I arrive at the venue as special guest Niall McCabe takes to the stage and shares a thirty-minute set of songs and stories that are well received by this Black Country crowd. Niall hails from Clare Island also known as Inishcleer in County Mayo, Ireland, a scenic spot in a picturesque country.
Niall released an album `Rituals` in February and shares `The Ritual` a track from it which is a delightfully melodic listen. The singer`s best friend had a baby last night while the singer was on stage and plays `Midas Touch` a song about growing up as a tribute to him and his family. Niall had a trip to Dublin planned to see Sting and on the way there he was offered the opportunity to support Chris Isaak so Mr Sumner had to wait. Niall has a self-depreciating sense of humour and when he plays what I think is `Coonmoor` a track about drowning a love interest he says that he`s gone from the depressing to the disturbing. `Stone Mason` a track about alcohol abuse within the Irish diaspora and a country flavoured song about unrequited love with `Your Letter` close out this thoughtfully well-paced set. At times Niall`s vocal delivery reminded me of the wonderful Paul Brady and this Connacht folk tinged singer songwriter is definitely an artist to watch out for.
The theme tune `The Man With The Golden Arm` rings out as Chris and his band arrive on stage and launch into `American Boy` and the heartbreaking `Somebody’s Crying` and it`s on this early number that I realise what a rich and varied vocal the singer still retains. Chris in his sky-blue sequin-dusted suit heads in to the audience as he shares `Waiting` and `Don’t Leave Me on My Own` while fist bumping audience members and having selfies taken.
The haunting `Wicked Game` sends shivers down the spine as it did over thirty years ago before the singer encourages us to stand for the `rock n roll` part of the show which includes `Go Walking Down There`, `Speak of the Devil` and a cover of Roy Orbison`s `Oh, Pretty Woman` an artist who Chris opened for a number of times when he was starting out.
The singer`s bass player Rowland Salley sings `Killing the Blues` which he wrote and has been covered by John Prine and Alison Krauss and Robert Plant before Mr Isaak offers up `Dancin“,
another Roy Orbison cover `Only the Lonely` Elvis`s `Can’t Help Falling in Love` and his own `Blue Hotel`. The show closes out with the mediative `San Francisco Days`, blistering `Notice the Ring` and `Big Wide Wonderful World`
Chris now attired in a silver sequin-dusted suit and his superb band with Kenney Dale Johnson on drums, Roly Salley on bass guitar, Hershel Yatovitz on guitar and Scott Plunkett on keys return for an encore which included a mix match of `Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing / Bye, Bye Baby and the James Bond Theme` before closing this ninety-minute show with the thoughtful `The Way Things Really Are`. `Last Night` a track by The Mar‐Keys blasts through the pa as the house lights come on and we all head home.
This evening was a really uplifting night of entertainment where the singer allows his dry sense of humour to shine through as much as his wonderfully sung songs. The band are seasoned professionals and seem at ease with their frontman and ringmaster. I read somewhere that somebody said when asked about a Chris Isaak show and replied that it was “just damn good fun” and I have to say that pretty well sums it up.
