little more substantial than many folks give him credit for. I'm tired of hearing people say he is a one trick pony and that he has no talent. Or that he is lame because he waits too long between (new) releases. Or that he is not living up to his full potential. Cuz I think he's really cool and talented.

But in more than one review I have recently read, they kind of make Isaak out to be a sort of joke.

And over here, it's great that people enjoy agreeing with everything that Isaak does (musically, etc.), but it also gets kind of old when folks are afraid to voice a dissenting opinion. A few of you have voiced them, and I like that too. Diversity really does make the world go around.

I was, of course, half joking with some of the stuff I wrote, but there is always a bit of truth in my sarcastic comments 2.

It's ok to be offended.

Heck, I get slightly offended myself when an artist who prides himself on writing and playing, is no longer under contract, says he is giving us music one year, and two or 3 years down the road, still no soap. Well, maybe not exactly *offended*, but the way I see it, it's a little like this.

Being talented and diversifying is great, but if you spread yourself in too many directions, you tend to run the risk of not being very good (or effective) at anything. And that ain't good, either, cuz you run the risk of turning away your remaining fan-base.

UP

Hey UP!

you're one cool cat! You always have great things to say!

You seem to really care about the music of CI&S

Say, did you guys ever see this when it first came out (or download the podcast)??

Cool stuff...

UP

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/sec...ory=A_SPECIAL15

I just downloaded this iTunes podcast thing.......and I am currently listening! BUT...when is this interview that I'm listening too??
Thanks for sharing this UP! Your rock!

Well now, Uncle Pat,

I have to agree with you on some things. First off, how can anyone say that Chris Isaak is a one trick pony? He is definitely, as you say, "really cool and talented". He can sing with a range like no one else, he can write amazing songs, he plays guitar, accordion, piano, drums (spoons, too, maybe? ), acts in movies, has had his own TV show, has a university degree, can roof your house, designs his own stage suits, t-shirts, CD liners....etc. etc.

He certainly isn't lame because he waits too long between new releases. I'd rather wait a few years for something worthwhile than some of the artists that I like that put out something new every 18 months that wasn't worth waiting for.

I agree that we should be able to say what we think about Chris's music on this message board. Or about his shows. I think most of us do. I happen to like 99% of what he does. I don't know why, but this man and his music just "work" for me. I like his music, his voice, his guitar playing, his band, his drawings......I like him when I meet him, too. Once in a while, I don't like a song as much as another and I say so. Even though I like all the above things about Chris, it is his MUSIC that brings me here. He is a very talented songwriter.

As for the diversifying, I don't think his music has suffered while he's acted in movies. His own TV show I had a bit of a problem with because it curtailed his touring outside of the West. (or at least it seemed that way whenever I checked Pollstar in 2000 or 2001). Sure, he gained some new fans but I really missed the touring.

Addition:

I think the podcast is from 2006, Cheryl.

To: FifiK:

I bet he DOES play the spoons (and a mean jug and washboard, too, I reckon!!) And who wants to lay wager that Uncle Kenney can play the castanets?!?!

I must admit, when I flipped thru the pics linked w/the '06 podcast, I was a bit jealous.

I've always wanted old library cardfiles for my cds and was wondering who had bought up all the good (used) ones...Ha!

BTW, too bad they couldn't do a few more podcast, huh? Good for the fans and cheap (read FREE) publicity, too. Perhaps w/the new forthcoming album, huh, Isaak??

UP

P.S. With your Uncle Roly's B-day coming up soon, we all need to chip in and get him a small digital camera (that shoots video) so he and the boys can upload podcast (videos) of them from on the road....Kinda like M Butler from JetBoy does for their fans..

Hey there UnclePat!

I never said I only go for the view - lovely as it usually is... It honestly is our summer date for our anniversary, at least for the last 6 years. And it was truthfully my very own husband, who convinced me I would enjoy Mr. I's album, Always Got Tonight. That was the first of his CD's I ever bought. AFTER that, I learned he was Mr. Wicked Game. And I'm NOT 20 - I've been around awhile, but not as long as Isaak, who is and always will be, older than me!

I'd heard lots of his songs, but had never, not one time, seen his picture, or a poster, or an ad, or anything. And I wouldn't have been able to put his name to some famous songs like San Francisco Days... I'd know the song, but not the singer. And I've met him a couple times backstage, and I'm mostly interested in if I could come along with his tailor and help sew flames on suits, or something creative like that. I'm staring, sure, but it's not really at HIM.

And that British bloke running around with them this summer? He's kind of short, and not really hot looking, and I'm not interested in a Bristish accent, and he has another habit I noticed in Boulder that I don't like - but when he sings... get outta the way! He tears it up. It's great when they play together.

So if Isaak had come on stage all these years, and worn a brown bag on his head, I'd be curious, but I'd still be listening! Not to get misquoted or anything - and I'm madly in love with RRGuy - but for the record - Chris could leave his cereal bowl on my dresser if he wanted

XOX,
This is RRGirl, and I approved this message - at least for the moment.

Off topic:
unclepat: Make friends with your local librarian and see if he/she can keep an eye out for you on the old card catalogs. I'm a librarian and can say this with certainty--these things do go for sale on occasion, but they are becoming rare. Incredibly, there are still libraries that use them! Usually they are for sale within the library circles.

On topic:

I don't disagree with the Denver review, but I get the feeling that Chris likes how he does his show. Maybe he likes doing the smaller venues. Frankly, it is a bit "Vegas" but people seem to love it. The songs are good, but I can see that for most people (not us of course!) they are kind of ho-hum. Nice songs, IMHO, that I like to listen to a lot. But if the show is still making money for him, why change what's working? When you think about it, a lot of singers do the same type of stuff, at least with the sound--I was just listening to Coldplay and I think much of their music has a similar sound to it. Not a bad thing and I love Coldplay too! Most of the audience at the concert I went to was middle aged women like me, but I was surprised to see a lot of college age kids (male & female) and they were highly entertained and not in a bad way!

I've only been to one of his concerts, a few weeks ago, but if the jokes and banter are the same, that would be kind of disappointing. I'm looking forward to his next visit to Michigan though.

Well, Uncle Pat, since my exact quote did say I was going to Chris's concerts for the *eye candy alone* I guess I have to defend myself here. He IS one fine looking man!! I'd say most of the people on this board share that sentiment with me. And he knows it too or he wouldn't dress himself up in those flashy suits

His great looks are one of the reasons I go to so many of his concerts and try to sit up close, but I recognize the talent up there too. Chris's vocal range is fabulous and Hershel's guitar playing is out of this world. I spend a lot of time at a concert watching him play. His playing adds so much emotion to the melodies.

There is a part of me that likes the predictability of the act, but new material, even covers, just give me more to enjoy.

But hear the words of a woman who sat across the table from me in the Hampton Beach Casino last week, " He's so sexy, he's so sexy..."

No need to defend yourself at all, MOTM. And I do think you're right (that he knows many of the fans find him pleasing to the eye.) Nothing wrong with that. If you got it, don't let it go to waste, I always say. Life is just too short, you know...

I do also agree that the man possesses a certain charisma that would transcend certain physical appearances (i.e., were he not so *pleasing to the eye*, the fans would still be attracted to him for other, shall we say, more spiritual reasons).

But at the same token, I find it sweet that the fans admit that Isaak is an attractive performer to them.

I reckon C-Mon has so much going on for him in the performance department, I sometimes have hopes to hear/see things which I know he'd be great (read *bar none*) at...but he's got way too many projects going on already, and in truth, he can only stay awake so many days in a row...

Yet I still keep fingers crossed, cuz you just never know. ..

I keep thinking about those coupla pics from the '06 article of the cardfile cabinets with all these cools ideas he talks aboout, and can't help but wonder why things aren't being facilitated for the man to let these ideas come to fruition more frequently than every 4-6 years. But I digress...

Hey to Beth, as I hear you callin'...I think you're right 'bout makin' nice with my local librarian, and Odelay to RR as it's been a *long time*.

Cool that we're gonna get some new music real soon (and a *LIVE* one too?!?!)...dang, thanks Isaak!! Good deal.

XXXO!!

UP