When Roy Orbison passed away in 1988, naysayers said the modern troubador was dead. A year later, Chris Isaak and his supernatural falsetto made a splash with “Wicked Game,” from his third album Heart Shaped World. Rockabilly saw two more albums — 1993’s San Francisco Days and 1995’s Forever Blue — cement Isaak’s reputation as a singer mentioned in the same breath as Orbison and as Duane Eddy for his guitar work.
Isaak and his band came to Cleveland on Black Friday for a “semi” Christmas show on a stop he labeled the “Almost Christmas” tour. Playing a handful of holiday tunes in a setlist meshed with a few of his hits, the 68-year old singer offered 23 tunes in a crisp 90 gig. Donning a sparkly, bright blue suit, he joked that there weren’t too many places a fella could be seen in public wearing an ensemble quite like that.
Playing “Wicked Game” as an early set offering, Isaak’s falsetto is still as tight as it was during the Clinton administration. Leaving the stage after the third song, he strolled playfully through the venue, stopping to pose for selfies with audience, all while giving his own spin on “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
Eschewing more recognized holiday tunes for more offbeat songs, “Holiday Blues” and “Dogs Love Christmas Too” were mid-set favorites. He wrapped up the night with “San Francisco Days” and “Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing” as part of an extended encore.
