It's not too often that the chairs are taken out for a seated concert at the High Noon Saloon. That's exactly what was done at the east side music venue a couple of weeks ago, however, when Holidaze in Hicksville musical tour.
Following an opening performance by Madison's own gypsy swing group "As a matter of fact, this one goes down as a classic," writes fan Walt Gnedislow in his The host of a jazz fusion program on WSUM, Gnesdislow has interviewed Hicks twice -- once in -- and he had high praise for the Holidaze performance. "As expected except better, the show seemed to be more than a show, an experience," he writes. "Folk swing is somewhat the style of the music, but man…..there was some kicked up blues riffs, so finely timed dance steps and a barrel, check that, a building filled with a humor so sincere to this night that you couldn't go home without feeling connected."
A live concert video of Hicks and the Licks performing "Old Fashioned Christmas" follows.
A second, and much longer video clip features Hicks and the Hot Licks performing his classic cut "I Scare Myself" at the High Noon.
"While this show can be compared to others in the long and brilliant career of Dan Hicks, there was so many thrilled audience members that I would have sworn this was their first time witnessing the event that is Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks," concludes Gnedislow. "I also noticed that while the room was filled up nicely, there was plenty of room for some younger ears, I really think that this music and the way it is presented to a crowd is something for the younger crowds to share in."
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