'Rebel' Rod's Reviews - Brian Setzer goes instrumental with "Setzer goes Instru-Mental" on Surfdog Records

By 'Rebel' Rod Ames

Two names I suppose I never expected to hear in the same sentence would be the name, Brian Setzer and Bill Monroe or Brian Setzer and Earl Scruggs. However, if there were one artist on the planet whom could make “bluegrass” cool, it would be Brian Setzer.

He proves that on his first all instrumental recording appropriately titled “Setzer goes Instru-MENTAL!” and the only reason for the “bluegrass” reference is because he breaks out his banjo for Earl Scruggs’ “Earl’s Breakdown” and does one heck of a job on Bill Monroe’s “Blue Moon of Kentucky”. Bluegrass tunes have never sounded so hip, and probably never will again, unless, of course Mr. Setzer gets a hold of anymore bluegrass classics.

Now before you all start throwing sticks and stones at me for insinuating the bluegrass genre is not cool. Let me just say this. I think this genre is one of the coolest and earthiest of all musical styles, but Mr. Setzer is going to introduce the genre to many who have never given bluegrass a fair chance, and possibly never even heard it before. He is merely bridging a gap that needed bridging.

I personally believe that Mr. Setzer could play a stick if you put a string on it, and he would put together a hip and cool sound with it as well. I’m obviously not the only one on this planet who believes that, evidenced by his 43-year long career. 

For this venture, Mr. Setzer assembled a trio consisting of himself on guitar and the fore mentioned banjo, Johnny Hatton on the upright bass, and Noah Levy on the drums. They are very near flawless all the way through this remarkable collection of eleven songs. 

It all starts with Bill Monroe’s “Blue Moon of Kentucky”, followed by Ray Noble’s “Cherokee”. Gene Vincent’s “Be-Bop-A-Lula”, Earl Scruggs’ “Earl’s Breakdown”, then three original tunes written by Mr. Setzer - “Far Noir East”, “Intermission”, and “Go-Go-Godzilla”. The album is rounded out with Gene Austin’s and Nathaniel Shilkret’s “Lonesome Road”, then 3 more originals-“Hillbilly Jazz Meltdown”, “Hot Love”, and “Pickpocket”.

Setzer and his longtime collaborator Dave Darling ingeniously and minimally produced the CD.

I love good guitar driven instrumental compilations. I’ve been a huge fan of the genre almost as soon as I was able to get a radio up to my ear back in the late 50’s and early 60’s. I’ll take a Dick Dale or a Link Wray record over almost anything else you can line up in front of me. “Setzer goes Instru-MENTAL!” just jumped to the top of that prestigious heap of rockin’ guitar driven gold!

This is one that ‘Rebel’ Rod says to check it out or else! 

It released April 19 on Surfdog Records.