Chris Isaak and his band once again brought their entertaining retro-brand of rock ‘n’ roll to Meijer Gardens on Thursday, with Grand Rapids singer-songwriter Kelsey Rottiers opening the show. (Review, photos)
Turning on the Charm: Chris Isaak at Meijer Gardens. (Photos/Anna Sink)
“Thank you for showing up. I appreciate you people supporting live music,” guitarist and singer Chris Isaak remarked at the beginning of his set Thursday at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. “If you don’t make an effort to support live music, then I’m just wandering around in the cactus grove with this suit on with nothing to do.”
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And so began the charming rock/surf/rockabilly crooner’s set. Though he channeled Elvis Presley’s pelvic dance moves, Jerry Lee Lewis’ energetic brand of rock and Johnny Cash’s storybook lyrics, fans saw not a “Man in Black” onstage, but a “Man in Pink.”
“I would do a regular rock show, but I wanted to do a sequined extravaganza,” Isaak crowed. “May I?”
Naturally, the crowd cheered in the affirmative.
Kelsey Rottiers opened Thursday night’s show. (Photo/Anna Sink)
After enjoying a half-hour set by enchanting acoustic opener Kelsey Rottiers of Grand Rapids, Chris Isaak made sure his fans weren’t disappointed, starting with that bright pink, bedazzling suit.
For the next hour-and-a-half, the crowd enjoyed Isaak originals such as “Don’t’ Make Me Cry,” “Two Hearts,” “Speak of the Devil,” “All I Want Is Your Love,” “San Francisco Days” and of course, “Wicked Games,” showing off his trademark falsetto.
Isaak hammed it up for the crowd, walking up the middle aisle of Meijer Gardens and into the audience as is his habit during “Say You Love Me Too,” making the hearts of ladies in the audience flutter. One lucky fan even received a red electric guitar from Isaak. Ever the charmer, he invited several lucky young ladies, including one ecstatic little girl, up on stage to dance with him during “Baby Did A Bad, Bad Thing.”
The ladykiller and singer also paid his respects to the artists who influenced him with a series of covers, including “Ring of Fire,” “Pretty Woman,” “I Go Crazy” and “Can’t Help Falling In Love With You.”
The set closed with a theatrical rendition of Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls Of Fire,” with smoke even pouring out of the piano at one point, followed by an encore that included Isaak’s “Western Stars” and “Blue Motel” — an appropriate finish for his “sequined extravaganza.”
— Review by Mary Mattingly for Local Spins
CHRIS ISAAK AT MEIJER GARDENS: THE LOCAL SPINS PHOTO GALLERY BY ANNA SINK (JULY 25, 2013)
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2013, Spins on Music
