Published: Friday, August 18, 2006

A swingin' time
Lively Bluescats know how to get an audience on their feet

By Caroline Lippert-Burrows
For the Enterprise

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Tim Casey and the Bluescats The band performs the last Saturday night of every month at Tulalip Casino in Marysville. For more information on this and other upcoming shows, see http://www.timcasey/ bluescats.com. For more information on learning swing dancing, visit the Eastside Swing Dancers Web site at www. eastsideswingdance.com.

Wearing dark sunglasses with a cool voice, Tim Casey and his Bluescats entertained a decent crowd last Thursday night behind Mill Creek City Hall as part of the Mill Creek Concerts in the Park series.

The lively rock, swing and blues music that this band performed could stand on its own without Casey, but he's really the spark that lights this group's musical fire.

Everything about Casey says "celebrity." The guy has a charisma that commands attention. During the group's first number, "House Party," Casey moved on stage with the magnificence of Jerry Lee Lewis.

Casey brought on the Eastside Swing Dancers for his group's second number, "Rocket to the Moon." Dressed in red T-shirts and black pants, they helped Casey enhance the show in this lively upbeat song.

I loved when this flamboyant musician and his Bluescats performed "Queen Bee" for the crowd. He jammed his guitar as if it were buzzing, while he sang, "Daddie get your stinger and take your momma for a ride."

Which brings me to something I noticed in the lyrics of his music. Many of the words he sings are suggestive, but Casey and his band present the sassy lines in such a clean way you can't really be offended.

Another fun song that Casey and the Bluescats performed was called, "Short Gals." Casey sang, "She's short, sweet and tender" while the Eastside Swing dancers jumped around on stage to this hopping number.

Of course, the action really got going when Casey sang Elvis Presley's 1955 hit song, "That's Alright Mama." Casey's drummer, Don Montana, added a great background to the lead man's singing, while his trombone player, Matt "Doc" Golliday, created a rich sound to this crowd favorite.

When Casey sang "Baby's Boogie," his piano man, Chris Kliemann, really came alive in this upbeat number, while his bass guitar player, Mike Fish, woke up the crowd with the pounding of his instrument.

A star attraction alongside Casey's magnetic performing was his sax player, Joey St. John. This musician was passionate in his horn blowing and really physical on stage with his instrument.

In fact, Casey and all the Bluescats were. They moved, jumped, blew, strummed and pounded on stage with tremendous energy. These guys really knew how to pump it up for the crowd.

According to Wayne Kuby, production manager for Casey and the Bluescats, "The audience always receives this group well."

Well, I sure know that I did. If I were having a party or big event, these are the guys I would want entertaining my guests with their larger-than-life performing.

They sure closed the event with a bang doing a Little Richard song with the Eastside Swing Dancers on stage with the group as one "happening" unit. Casey belted out those popular Richard lyrics, "We're going to rock this joint tonight." They sure rocked the city of Mill Creek.