2020 Christmas Stories, part one.
Two weeks to go until this year’s Xmas marathon! Here are the first half of the Christmas Stories recorded exclusively for the 2020 edition of my 25-Hour Holiday Radio Show on 103.3 fm WPRB.
Part two will appear here on December 17th!
Click on the links provided to support these musicians, artists and talented individuals who were kind to tape original pieces for the show. Follow them on Twitter! Like them on Facebook! Instagram is no slouch! Buy their records and books!
May these works encourage you to record something for this year.
There is still time!
You can explore the complete archive of stories recorded from 2011-2020 here.
The Brixton Riot – “Lockdown Holiday”
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. This is their seventh contribution to the marathon! Incredible.
Deth Elf – “Christmas On Venus”
Deth Elf remain the pride of Lansdale, Pennsylvania. This was their first of two 2020 pieces.
Glazer – “Deathwish for Christmas”
Blending components of post-pop and hard-grunge, New Jersey’s Glazer strives to compose music that is not only ambitious in form, but thoughtful, powerful, and driving in execution. Any and all proceeds go directly to Elijah’s Promise Soup Kitchen in New Brunswick, NJ.
Outer World – “Arc & Bow”
Richmond, Virginia duo Outer World create beautiful bedroom chamber pop that’s fresh as a new year, bursting with hope.
Maria T. – “11:59 It’s January”
A cover of a wonderful Scrawl song by WPRB’s own Maria T., last heard in the Philly-based band No Other.
Doug Gillard – “Step Into Christmas”
Doug Gillard’s formidable body of recordings is as impressive as it is voluminous, encompassing his work as a key member of such notable combos as Guided by Voices, Death of Samantha, Cobra Verde, Gem and Nada Surf, as well as an array of notable collaborations with the likes of Richard Buckner, My Dad Is Dead, Yuji Oniki, Bill Fox, The Mice, Mascott and Sally Crewe & the Sudden Moves. Parade On, the Ohio-bred, New York-based singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist’s third official solo album, was released in 2014. This song was written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin.
Sinead OnDonner – “This Is a Christmas Song”
A seasonal update on Sinéad O’Connor’s classic “This is a Rebel Song.” Of course it’s all in fun, but both songs take a similar stance: that being open to tenderness is in itself a liberatory act. Recorded by your friends in the West Philly Players.
The Kyle Sowashes – “Why Do You Say Merry Christmas”
A new holiday tune by four bearded buddies from Columbus, Ohio who like to drive and eat and rock. Hear more about The Kyle Sowashes here.
Tobias Carroll – “Welsh Candlesnuffer”
Author Tobias Carroll‘s most recent book, Political Sign, was published by Bloomsbury as part of the Object Lessons series.
You can read his 2020 Xmas marathon piece in full here.
Peter Prescott – “Snoflake”
A soundscape by Peter Prescott, who is a member of Mission Of Burma, Volcano Suns, Kustomized, The Peer Group and more recently the trio Minibeast.
Duke Tropicana – “Season’s Greetings”
Duke Tropicana is a traveling troubadour with a hash house heart and a bindlestiff’s bundle full of beans.
Hirudidae – “Dark Xmas”
A foggy, slow motion swarm of bees with a rhythm you can dance to from Philadelphia. That’s Hirudidae, performing a L.A.S.’s Crime cover for the holidays.
George Korein and the Spleen – “Wenceslas Rap”
George Korein was born in a Wawa in Philadelphia and still lives in Philadelphia in a Wawa. He makes songs that mostly have singing and “and the Spleen” rhymes with Korein. A lot of the music is made almost alone but some is made with awesome musicians he won’t list here because that would be name dropping. People ask “What kind of music do you make?” and he still hasn’t worked up the pomp to say “Art Pop.”
Eusa Bells – “The AMM of Jingle Bell Rock“
Who else but Neal Markowski could create a Dead C(hristmas) Tribute Album – four Dead C songs with updated lyrics about spending time with your family during the holidays. All funds get donated straight to Planned Parenthood.