Seth MacFarlane: Swingin' in Concert
Seth MacFarlane: Swingin' in Concert
PG | 30 September 2011 (USA)
Seth MacFarlane: Swingin' in Concert Trailers

Emmy-winning writer, producer, director, and actor of 'Family Guy', Seth MacFarlane takes to the stage to wow audiences in the style of crooners like Dean Martin & Sinatra. Backed by a thirty-nine piece, all-star orchestra conducted by Joel McNeely, MacFarlane is also joined by special guest Sara Bareilles. The duo meticulously turn back time with Great American Songbook classics of the 1940's, 50's and 60's, all featured on McFarlane's 2011 album, 'Music Is Better Than Words'. This concert was recorded at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California on March 26th, 2011. Setlist : The Night They Invented Champagne * It's Anybody's Spring * Anytime, Anywhere * Music Is Better Than Words * Two Sleepy People * You're The Cream In My Coffee * Something Good * Love Won't Let You Get Away * It's Easy To Remember * You And I * The Sadder But Wiser Girl

Reviews
Steve Pulaski

Seth MacFarlane is a multi-talented individual and that's a fact many people would no if he got half the credit he deserved. Because of his long-running, controversial programs like American Dad! and Family Guy, in addition to the love-it-or-hate-it Ted films, people assume MacFarlane's crass, pop-culture brand of humor is his only skill, which is why he has now created three Television programs with the same basic plot structure and main characters. If I were to tell you, however, that MacFarlane also serves as one of the few crooners we have in music today, would you believe me? Anyone familiar with his animated programs knows that MacFarlane loves including musical numbers into his projects and, most of them, are performed by a character he voices. The musical numbers, typically found on your ordinary episode of Family Guy, are often well sung and provide a great deal of energy to most episodes. With Seth MacFarlane: Swingin' in Concert, a fifty-minute EPIX original special, MacFarlane shows his affinity for classic, swing ballads and the melodic crooner tunes of the 1930's and 1940's. Singing with his trademark baritone voice, accentuating a style similar to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, MacFarlane belts out a variety of songs throughout his special and is even accompanied on-stage by Sara Bareilles for their rendition of "Love Won't Let You Go Away." From the moment he steps on stage, looking dapper in a full tuxedo and without his ability to make a dirty joke or a rapid-fire zinger, MacFarlane oozes personality, and just from the performance of his opening ballad "The Night They Invented Champagne," the overall effect makes you wants to go find your Sunday best. MacFarlane, accompanied by a full orchestra and performing before an audience, turns a spacious, decorated auditorium into a close-knit lounge with his ravishing vocals. He follows his opener with songs like "Anytime, Anywhere," which show his patient, reserved ways of singing and "Music is Better Than Words," a song that shows that some emotions can't adequately be communicated through words and conversations.MacFarlane's personality carries on for a breezy but memorable fifty minutes. What's amazing is despite his voice and his crowded stage, MacFarlane is consistently understated here, never embellishing a note and never being too theatrical with his performance. His vocals are silky smooth, his appearance is handsome, and the entire mood Swingin' in Concert bears is inviting and personal, like a full-on lounge performance by one of the most underrated entertainers and singers working today.Directed by: Mark Lucas.

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