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Chris Isaak conjures up carols
By John Benson
Chris Isaak has been in the “Wicked Game” of the music industry for more than a quarter of a century, but he’s still a kid at heart.
Currently working on the follow-up to his 2011 effort, “Beyond the Sun,” the rockabilly, roots and rock singer is going on the road this holiday season with his Christmas show that conjures up all of the Santa magic and music from his youth. The tour comes through Northeast Ohio for a Tuesday show at the Kent Stage.
The 58-year-old performer will invariably play material from his 2004 seasonal release, “Christmas,” as well as fan favorites (“Wicked Game” and “Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing”). The Vindicator talked to Isaak via email about whether he’s been naughty or nice.
Q. A decade has passed since you released “Christmas.” What are your memories of making the record?
A. I was really excited to make it. I know some artists knock out a Christmas record in a week, but I really went at it like I was making any other album. I listened to every Christmas song I could find, picked the gems, and then I wrote a bunch of my own to mix in. I wanted it to sound like an older Christmas album, something you could put on and leave on during the holiday meal — pretty songs, background singing, and enough swing to it so that when the in-laws started fighting over the last turkey leg, you could turn it up and drown them out. We play a bunch of the songs in our holiday show; we sort of mix a regular rock ’n’ roll show with the Christmas show, and I think it works. I love singing “Wicked Game” or “Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing” and then rolling into “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” or “Blue Christmas.”
Q. What kind of stage props do you have for the holiday show?
A. I have a mechanical Santa that we put up on stage. If you are a tyke, it’s a magical thing to behold. For adults, it’s sort of creepy. I never get real close to him. I know he’s mechanical, but sometimes I look over at him and I swear I can see him breathing out and his beard moving almost imperceptibly with each breath.
Q. It’s been a few years since “Beyond the Sun.” Are you working on any new music?
A. I have a bunch of songs written and worked up for the next album. I should be going into the studio after this tour. I am making a rock ’n’ roll record with lots of roots influences, pretty melodies and trying to keep it a little funky. I like rough edges. I plan on doing it live and trying not to fix much.
Q. This year marks the 25th anniversary of “Heart Shaped World.” How does that album hold up?
A. So far, so good. We play lots of songs off that album still. I think I was always a little, or a lot, outside the mainstream of what radio sound was. At the time, other people were drowning everything in synth or techno sounds. I was still influenced by early, stripped-down rock. In the long run, I think those stripped-down simple-sounding records hold up pretty good. I think that’s why people still love Johnny Cash records. They are so simple they don’t get in the way of the songs.
Q. Finally, regarding your upcoming holiday show, will there be any surprises such as a visit by a live Santa or perhaps some elves?
A. No elves. Yes, a Santa. Don’t sit on the bass player’s lap. He is not Santa and not affiliated in any way with the North Pole despite whatever he tells you. We are going to dress up like we raided Liberace’s closet. I have one suit covered in mirrors that weighs 32 pounds. We have a blow-up pin-up doll 20 feet tall that appears when we kick into “Oh, Pretty Woman.” And if the fire marshals don’t stop us, we have a piano that bursts into flames. And best of all, we have a band that loves to play and has a ball every night.