The crazy crooner, Mr. Chris Isaak, cruised his way into the hearts of many at the Arena in Houston backed by his superb five man band which consisted of sweatin’ bass madman Rowland Salley, drummer Kenney Dale Johnson, bad to the bone guitarist Hershel Yatovitz, keys guru Scott Plunkett and percussionist Rafael Padilla.

This cat comes from all angles with his poke fun at himself humor to making down right belly laugh inducing statements about life. But most of all this performer embodies the spirit of the legends like Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and of course Elvis Presley.

His latest album, 2011’s ‘Beyond the Sun, was recorded at the iconic Sun Studio in Memphis. It is chocked full of goodies like the smokin’ version of ‘Ring of Fire’ he did this night plus ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ , ‘Great Balls of Fire’with smoke literally pouring out of the “Dixie Fried” Plunkett’s piano and a bold and beautiful ‘It’s Now or Never’!

Can’t say enough about the pure showmanship of CI and his crackerjack bandmates. Hershel was described as definitely being on ‘steroids’ by Isaak and his all the round the Arena into the crowd blitz rocked.

The one liners by Isaak like describing the moving stage as something that was going to make him puke to egging on everybody to take his pic because “I’ll never look any younger than right now” ruled.

His vocals were tried and true as ever and he delivered some massive chestnuts like a hazy hot ‘Blue Hotel’, accordian-filled ‘Pretty Girls Don’t Cry’, moody as hell ‘Somebody’s Crying’ and a stunning ‘Wicked Game’. Isaak’s delivery is so uncluttered yet definitely honed to perfection with the band dancin’ in unison out of nowhere throughout the gig.

The stage presence of Isaak & company slithered off the stage into your skin more and more as the show rolled on. ‘San Francisco Nights’ was down right spellbounding and one of our faves, the naughty as all get out ‘Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing’, were worth the price of admission alone. Chris Isaak has a way about treating his concerts as not only a vehicle to display his talents musically, but also as a way to interact with his ‘freinds’ in the audience.

For one wonderful evening we were transported back to a bygone but certainly not forgotten era of badass legendary music by a funny and fun dude. Long live the self proclaimed “Sequin King” of music, which was a fitting end to the show wearing an all sequin suit and rippin’ thru Orbison’s ‘Pretty Woman’!

A message I took away from this night was never take your self too seriously and remember to laugh at your self and you’ll feel better…I’m out and about lookin’ for you!