Isaak's retro-rock good time tickles sold-out audience

 

July 27, 2004

BY JIM DeROGATIS Pop Music Critic

As Chris Isaak pulled his '64 Chevy Nova up to the House of Blues for a sold-out show on Sunday -- the first of a three-night stand in what's becoming an annual event -- the long-running retro-rock heartthrob had no new product to sell.

The San Francisco singer and songwriter hasn't released a new album since "Always Got Tonight" in 2002. His self-titled cable "surreality show" has ended after three dry and witty seasons. And while there's a new disc in the can, it's a holiday record, and despite a short but cool snippet of "Blue Christmas," it was hard to muster much enthusiasm for that in July.

This, then, was simply Isaak returning to what he does best: melting hearts in live performance with his time-capsule brand of twangy, reverb-drenched late '50s/early '60s rock 'n' roll, cracking wise and gleefully goofing with his accomplished band, much to the delight of his reverent fans--many of them, it must be noted, adoring women displaying the sort of fixated gazes generally not seen outside of the Admiral Theatre.

CONCERT REVIEW

CHRIS ISAAK, SOPHIE B. HAWKINS

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

When: 9 tonight

Where: House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn

Tickets: $55
Call: (312) 923-2000

 

Resplendent in a hot pink suit adorned with yellow flames, Isaak led his five backing musicians through a career-spanning set that included all of the predictable gems -- "Wicked Game" may have been ruined by overexposure on VH1, but it's hard to get enough of "Heart Shaped World," "Speak of the Devil" or "Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing" -- as well as treats like a heartfelt cover of Roy Orbison's "Only the Lonely."

Isaak traded places with his powerful but sensitive drummer Kenny Dale Johnson to bash through a spirited version of "California Sun," brought out the stools for an acoustic mini-set a la "The Baja Sessions" (a welcome gift, though the usually good-humored star seemed peeved when some of his alleged fans in the VIP boxes chattered through it) and joked and flirted with that trademark charm, deadpan humor and million-watt smirk.

"How many of you are alone and desperate and drinking?" he asked. "You're my favorite kind of fan; the rest of you don't even bother talking to me after the show!"

Judging by the enthusiastic response from the female portion of the crowd, statements about Isaak's failings as a boyfriend -- such as those by comedian Margaret Cho, one of several celebrated exes -- haven't done much to dissuade his arduous suitors. It wasn't long after that when the first piece of underwear landed onstage.

Opening for Isaak was the New York singer-songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins, who released her fourth album, "Wilderness," last spring.

Though she has scored impressive hits with "Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover" and "As I Lay Me Down" -- both of which featured in a short but sweet seven-song set -- Hawkins remains underappreciated for the sophistication of her blues-tinged songwriting, the robust soulfulness of her vocals and the sheer exuberance of her performances.

Backed by a keyboardist and a drummer, the set included a rollicking stint with Hawkins on djembe -- she started her career as a percussionist for Bryan Ferry -- and built to a climax with her stripping to her tank-top and using her blue-jean shirt as a veil during a sexy mock-striptease.

Some tickets remain for Isaak's final show tonight at the House of Blues. Hawkins returns to the Chicago area with the Coors at 8 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Ravinia Festival, 400 Iris Lane in Highland Park, for $40 pavilion and $15 lawn. Call (847) 266-5100.

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