When I found out I was able to photograph Big Bad Voodoo Daddy in Hazleton, PA, I was ecstatic.  Then I found out the concert was being held at a school where the outside architecture looked like a castle.  This seemed intriguing.  This would be my third time seeing Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and definitely the most interesting place to see them.  Either way, the auditorium they played in was beautiful and sounded phenomenal.

Like others, I was first exposed to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy from their performance in the movie Swingers.  Now I might have been too young to fully understand the movie, I had to be in middle school, but my ears were old enough to know I just heard excellent music.  From there I became a fan, and now 26, I still get excited to hear new music from these swing cats.  Their music was a gateway drug for me, for I then found out about big band musicians like Cab Calloway and Benny Goodman.

I can’t stress enough how excellent Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s live show is.  I will go out there and say that no matter who you are, male, female, young old, you will appreciate what Big Bad Voodoo Daddy has to offer.  These are true musicians that still bring energy, excitement, and happiness while they play.  Also, I haven’t seen Big Bad Voodoo Daddy in a standing atmosphere for all three shows have been sitting, but that doesn’t stop the audience from getting up to dance.  This show was no exception.

Besides playing their signature songs like “Go Daddy-O”, “You and Me and the Bottle Makes 3 Tonight (Baby)”, and “So Long-Farewell-Goodbye” Big Bad Voodoo Daddy sprinkles in some of my personal favorites into their set list.  It is fresh and exciting to hear them play some of new songs off Rattle Them Bones like “5-10-15 Times” and “Diga Diga Do”.  However, maybe one day we will get to hear “It Only Took a Kiss” in a live setting.  Besides their new material, Big Bad Voodoo also played songs off Save My Soul, This Beautiful Life, and music of Cab Calloway from their album How Big Can You Get?.  It surprises me that they play “Zig Zaggity Woop Woop” live.  Never thought they would play that song, but during this song almost all the members come to the front of the stage to get the crowd to sing back to them.

Going to see Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is an experience everyone should witness.  You will realize that there are still musicians out there playing danceable music and they actually play instruments.  Now if only we can get this music back on the radio.

Lastly, don’t forget that this Tuesday, October 22, 2013.  Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s second Christmas album comes out.  It Feels like Christmas Time will be released on c.d. and digital everywhere on Savoy Jazz Records.  Unfortunately, for all the vinyl collectors, like me, you will have to wait till November 19, 2013 to own the vinyl version.  However, take advantage of purchasing the album digitally off Amazon and get two bonus tracks.  Christmas comes early.

http://www.bbvd.com
Click here to purchase their new Christmas album through Amazon