2018 Christmas Stories, part two.



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MY PARENTS GOT ME A TROPHY. #wprbxmas

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One week until this year’s 31st-annual marathon!

As promised, here’s the second half of the Christmas Stories recorded exclusively for the 2018 edition of my Holiday Radio Show on 103.3 fm WPRB.

Part one can be found here!

Remember, the deadline for this year’s submissions is December 20th!

Joshua Wayne Hensley – “O Holy Night”

I don’t normally allow submissions to be made during the marathon, but if Josh from The Rutabega is going to sneak out to his car on Christmas Eve to record the above, how could I say no?

Chip Chantry – “Christmas Traditions”

Chip Chantry is a writer and comedian. He’s also the host of the running podcast Junk Miles with Chip & Jeff. His latest album is “Swinger’s Party.”

The Iron Grip – “Jazz Xmas For Junkies”

A re-working of a The Fall favorite by Colin of the band Bird Names.

The Misfit Toys – “This Jolly Man”

The Misfit Toys are a passel of reprobates from the Philly Area. This side project of members of The Commiserators and Charming Snakes contributed to the marathon for the first time in 2018. No amount of glue will make them right again.

The New Birds of America – “Putting the X Back in Xmas”

The New Birds of America is a musical project by Toronto poet Blaise Moritz.

Ike Turner – “Not Leaving Las Vegas”

Ike Turner is a teacher, parent, and rock bro from Kalamazoo, MI who plays in the bands OUT, Wowza and Minutes.

Tobias Carroll – “A Full Hermit Christmas”

Tobias Carroll is the author of a collection, Transitory, on Civil Coping Mechanisms, and a novel, Reel, on Rare Bird Books.

He writes about books, music, and food for a host of places, is the managing editor of Vol.1 Brooklyn, and writes the Watchlist column for Words Without Borders. Sometimes he can be found on Twitter and Instagram.

Read his full piece here.

Kate Mick – “The Christians And The Pagans”

Kate Mick resides in the tiny and creative town of Warren, RI (nearby is Providence, RI). She gladly plays house shows, ghost shows, quiet shows, loud shows, faraway shows and close by shows. Just ask her, she’s always up for an adventure with her banjo. 

This is a Dar Williams tune.

Pat Byrne & Mindy Tucker – “The Spirit Of Christmas In America’s Thrift Store”

Pat Byrne is a comedian who helps produce The Best Show every Tuesday evening.

Mindy Tucker is a photographer who has taken a picture of every living comedian.

Recorded on location in Alabama.

SWIVS – “The Last Jedi (Christmas)”

William Schalda Jr. is SWIVS.

You may remember him from such musical acts as:

• Charles Bradley and His Extraordinaires
• The Budos Band
• Paul and the Tall Trees
• Kevin Devine and The Goddamn Band
• The Realistics
• Brendan Benson 
• Velour

or you may not.

Joel RL Phelps – “The First Christmas”

Vancouver’s Joel Phelps is a member of The Downer Trio. Joel is also the only artist to record a “Christmas Story” for the show each of the last eight years. Demos and new recordings of his have been posted on Soundcloud, with the lion’s share of his studio output available through Bandcamp, including the 2017 EP “Consulate.”

Glazer – “Christmas Is Big Business”

Long-time participants of the famed New Brunswick basement scene, Glazer emerged in early 2014. After solidifying their line-up in 2016, Glazer began developing new material, and recorded a four-song EP titled “Repeat Sequence,” self-releasing it on tape. Since then, the band has continued to develop their disjointed, frenzied composition style, paired with their pensive lyrical content. 2017 saw the release of “On a Prairie, Live in the Dirt,” their first full length, on Screaming Females’ Mike Abbate’s (and partner’s) imprint State Champion Records.

The Misfit Toys – “Figgy Pudding”

A second one from The Misfit Toys, a welcome addition to the MISFITS-O-CLOCK sets.



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