2015 Christmas Stories, part one.
With under a month to go (!!!!!!) until this year’s marathon, here’s the first half of the Christmas Stories recorded exclusively for the 2015 edition of my 25-Hour Holiday Radio Show on 103.3 fm WPRB.
I’ve posted them in the order they originally aired during the program.
Part two will appear next week! Or else!
Please click on the links provided and support these musicians, artists and talented individuals who were so kind to tape remarkable original pieces for the show. Follow them on Twitter! Like them on Facebook! Buy their records and books! Support their events!
May these works inspire you to record something for this year.
The Brixton Riot – “Holiday In The Sun”
Combining American and English influences, New Jersey’s The Brixton Riot fuses elements of 70’s power-pop and punk, 80’s jangle-rock and 90’s indie rock into a sound that is both familiar and distinct. The Replacements, Big Star and The Jam represent only a small fraction of their influences.
B. Musikoff – “A Can of Simoniz”
Brian Musikoff is a Chooch of Seattle (by way of NJ / NYC) who draws cartoons as needed and plays bass for a rock group named Stuyvesant.
Amy Zuccarino (with Ralph Zuccarino) – “A Holy Night?”
An original story by Philadelphia’s Amy Zuccarino, joined by her husband Ralph on the piano.
Modern Hut – “Silver Bells”
Playing “extreme loner folk” with a 2013 album on Don Giovanni Records titled “Genetic Treasure,” Modern Hut for this recording is Mr. Joe Steinhardt on the acoustic guitar. Enjoy the group’s third contribution to the marathon in as many years!
Stanley Demeski – “Egg Nog Intro”
The Feelies drummer Stanley Demeski provides an introduction to the Luna instrumental “Egg Nog,” telling the story behind this 1992 recording. Hear the song in question below.
Mark Robinson – “December 1969”
Mark Robinson founded Teen-Beat Records in 1984. Best known for founding Unrest (with Phil Krauth and Tim Moran), he has also been a member of Air Miami, Flin Flon, Grenadine, and currently plays with Evelyn Hurley (Blast Off Country Style) in Cotton Candy and also with D. Trevor Kampmann as Fang Wizard.
He has released a number of solo records. His recordings are typically sparse, often based around a carefully controlled guitar.
King Mistletoe Jr. – “Our Secret Santa”
A last minute submission from King Mistletoe (just Steve and Jim), in the style of Beat Happening’s “Our Secret.”
Amanda Xmas – “New Years”
Hailing from the Kensington area of Philadelphia (home to infamous gangs such as the Yos, Twerks and Fuzzies), Amanda X imperviously sallys forth, creating an oasis of bedroom pop and post-punk among a landscape of toxic speed, eroded enamel and chattering human skin suits. Their debut album was released by Siltbreeze in 2014 and a follow-up is tentatively slated for 2017.
Bela Koe-Krompecher – “Christmas Story 2015”
Bela Koe-Krompecher has been running Anyway Records from Columbus since 1992, he also writes about his life with his blog. Bela also writes sporadically for various music websites and last year saw the publication of a comic book based on a story about the Ramones adapted from his blog (“Do You Remember Rock & Roll Record Stores?, via Nix Comics). He works as a social worker and addictions counselor.
Bill & Karlee Goffrier – “South Side Of The North Pole”
Bill Goffrier was in two of my favorite purveyors of terminal plaid shirt rock, The Embarrassment and Big Dipper. He currently lives in Alaska with his wife Karlee.
Cinchel – “Evening’s Sleigh Ride”
Cinchel is a Chicago-based musician working with guitar, effects and laptop to create abstract ambient music that is both minimal and dense.
Roseanne Carrara – “Jean Nate Christmas (or Splendour In The Bath)”
Jean Nate Christmas (or Splendour In The Bath)
The author of “A Newer Wilderness,” Roseanne Carrara holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Toronto. She is now completing an “opera novel set in Toronto” entitled, The Week In Radio, a second book of poems, “Spectral Evidence ” and with her husband Blaise, a translation of “Silences,” the poetry of Jacques Ellul. Roseanne documents her activities with her children during the school year at The Lunchbox Season and at Summer of Funner over the summer holidays. She also works as a professional writer and educator.
The Beach View Family Singers – “Wenceslas of Sound”
Beatrice, Toby and Blaise, with a grand piano and sundry virtual instruments, including a mellotron, give a holiday favorite a somewhat psych deconstruction. Recorded and mixed on a phone.
From the non-existent album “Winter Fuel”, just over 90 seconds at 110 bpm in the key of A major.
Aerialist – “Little Andromeda Boy”
Lary Hoffman began making music as Aerialist in 1997. Over the years the project morphed from bedroom electronic pop to synth-rock collaborations with drummers Stevie Treichel & Nikhil Ranade, to both analog and computer-based solo instrumental productions. After a long hiatus, Lary has been steadily digitally self-releasing new Aerialist music since the fall of 2015. Based in the DC area, Lary and his wife Erica own Virginia bars Galaxy Hut and Spacebar.
Keith Beck’s Zigman Bird – “Santa Clause Where Are You (Don’t You Leave Me Out)”
Keith Beck’s Zigman Bird fearlessly switches between a full-piece rock’n’roll band and an exciting acoustic act, mixing catchy hooks, melodies and lyrics.