My familiarity with Chris Isaak's music and performance style was rather nonexistent before last nights concert at the Paul Masson winery in Saratoga. I had heard a few of his songs, most notable "Wicked Games" and "Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing", but that's about it. Oh, another thing: He seemed to be more popular among women than men. He supposedly had some kind of sexy star quality. Whatever.
It's about 8:30pm, the sun is gone and the vineyard is covered in darkness. Chris Isaak walks on stage in a pair of black boots, a pink 50's suit and a steel guitar. His band - mostly middle-aged musicians - are all dressed in black. Smoke is pouring out from under the stage and the winery turns into a colorful, loud rock'n'roll celebration. And there it is. Chris Isaak's voice which sounds like a crying heart on it's highway into the desert. A man alone that needs protection and love. A wounded heart that is dying.
Beyond the lyrical themes of lost love and female deceit lies a brilliant blues and rock legacy. The mixture is intriging and becomes alive with his lonely voice. His performance is captivating as well as his skills as an entertainer. The storytelling between the songs is hilarious and rather provoking. The audience laughs and shrugs it off but the naked truth is already public.
It was a superb evening and I left the concert both entertained and thought provoked as well as a little tipsy from all the wine.
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