Why I'm not buying the new album

Greetings all,

I realise this message will meet with no approval whatsoever from the Setzer fanbase, but it's something I've got to get off my chest. So here goes: why I'm not buying the new album.

I've been a huge BSO fan for nearly ten years now. Since discovering that incredible big-band sound, I've become more and more hooked every year, spending all I can afford on their music, DVDs, guitar tab books, rarities and other merchandise. But now I'm forced to come to only one conclusion.... that Brian doesn't care about me, or any of my friends who are also into the BSO. Because we live in the UK, and as far as all my research would suggest, the BSO haven't played here in that entire decade since we became fans.

So this may sound weird. But not a day goes by when I don't check the official website for some sort of hint that the BSO might give a monkey's about their European fans. And without fail, we don't get a tour. Every year. So why do I want to get so excited about the new record when it's just another 13 songs I'll never get to hear live?

I know what you're going to say, my friends. Why don't I travel to the US if I'm that bothered? Well, the simple answer is, my job (which I won't go into here) won't let me make casual trips like that. I'm not asking for the world here. I live in London, for Chrissake. One of the first cities on the tour schedule for any band who decide to come to Europe. Or you'll say, what about the Stray Cats and the '68 Comeback Special? And I'll say yes, I saw them in London and I'm very grateful for the opportunity, but they're not the BSO.

Or you'll say it costs too much to bring the big band this far. Well, frankly, I don't much care for that argument. If I were Brian, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night for guilt over all those fans who don't live in the US or Japan. And I think that if he wants to keep those fans, he needs to make the effort to come and see them. If you don't believe that'll happen, let me be the first to raise my hand. I love Brian and his music, but every time a new album comes out with no tour, I feel a little bit more cheated.

Oh, man! Do you get to see live EVERY band that you love? If you were a huge Elvis fan would you not buy his music because you can't see him live? (unless the rumors are true and he's not actually dead...)

What about getting out there yourself, supporting the hell out of the band, generating support from others and trying to get enough interest to make a tour worthwhile? Crazier things have happened!

Trust me, I'm not baggin' on ya at all. I understand your pain - sometimes you want something so bad you can taste it. BUT. Take what you can get, be grateful for it and do what you can to get more of it! This CD is too good to pass up just on principal. (and honestly, I doubt that one person not buying it will see all 17 guys hopping on a plane to deliver it to ya in person )

Andi wrote:

I doubt that one person not buying it will see all 17 guys hopping on a plane to deliver it to ya in person

don't get me wrong, this isn't a boycott or anything.... I just feel like my money is better spent on other things. I've faithfully bought every new BSO album over the last decade with the knowledge that I'm supporting Brian financially, and with the hope in my heart that one day my dream will finally happen, but I've finally realised it's got to end. I'm doing this for myself just as much as I'm doing it to prove a point.

You won't get any grief from me... If I lived in the UK, I'd feel the exact same way.

The BSO does do European shows, don't they? I thought they had played somewhere over there... the Stray Cats did, right?

Has Australia gotten the Cats or the BSO yet? I think the Cats went there?

I agree and support Disappointed completely, though I am buying the new album, the box and the pictured LP that I have already ordered.

Concerning the BSO, truth is that they haven't toured Europe properly, apart from 6 or 7 shows back in 1999 and 4-5 in 1995 but never a proper tour and the one who was about to take place in late 1999 here, was called off in favour of a 5 day Japanese tour nearly at the same time.
If the BSO can play 6 days in Japan and make a profit, how come that they are not coming to Europe for a decent tour?? Ain't it much more profitable to tour Europe??? FOR SURE THAT Helsinki: Sold Out, Amsterdam: Sold Out, Berlin: Sold Out, London: Sold Out: Madrid: Sold Out, Paris: Sold Out..... and at 3.000 souls capacity venues, at 45-50 Euro per ticket... tell me if that's not profitable for all the logistics, wages and whatsoever the BSO needs.... if the BSO made a profit out of a 5 show mini tour this summer in Canada (3 dates), Amsterdam and Pori... I don't see a reson why they shouldn't tour Europe in full....

I feel your pain about not being able to see the BSO live. You really are missing out. But I hope you change your mind over time, because if you love the BSO as much as you say, you're only depriving yourself of some really great music, much of which probably won't ever be performed live due to the time devoted to greatest hits and Xmas songs.

I think Europe has been pegged as a rockabilly market long ago, and one which has little commercial appeal for a big band. I can't say for sure whether or not that's a correct assumption, but I believe the last BSO shows to be held in England were canceled due to low ticket sales, and this was right around the peak of their commercial success, shortly after the Dirty Boogie days. Perhaps the promoter was crap back then. I don't know the reason for the low sales. But I'm sure it made an impact on any future return.

You speak of all these venues that sold our for Stray Cats, but that's rockabilly music, not big band. And that was a "farewell" tour. Would the big band do as well as the legendary Stray Cats in Europe? For me, it's Setzer. I love seeing all his bands. But do the European fans hold the BSO in the same regard as any of his rockabilly bands?

Besides Wolfgang's Big Night Out, the last non-Christmas BSO album was released in 2000. So there really hasn't been an album to promote via a tour, other than the Xmas albums. Yes, Brian tours the US with the BSO almost every year, but it's in a Christmas tour, which has built an ever-growing audience of Setzer fans and people who just want to be entertained during the holiday season.

The US is so vast geographically, that they can play 20 shows in a tour and still not get to every region in the country, and then hit 20 different cities on the next tour. How many sold-out cities could they play in England? And is the Christmas season the best time of year to tour Europe? (I'm seriously asking here, I have no idea how well it would go over during this time of year.) Could you work with one promoter for all of Europe, or is there a different promoter in each country? Could they pull it off on their own, or only as part of a festival?

How does not buying the second non-Christmas BSO CD in almost 10 years make your point? If you want the BSO to come to England, I would think you would want as many of your UK brethren to buy this disc as possible. I think it would take a successful sales campaign in the UK before it would be a smart business decision to take the BSO to England. If someone at the BBC would get behind the album, and give it a lot of play, perhaps there would be a spike in sales, indicating the support for the tour. You and 500 of your closest friends might show, and for a rockabilly trio, that might pay the bills. But for overseas travel, you would need much bigger crowds to cover food, travel, and lodging for an 18-piece big band, stage crew, management, etc. It's a much larger and more costly undertaking than in places like the US and Japan, which have proven to be commercially viable most of the time by selling out multiple cities, some with 2-day engagements.

This is Brian's chosen profession. Even if he "loves" his fans, he can't do a show knowing he would lose money.

So I say support the BSO, and get a few of your friends here to show their interest in the latest album and a tour as well. I know just a handful of wildly enthusiastic Aussie fans made the impossible happen last year when they waged their "Please come to Australia Stray Cats" campaign. I don't recall any whining or complaining from the Aussies. Just a lot of enthusiasm and positive energy.

C'mon Europe, make your stand. Convince Brian that the BSO would return to a knock out reception with sold out theaters and wild enthusiasm.

Union Jack-a-billy

Your words make sense Rick, but Disappointment's do too and I think that the BSO is economically viable in Europe; There are many cities to tour that it would be impossible for the BSO to lose money, and as it's been a decade since the BSO mini-toured Europe, the Xmas albums and Wolfgang's hasn't been a good promotion here in Europe I'm afraid... but if the BSO recovered some old tracks like Lady Luck, Ball & Chain, Buzz Buzz and some others from the very first albums and not the same songs like JJWail or Dirty Boogie over and over again, that would make a difference, at least in my opinion... and the Trio section could vary the sets more frequently.... as I said, that could make a difference.

And just in case I am completely mistaken.... if 17 band members are not economically viable... why doesn't Brian bring a mini big band, with 1 or 2 members of each horn section?? That could be like the Trio, with some songs by the mini big band, despite it's not in full, but some BSO songs with a mini big band would be highly appreciated... instead of having a BSO show with a Trio section, here in Europe we could have the BSTrio or Nashvillains with a Mini BSO set (7-8 songs) wich would be awesome!

One very important thing that everyone is forgetting is that Brian said a few years back that he did not want to tour as much anymore because he wanted to spend more time with family and his kids and more power too him.

Family is number one with Brian as it is with most people.


You are only punishng yourself by not buying this new CD. Your loss friend.


The CD is GRRRRRRREAT ! ! ! ! !


Ross

C'Mon man, BSO havent toured Australia either! I've bought the album, your missing out. Waited 17 years for Stray Cats, then they came... Imagine I didnt buy any stray Cats stuff in that time!!! I'm stocking up on BSO, whether they come or not.

In his entire 30 odd year career ,Brian Setzer has only played in Ireland once. ONE time only. I am now about to put all my Setzer records, Cds etc into a box and mail them back to him in protest............NOT !

If I mention Brian Setzer in any of incarnations to people I meet, virtually no one knows who I am talking about. Some may have heard of Stray Cats but certainly not the Orchestra.
Wrong as it is, Brian is a cult figure to a few ,in Ireland ,Britain or Europe. Maybe thats why it costs too much to come this side of the world.
Also, lots of artists make records and dont tour. Not every 50 year old guy wants to spend his entire time on the road , Im only a youthful 45 and I find it hard to get outa bed most days.

PS: Does anybody have Brians address , I got a big box to mail to him .........

Here we go again

It's a job and in the end it's all about money. The guy is 50 by now, and he has a life besides all the music stuff. Fair if Brian is not interested in doing BSO in Europe, not making a very good profit.
And hell yeah, of cause strange not to have played London with BSO in so many years, but we can't put a gun to his head
And who knows, we might be lucky in 2010, we never know. I'll be ready for Hamburg and London (and Copenhagen if it comes up)

Aussie_Sam wrote:

C'Mon man, BSO havent toured Australia either! I've bought the album, your missing out. Waited 17 years for Stray Cats, then they came... Imagine I didnt buy any stray Cats stuff in that time!!! I'm stocking up on BSO, whether they come or not.

You saw the Stray Cats?!?!?! Get outta town!! Me too!!!! LOL, answer ya phone!!!!!

I'm really glad people have responded well to this and put forward some coherent points instead of just flaming me! Shows the decent quality of people on this board

I just want to reiterate to a couple of posters above that this is NOT a protest. I wouldn't expect Brian to gasp in horror at the loss of one CD sale thousands of miles away, and start booking plane tickets. I just feel like I should concentrate on other artists who can give me more bang for my buck. Cherry Poppin' Daddies successfully toured Europe in 2008 and they're an 8-piece band with very little presence outside of the US. They're never going to be rich, but they had a ball and so did all the fans who came out to support them.

I'm not particularly angry, or sulky, or defiant. I'm just, as my username says.... disappointed.

Disappointed, whenever you feel in a better mood be sure that you can change your nick to a new one ;-)

Slim Jon Phantom wrote:

And just in case I am completely mistaken.... if 17 band members are not economically viable... why doesn't Brian bring a mini big band, with 1 or 2 members of each horn section?? That could be like the Trio, with some songs by the mini big band, despite it's not in full, but some BSO songs with a mini big band would be highly appreciated... instead of having a BSO show with a Trio section, here in Europe we could have the BSTrio or Nashvillains with a Mini BSO set (7-8 songs) wich would be awesome!

I don't think it's possible to rearrange big band tunes for a mini horn section. But I've always thought that Setzer leading a jumpin' blues band with a small horn section and a piano (like Louis Jordan's timpany Five) would be awesome. Remember Lucky Charm, Look At That Cadillac and Wasn't That Good?

Back to the subject, even if I live in France, I'll buy the cd when it comes out (Friday!!!!) for sure (and Rick told me the vibraphone is back on some tracks )

Jess wrote:

Here we go again
... The guy is 50 by now, and he has a life besides all the music stuff...

How dare he?

I'd love to see the BSO over here in the UK, but I'd much rather see the Cats come our way again (Yes, I know it was farewell but they missed the last few gigs following the accident, and I was waiting at the Manchester gig to see them...)

I've resigned myself that neither event will happen, and I'll have to save up and head stateside for my first and probably only Cats or BSO gig...

I agree with everyone here - it would be great for a visit from The Brian, but business is business... shame, but reality.

JB

(edit to say, despite that, I'll be getting the CD. Why the heck not!!)

Rick, I don't think the BSO sells more tickets in the US than in Europe; I seriously doubt it. I've been to several BSO shows before.

But, of course, logistics are easier in the US for them to move from town to town.

And, about the crowd in Europe... most of the rockers attending the Stray Cats gigs would be the ones going to BSO shows. Fans are loyal to Setzer, no matter what musicians he tours with. I think Jon was right about that: Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, London, Rome, Munich/ Berlin, Helsinki and others, would bring more than 2 or 3,000 people in. Other thing is if those tickets would cover all the expenses; that, I don't know... And I believe they might not... otherwise they would be here...

Don't forget the huge lighted BSO sign, the bandstands, the instruments and all the equipment.... (think about how much it costs to mail a simple box international! Kidding, I'm not saying the rates are the same, just that it's bloody expensive.) The amount of STUFF that has to be dragged around the world - not just people - makes touring an exceedingly expensive proposition for ANY outfit, let alone one with 18 musicians, two back up singers and who knows how many support staff. Then there's paying all their salaries and their rooms and their food. I think it's ridiculous to think that Brian should foot the bill for ALL of that, especially if there's any chance he's going to be playing to half empty venues.

I volunteer to let the whole BSO sleep at my house if they come to munich
I don't have the new album yet, but I'll buy it. I just have to wait till i get the chance to pick it up at the record store myself, along with the new RHH Album!

Andi wrote:

Don't forget the huge lighted BSO sign, the bandstands, the instruments and all the equipment.... (think about how much it costs to mail a simple box international! Kidding, I'm not saying the rates are the same, just that it's bloody expensive.) The amount of STUFF that has to be dragged around the world -

yep, we had the same discussion a few weeks ago.
Count for equipment airfreight ~1,-USD/pound, but only for one move.
How much weight for the gear? (instruments, stage decoration, clothes, personal cases), i guess around 10000pounds= 10.000,-USD for one equipment transport by airfreight. (And this is a low rate.)
Plus customs clearance, local trucking, local crew, local PA-system, Lightning gear, hotels, blablabla.

I`m doing this kind of work the whole day.
Touring is a tough and expensive buisness.

I would love to see the BSO live in Germany, but i know about the risk of high costs.

Cheers

B

I made this point a while back.The BSO has NO profile in the UK apart from us diehards.The Orchestra is seen as a novelty act by many in the rockin scene here.
Yes,Brian with any rockabilly combo will always sell well over here but the Orchestra?I don't believe so.One gig in London might sell reasonably well but that would be it.The cancellation of the Royal Albert Hall Show(for which I had tickets) highlights this point.This was at the height of the BSO's career.They had been on TV a little bit with JJW and if I remember rightly were going to or at least should have released Rock This Town as a follow up.A grave mistake in my view for it would have attracted a lot of interest from people that had bought the original,not to mention airplay.
Luckily I caught them at Shepherds Bush in 99 and was fortunate enough to meet Brian backstage.I would love them to tour Europe again but don't for one minute believe it will happen.
As mentioned already,Brian has spoken of his dislike of travelling so I don't expect to see him live again.But if by chance he does come it will be a Rockabilly show.
Cheers
Steve

Guitarmaniac wrote:

I volunteer to let the whole BSO sleep at my house if they come to munich
I don't have the new album yet, but I'll buy it. I just have to wait till i get the chance to pick it up at the record store myself, along with the new RHH Album!

new RHH is great, also interviewed in the latest Vintage Guitar player mag. .. I wish setzer would
start popping up again in Guitar Player, Premier Guitar,etc.. its about damn time for the King of the whole damn world!

tvthewiredturtle wrote:

Guitarmaniac wrote:

I !

new RHH is great, :

i bought this deluxe CD edition, but i need a construction manual for that.

But the record is cool,




sorry for off topic, back to buisness...

There are cargo companies that fly from the US to the whole world, dedicated only to the shipping of music instruments and other stuff.

Is not that every musician is gonna pack up his instrument and ampli and carry it like we do with our suitcases in a comercial flight.

Spanishdavid wrote:

There are cargo companies that fly from the US to the whole world, dedicated only to the shipping of music instruments and other stuff.

Is not that every musician is gonna pack up his instrument and ampli and carry it like we do with our suitcases in a comercial flight.

yes, i know. But they use ordinary freight planes from panam or whoever. They dont own any aircrafts. These companies are very special and small.
They take care of the cargo and do all the paperwork, supervising the loading and unloading procedure. But you have to pay them for their work.
And if you fly on a commercial flight you have to pay up to 10USD per pound if you over 40 pounds or something. (i don`t know the exactly weight)