Chris Isaak brings cool to Indy for WTTS show; Max Weinberg brings his big band

Chris Isaak

Couple concert notes for fans of the rock and roll from cool guys in nice suits:
WTTS announced on Monday that they will bring Chris Isaak to Indy with special guest Steven Page (ex-Barenaked Ladies) for a show on Friday, December 10. It’s their 2010 Rock To Read Christmas Concert at the Murat Theatre at Old National Centre.
Isaak is outstanding live, bringing the Roy Orbison croon and Elvis shake together with smoldering good looks and a crack band. Nothing more needed, I say. And proceeds go to fund more reading via the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library.
Tickets go on sale October 15 at 10am, priced at $65, $42.50 and $24.75
In a little more than a week, the Max Weinberg Big Band play at the Jazz Kitchen, with a show on October 20. The gig, which features Weinberg fronting (backing?) an outgrowth of the music he made with as Conan O’Brien’s bandleader across two shows. It’s big band swing, heavy on Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Buddy Rich influences. They also include a Boss Time segment, featuring music from Weinberg’s “other gig” – his 36 years with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
Weinberg recently revealed that he had life-saving open heart surgery just two weeks after the end of the ill-fated O’Brien’s version of the Tonight Show.
“On Feb. 8, I (had) 12 hours of massively invasive open heart surgery,” the 59-year-old told Fancast.com in an interview. “Two years ago, it became life-threatening and I had to do something about it sooner or later.”
The band plays twice when they stop here, with shows at 7 & 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $30.