When former Stray Cats leader Brian Setzer convenes his big band orchestra for their Ninth Annual Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas Rocks Extravaganza, one can safely anticipate a glittering cornucopia of fast-moving, high-gloss Yuletide favorites, tightly controlled technical perfection and, at the performances core, an intense dose of revivalist fetishism and celebratory ritual. After almost 10 years of barnstorming egg nog-sloshed, misteltoe-topped winter tours, the Gretsch-punishing virtuoso has gotten this Xmas shtick down to a science. Delivered with wailing good cheer, Setzer also works with the benefit of some very fine charts, with his own arranging style enhanced courtesy of an invaluable alliance with venerable talent Frank Comstock, an esteemed cat who made his WWII-era bones arranging for Les Brown & his Band of Renown, and worked closely with everyone from Doris Day to Jack Webb to Mr Magoo and Rocky & Bullwinkle. Setzer and his crack 25 piece ork. reliably wraps it all up into a gaudy, swinging holiday package that jumps from trad carols to seasonal rock & roll, tipping its hat to Mr Grinch and just about every other Christmas-related pop culture reference you can name. Plug in that Red Nose and rock. Universal CityWalk, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City; Sat., Dec. 22 7:30 p.m., $15-$99.75. 818-622-4440.

Sat., Dec. 22, 7:30 p.m., 2012

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.