SETZER SUPPORT BANDS THROUGH THE YEARS

Long Tall Texans, legendary British rockabilly group supporting Stray Cats October 1992 Town & Country Club, Kentish Town, London.

I can't pick just one, but I'll pick my faves from all the Setzer openers I've enjoyed the most:

Vegas, 8-11-2001, Mandalay Bay~Hot Rod Lincoln. I love Buzz Campbell. He cracks me up. And HRL was a fun band to see. The next night, I saw Mike Eldred open at The Belly Up and I've seen him open for Brian since then. It's always a treat when you've seen a band live and get to see them again knowing you're going to enjoy them.

May 2004 (this may be cheating) at Rusty's Surf Ranch, Gary Hoey and The Blasters "opened" for Brian, Slim Jim and Mark Winchester at a charity show. Holy crap, Gary Hoey was on fire with that guitar! I love his version of Linus And Lucy. The Blasters were also great and I'd seen them play The Hootenanny in 2003 before Stray Cats ended the day, so I was looking forward to seeing them again when they played at Rusty's. One last mention for 2004 is Royal Crown Revue in December at Gibson Amphitheatre. Fantastic! After seeing them, I wanted to buy all of their cds!

In 2005, I enjoyed The Slaptones, especially hearing them sing Don't Cry Daddy. I got teary-eyed hearing them sing that one. I remember reading a lot of fans' comments regarding how much they liked the girls (and dad!).

And of course, I have to mention Gibson Amphitheatre~December, 2007~Dibbs Preston & The Detonators with Danny B. Harvey playing guitar for them. Oooh, love the song Under Your Spell Again which was a highlight, but I enjoyed their entire set.

One last thing-I can't leave out when I saw Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros open for the BSO at The Greek Theatre, August 4, 2001. I am grateful for the chance to have seen Joe. He brought his kids on stage to help out with one of the songs and in prompting them to come out on stage, he said something like "c'mon, get the f@%k out here!" I had to laugh at that. I've also read a couple of great stories about Brian and Joe and Brian did his best Strummer accent when talking about Joe on stage in December at Gibson. I can't believe it's going on six years since we lost him.

Well-said, o fellow front rower.

I have yet to see Brian performing with the Orchestra, Trio or Nashvillains but I did catch the Stray Cats in Manchester in 2004!

They were supported by the Cathouse Creepers and they are an amazing band to see!

The Cathouse Creepers have also supported Slim Jim and Lee Rocker on their own seperate tours and they are always on top form!

Cheers PP

I thought "Alien Fashion Show" was pretty unique & cool.....anybody second this motion?

Gib

INDIGO BLUE AT BOGARTS IN CINCY ? RIOT IN THE STREETS, COPS ON HORSES,WAS IT REAL OR AN UNRELEASED SETZER VIDEO?

Back in 1989 the Cats played in "Bielefeld"/Germany. The location was called "PC69". I think the support band was a german Rockabilly-band called "Cruisers" . (correct me if I´m wrong...)

Greetz,Tommi

Over the years Stray Cats had a lot of good support band for their German tours.

I remember that 1989 Stray Cats have been supported by Berlin Cowpunk/Countrybilly band called "The Waltons". They were not bad at all but back then too hard style of music for me.

On the '89 Fall Tour of the Stray Cats a band called "Ther Cruisers" supported them. They were cool but somehow a copy of Stray Cats.

1992 the German support band for the "Choo Choo Hot Fish-Tour" were "Camie & the Knickers" (if I remeber right) and they were soooo bad. My God, it was terrible. The crowd wanted them to leave the stage after 2 or 3 songs so that the venue staff made a break and put Stray Cats' "Runaway Boys" on the turn table to calm the people down.

"Hot Boogie Chillun" that supported Stray Cats 2004 in Berlin were the best. They were awsome! There were a few more - especially on the 2004 tour - but I can't remember them. For me it's always the same...I don't want to see any support band I just want to see the Kings of Rockabilly: STRAY CATS!

He-Ho-Let's Go

BB

P.S: Not to forget are these pretty Swedish girls that supported Brian during his "Riot-Tour 2005, I guess it were the "Slaptones"...they looked cute.

I remembered another opening act. It was on New Years Eve 2005 at the House Of Blues in Anaheim California. It was Brian and the Nashvillans and the opeing act was The Mike Eldred Trio. The suprise for me was the bass player for Mike was Johnny Ray Bartel (John Bartel), I went to part of grade school and high school with John. It was a nice suprise to see John 20 some odd years later after high school.
Also, about half way through the show, Brian came over to were I was and reached over the guy in front of me and handed me his guitar pick. Way cool! Thanks again for that Brian.

Later and Have A Gretsch Day !

Ross

TommyM wrote:

Mikey Sheffield,
EZIO opened for he BSO at the Forum (ex- Town & Country) in Kentish Town London in 1995. I thought they were amazing. You didn't dig 'em eh?

Hey mate, the Outter Ring Road is open again, but look for slow traffic over Lady's Bridge.

Cheers,
Alex Turner

Is that right? My Alzheimers is really kicking in i guess! I could have sworn two guys called Ezio opened a gig for the Cats and they were'nt good. Anyhoo, really sorry for being negative. I just read the thread and I'm the only one to come up with a negative comment, so sorry everyone. Al the other support acts were kickin'. it's me that's shit....

Love

John Doe x

Hey Mikey, you ever get that tattoo?

Eskimo-a-go-go,
How's your Cockell-original holding up?
Love,
Tommy

EskimoPie wrote:

Hey Mikey, you ever get that tattoo?

Hi baby!!!

How the devil are you. It's funny what an Ocean can do to 2 people isn't it????

All I have is fond memories of a great time in the U.S. and some great friends along the way.

I never did get Dennis to do a tattoo. If i'm honest, I couldn't think of anything original enough. I guess I'm still waiting for Tommy to design it for me huh?

Let me know what you've been doing, other than snowball fights. My e-mail is backbeatgroup@aol.com, and always will be.

Love

Mikey xx

Support Bands .. a mixed bag for me.

March 81 - Birmingham Odeon - The barracudas .. as a young tennegare us rockabillies and the Mods would not of mixed too well! They were ok though!

Dec 81 - Birmingham Odeon - Screamin Lord Sutch - scared the beejesus out of me as he came at me ( in the front row) with his imitation hammer .. definately memorable!

March & June 89 - Birmingham / London The midnighters - pretty good rockabilly trio / Guana Batz - very enjoyable band . Pip is a true showman! they did a few cats / cochran numbers as a recall.

June 90 - The Phantom Chords - London - enjoyed their set. the Damned's former lead singer ( Dave Vanian) starting off the set with Red Hot! It was a mix of punk and rockabilly.

October 92 - Long Tall Texans - Manchester - pretty good psychobilly band - lead singer had a permanent smile on his face!

May 95 - Ezio - London - Bloody awful! I have elcletic tastes but that duo were poor!

March 99 - A swing band London - can't remember the name but very pretty cool and sharp dressers to boot!


Oct 01 - A Dublin based rockabilly trio that were actually pretty good ( I am not biased! )

Summer 04 - Manchester - Rockabilly band - Cathouse creepers - inc a great Johnny Horton cover .. impressive

Summer 05 - London - A 4 piece band ( can't remember the name Hillibilly something? .. the had a pretty female lead singer .. the others were forgetable .. obvioulsy!)

August 05 - Glasgow - no support Band

Nov 07 - Philadelphia - Tommy Conwell - a smoth jazzy sound .. different but cool!

Later

Michael wrote:

June 90 - The Phantom Chords - London - enjoyed their set. the Damned's former lead singer ( Dave Vanian) starting off the set with Red Hot! It was a mix of punk and rockabilly.

Hey Michael!
I'd forgotten that the Chords opened for the Cats! Brendan Moon was playing guitar for them at the time. What a band!

Never knew that Lord Sutch was on a bill! THAT must have been looney.

One great band that I forgot to mention was The Rumblejetts. They supported last July's Kansas City show. Great band, great people!

Hope all is well Michael. Always great seeing you around!

-Tommy

Vinny wrote:

I personally liked Tommy Conwell at this years christmas tour. It wasn't quite the same as having a full rockin band, but the jazzy swing vibe was perfect for the show. Also their version of the classic Louie Prima "Buona Sera" was amazing.

Love, love, love Tommy! But then again, I get to see him at the Comet, so I guess I get jaded and forget when I see him elsewhere.

Brian from Ohio here,once br459 opened for the BSO in cleveland , Then a group called the cowslingers opened for 68 comeback also in cleveland.keep rockin..brian Hi T

I thought I had got to Glascow 2005 too late for the Nashvillains start! So there wasn't actually a support band there? Still had a great night though.

Hey - great to have the Forum back! Used to post on the oiginal forum so this is my first post for years.

A great support band was Indigo Swing who supported the BSO at LOndon Shepherd's Bush Empire. I was so impressed wih their sound I bought all of their cd's and also the solo stuff of the singer Johnny Boyd - check it out!


Dan

I think Hillbilly Casino is the only band ive seen worthy of playing in the same show as Brian Setzer. Great rockabilly sound.

Opening band 2005 was Slaptones from Sweden. Very good band. Now the three sisters have left the nest and are on they own as a band called Baskery. Go and Google them!

Typy

For the future "farewell tour", The Roadkings will be perfect for open.

TommyM wrote:

Did any of you English duffers see the "Mod" band, The Barracudas open for the Cats on the 1981 U.K. Tour? Never heard them, but they had a really cool logo.

Eaton rifles are go,
Tommy

They were awful when I saw them back The Stray Cats in Reading........we booed them and canned them off the stage !!!!!

Best support ever for me was on the 89 European Tour..........Guana Batz !!!!! Awesome band.

Hey Tommy and all.

The Phantom Chords were cool .. I could of swore I saw Dave Vanain pulling up in a harley davidson motorcycle outside the old Town and Country Club in Kentish Town in 1990 with Brian on the back a few hours before the show. The Chords recently one CD. I think One of the band imembers is now working as chef down in the cornwall direction of SW England.

Screaming Lord Sutch .. you said it my friend .. looney! a showman never the less.

Great to see the Cats are bringing it back this summer .. imagine having a stellar support bill of 3 / 4 bands and turning it into a all dayer event.. what a way to bow out!

Later

Gretschen wrote:

Opening band 2005 was Slaptones from Sweden. Very good band. Now the three sisters have left the nest and are on they own as a band called Baskery. Go and Google them!

Typy

Thanks for the info, Gretschen!

Here's the myspace page for anyone interested:

http://www.myspace.com/baskery

and for the non myspacers, their website:

http://www.baskery.com/