Isaak's 1985 debut album was named after his live band, already in place before the record deal with the core of today’s band - bassist Rowland Salley and drummer/primary harmony vocalist Kenney Dale Johnson. The occasional silliness and old-school showbiz leanings amplify the fact this is one heck of a working band.

(A likely only-in-Madison joke involved Isaak's research of the city's history, including its discovery by the Vikings who brought with them a primitive ThighMaster and an accordion. After the show, my companion for the concert said, “That was excellent, but I wasn’t expecting the ’70s variety show sort of presentation.” Along with Isaak’s goofy jokes and spot-on comic timing, the band occasionally showed off engagingly loose but well-plotted choreography and even some dance moves. Considering that so many of Isaak's songs deal with themes of love and heartbreak, the comedy may have been more surprising to some of the first-timers. That sort of self-deprecating humor was probably expected by the repeat concertgoers, and longtime fans who remember The Chris Isaak Show, the much-missed (and still MIA on home video or streaming services) sitcom-rockumentary starring Isaak and most of his bandmates, which aired on Showtime a couple decades back. Continuing the thought a few jokes later, he made a bold statement: “I make a promise that at no point tonight will we drop below state fair level.”

“People who’ve seen us before are open to the idea we might improve,” Isaak remarked dryly. Chris Isaak and Silvertone at the Capitol Theater, July 19, 2022.Ĭhris Isaak and his long-time band Silvertone thoroughly charmed the Capitol Theater audience at Overture Center on Tuesday night with a concert offering the expected hits and some surprises.ĭuring a bit of introductory conversation after the first few songs, Isaak inquired how many audience members had seen the band play live before quite a few had, but there were also many first-timers.

Take time out silvertones