Fresno Famous

This is a two-part review. You'll see why as you read on.

Part One

Chris Isaak is a hillbilly showman, and I mean that in the best possible way. Elvis was a bit of a hillbilly showman, too, and probably Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison in his own way. Jerry Lee Lewis was one for sure.

Isaak plays in that vein, with swinging hips and a faux southern twang that somehow perfectly fits his San Francisco-by-way-of-Stockton persona, a latter day rockabilly God, dressed in a baby blue suit and whooping it up, and having one hell of a time doing it.

Here he ran through the hits (Wicked Game, Somebody's Crying) along with more than a few cover tunes, including a masterfull rendition (in my opinion) of I Want You to Want Me, a classic of a rock song as there ever was. Also of note was his version of the Orbison classic Only the Lonely.

He also brought out a few surprise guests, including his brother Nick Isaak, who dressed like a CPA, but had a certain rockabilly bop about him, and Fresno's own Ron Thompson, who joined the band to play some massive guitar on several extended blues jams. Isaak calls the guy a living legend and he does cook on the ol' geet-ar, there is no doubt.

Part two

And all of this would have made for one hell of a show, an A + for the Fresno Fair, had it not been for a pair of baby-boomer couples sitting behind me. Apparently had never been to any kind of rock concert before, even though they mentioned on multiple occasions how they had seen Tom Jones.

To them I say: I am sorry that my enthusiasm for the show (standing, dancing) was hindering the site lines from your spot there in the third row. Then again, you were in the THIRD F'N ROW. Why you wouldn't want to be up and clapping is beyond me. That said, I would have happily sat down had you simply asked, instead of poking me in the back and screaming over the music that you didn't want to watch my back all night. I forgot that you were the only ones in the place who paid good money for your seats. My bad.

And being an ass is one thing. But trying to steal my bag from under my seat, then giving me a sly shrug and smile when I ask about it, even though I can see it sticking out from under your f'in feet? That's a whole other level of douchery. I'm not sure what happened in your life to make you think that was an OK thing to do, but that is totally not cool Mr. Baby Boomer. Not cool.

Next time you're thinking about going out to a concert (like next time Neil Diamond comes around let's say), do everyone a favor and stay home.