Chris Isaak

July 20, 2018
Celebrity Theater
Phoenix, Arizona

Chris Isaak - Phoenix, Arizona. Photo by Toby Karlquist - torenka.com
Chris Isaak – Phoenix, Arizona. Photo by Toby Karlquist – torenka.com

This was our 3rd time enjoying a Chris Isaak concert and there is a very good reason for that: A Chris Isaak concert is one of the more enjoyable concerts you will see!

This show was once again at the famed Celebrity Theater in Phoenix, Arizona on the infamous revolving stage. And once again the exuberant crowd was not left disappointed. Chris is a true gentleman, a fantastic musician and a damn funny fellow! A Chris Isaak concert is a mix of great music, stories and non-stop ribbing of the musicians.

Hershel Yatovitz.  Photo by Renae Karlquist - torenka.com
Hershel Yatovitz. Photo by Renae Karlquist – torenka.com

Chris can captivate the crowd with his stories and banter as easily as with his iconic catalog of songs. The evening was full of classics like “Somebody’s Crying”; We’ve Got Tomorrow”; “Blue Hotel” and “Blue Spanish Sky”. Tossed into the mix were great covers of “Pretty Woman” and “Ring of Fire”. And yes, the crowd favorites “Wicked Game” and “Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing” were included as well.

Roland Salley, Chris Isaak, Rafael Padilla.  Photo by Renae Karlquist - torenka.com
Roland Salley, Chris Isaak, Rafael Padilla. Photo by Renae Karlquist – torenka.com

Chris is backed by The Silvertones – a group of extremely talented musicians. Drummer Kenney Dale Johnson, bassist Rowland Salley, guitarist Hershel Yatovitz, keyboardist Scott Plunkett and percussionist Rafael Padilla have put up with Chris’s antics for over 30 years. The music they produce is indicative of the years they have been together.

Opening the show was David Luning playing guitar and harmonica with his own unique blend of genres including Americana, Folk, Country, and Rock. Ben Dubin joined David on upright bass and vocals. Together they grabbed the audience quickly and set the mood nicely for the evening. I would not be surprised to hear more from David Luning – he has the kind of talent to make a name for himself and headline shows.

Chris Isaak.  Photo by Renae Karlquist - torenka.com
Chris Isaak. Photo by Renae Karlquist – torenka.com

It was another great evening and and you are always left with the impression that Chris and the entire band genuinely love what they do and appreciate their fans. I highly recommend keep an eye out on Chris’s tour schedule as he seems to make Phoenix an annual summer event. It is well worth the ticket price for a very entertaining evening!

As per usual, you can see 54 additional photos from the show HERE!

Author: Toby

Toby is a professional photographer and fan of all things music. He and his bride Renae own Torenka Photography in Mesa, Arizona. (www.torenka.com) When not photographing and writing about concerts and bands Toby and Renae provide custom Fine Art photography services to musicians and automobile owners. They also travel the world photographing landscapes; are constantly searching for the “perfect” Bloody Mary; dislike robo callers; are ruled by two cats; don’t miss the snow and are just plain ‘ol nice folks. Quote from Toby: "As a writer, I'm a pretty good photographer!"

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