Here’s everything you need in one location while Jon Solomon hosts his 31st-Annual 25-Hour Holiday Radio Show between 5:00 pm ET on Christmas Eve and 6:00 pm ET on Chirstmas day on WPRB.
The ALL-HANUKKAH SHOW airs from 3-5 pm ET, right before kickoff.
Festive requests? Call 609.258.1033 or email jon@wprb.com!
Listen to the marathon at 103.3 fm WPRB or by clicking here.
Real Player and Windows Media Player options can be found on the upper left side here.
If you’re in the terrestrial broadcast radius, tuning in via an actual radio is preferable so as to not keep those far away from accessing the web stream.
The 2019 Xmas Playlist will be updated throughout the program at wprb.com.
Expect a new “Christmas Story” each hour, with older stories interjected frequently.
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?
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”
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.
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”
• 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.
With 10 days to go until this year’s Xmas marathon, here’s the first half of the Christmas Stories recorded exclusively for the 2018 edition of my Holiday Radio Show on 103.3 fm WPRB.
Part two will appear on the 17th of December!
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! Instagram too! Buy their records and books! Support their events!
May these works inspire you to record something for this year.
There is still time!
The Brixton Riot – “100,000 Christmas Lights”
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 fifth contribution to the marathon.
Brian & Kerry Kijewski – “A Kijewski Cassette Christmas Story”
Brian and Kerry Kijewski are a brother and sister creative team from Ontario, Canada behind the podcast Ketchup On Pancakes along with other audio projects. Kerry has a blog where she shares her writing. Brian hosts a music radio show at the campus radio station in London and plays in the band Riker.
Sebastian Petsu – Zamboni Dust From the Sky (Gritty’s First Snow)”
The first of what ended up being five different Xmas tunes about Gritty in 2018 hailed from Philadelphia’s Sebastian Petsu.
50 Helens – “Christmas Creep Parade”
50 Helens are members of Korean Jeans, Petrillo and OUT. All proceeds from their second holiday record (which includes songs beyond what was played during the marathon) will be donated to Planned Parenthood.
Wowza In Kalamazoo – “Cheery Chapstick”
Wowza In Kalamazoo is a full-on collaboration amongst Zach Hench, Chafe Hensley, and Ike Turner. It began with some broken arrows lying around Ike’s 4-track (some for over a decade), and changed into something a lot more interesting than that.
Deeply inspired by Yo La Tengo’s “Cherry Chapstick.”
Ike Turner: guitars, vocals Zach Hench: bass, xmas cheer Franki Hand: guitars, vocals Mark Walters: drums Sarah Beauchamp: vocals
recording: Garth Mason mix: Zach Hench
Deth Elf – “Silent Night, Gritty Night”
Did someone say songs about Gritty?
The duo Deth Elf are the pride of Lansdale, Pennsylvania.
B. Musikoff – “Penny, I Need The Key”
“Its Christmas time in that department store, ya know, and oh geez, wouldn’t ya know they’re goin’ at it again over the store PA.”
Returning welcomely for another marathon, The ‘Mericans are a Rhode Island band founded in 2001 by singer / guitarist Chris Daltry (Purple Ivy Shadows).
David Nagler – “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence”
David Nagler is a Brooklyn-based musician, singer, and songwriter. His latest records are The Appointees: 11 songs informed and provoked by Trump cabinet appointees, and Carl Sandburg’s Chicago Poems: anorchestral folk song cycle featuring Jeff Tweedy, Robbie Fulks, Kelly Hogan, and others. Nagler performs regularly with artists including Jon Langford, Wesley Stace, Mark Eitzel, and Eszter Balint, and he is the founder and frontperson for NY metropolitan area pop group Nova Social.
This is his rendition of Ryuichi Sakamoto’s theme for the 1983 film of the same name.
Comedian Connor Ratliff & Singer/Songwriter Mikey Erg teamed up to write a batch of secular Xmas songs as a soundtrack for a Holiday Special called “The Spirit Of Ratliff.” This entire ragged but right collection of songs was written and recorded in a matter of hours on a single Saturday in October 2015.
Available as a limited edition vinyl release courtesy State Champion, but this song is actually a non-LP bonus recorded for the Xmas show.
Deth Elf – “Elf Strike”
The second DxEx contribution of the season is a quality anthem indeed.
Two weeks until this year’s 25-Hour Radio Show, and I got you a present!
Here’s audio of the two hour pre-show mix titled “Jingle Jingle Jingle” that debuted during year 30 of the marathon.
For 2019, the two hour pre-show mix will also serve as the latest ALL-HANUKKAH SHOW.
Playlist so you can follow along at home:
Noah Vail – “Jon Solomon’s Christmas Eve Marathon”
Paska – “Jingle Bells” Little Bobby Rey & His Band – “Rockin ‘J’ Bells” Wendy Mae Chambers, Car Horn Organ Christmas – “Jingle Bells” Will Oldham & The Anomoanon – “Jingle Bells” Gloria Parker – “Jingle Bells” The Blues Magoos – “Jingle Bells” The Coctails – “Jingle Bells” Thriftshop XL and dj BC – “Rock The Jingle Bells (LL Cool J vs Tuborg Julebryg Jingle)” The Spotnicks – “Jingle Bells” Jeff St Pierre and Phillip Antoniades – “Rubber Bells” Austrian Death Machine – “Jingle Bells” Brute Force Steel Bands – “Jingle Bells”
Shane Parish – “Jingle Bells” Booker T. & The MG’s – “Jingle Bells” Weird Paul Petroskey – “Jingle Bells” HE5 – “Jingle Bells” Benny Goodman & His Orchestra – “Jingle Bells” DJ Sora Mimi – “Jingle Bells” Artie Barsamian – “Jingle Bells” Rob Heubel – “Jingle Bells” Joseph Byrd – “Jingle Bells” MC Globe – “Jingle Bells” Cigarbox Planetarium – “Jingle Bells” Charles Rice Goff III – “Spacey Jingle Bells”
Mrs. Helen Marf – “Jingle Bells” Doug Gillard / David Gillard – “Jingle Bells with Dad” Mothguts – “Jingle Bells” Unknown Korean Childrens Choir – “Jingle Bells” Les Paul & Mary Ford – “Jungle Bells” Modern Hut – “Jingle Bells” Fats Waller – “Swingin’ Them Jingle Bells” Tammy Faye Bakker (Susie & Allie) – “Jingle Bells” Julian Koster – “Jingle Bells” Flash Domincii – “AGOGO AGOGO (Jingle Bells)”
Donovan Quixote – “Hell’s Jingle Bells” Glenn Miller and His Orchestra – “Jingle Bells (aircheck)” Bobby Breaux – “Jingle Bells” Trio Of Madness – “Jingle Bells” The Greenberg Family Workshop – “Jingle Bells Georgia” Taggart – “Jingle Bells (The Many Types of Interpersonal Power)” Woody Phillips – “Jingle Bells” The Three Sons – “Jingle Bells” Puttin’ On The Ritz – “Jingle Bells (Polish A cappella Remix)” Johnny Long & His Orchestra (Vocal by Francey Lane and the Ensemble) – “Jingle Bells” Frank & Jack – “Jingle Bells”
Friction – The Makeshift Chimney – 7″ Jeff Parker – Max Brown – Part 1 – 7″ 1/2 Burned or 1/2 Buried – Double Life – PRF Monthly Tribute Series November 2019: The Cars – RIP Ric Ocasek. – [C] Aurora Paralysis – Borrow My Body – Split 7″ with Eggs Philippe Besombes – La Plage – Strain, Crack & Break: Music From The Nurse With Wound List Volume 1 – [C] Lattices – Progress – Provision Ex Hex – Diamond Drive – It’s Real
Blunderbuss – Bed Rider – 7″ Jane Weaver – Loops In The Secret Society – Modern Kosmology U-Men – Blight – U-Men Long Hind Legs – Never You – Three Songs (and a horse) Shot Right To Hell Angel Bat Dawid – Capetown (feat. Asher Simiso Gamedze) – The Oracle – [N] Bill Baird – Owl / Strigidae – Owl Rainy Day Saints – Then She Turns Away – 45
The Prefects – Things In General – Going Through The Motions Prince – Teacher Teacher – 1999 (Super Deluxe Edition) Ty Segall – Class War – Fudge Sandwich – Dils cover. The Swinging Santas – Happy Ymas – Jingle Sells Maria Chavez – Plays (Stefan Goldmann’s ‘Ghost Hemiola’) – Plays (Stefan Goldmann’s ‘Ghost Hemiola’) – Mixed with “1.01.003” by The Never Quartet, at times. Some Tart & a couple other things as well. LIFE – Niceties – A Picture Of Good Health
Alice Djuna – 19 Days ‘Til 2 Days ‘Til Christmas – .mp3
Hot Snakes – Checkmate – 7″ DJ Shadow feat. Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah & Raekwon – Rain On Snow – Our Pathetic Age Eggs – The Obliviist Part One – Split single with Aurora Paralyis Living Color – Final Solution – Type 12″ – Pere Ubu cover! Superbravo – La Nuit – 45 Fred Lane and His Disheveled Monkeybiters – Icepick To The Moon – Icepick To The Moon – First record in 31 years. Xetas – The Hierophant – The Cypher – Out in January 2020.
Eddy Current Suppression Ring – Our Quiet Whisper – All In Good Time Joshua Abrams Natural Information Society – Shadow Conductor – Mandatory Reality Corridor – Domino – Junior PJ Harvey – Red Right Hand – Peaky Blinders OST – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds cover. Sunwatchers – New Dad Blues – IN FOCUS: 2019 In Review – [C] Igor Wakhevitch – Materia-Prima – Strain Crack & Break: Music From The Nurse With Wound List Volume One – [C] The Wedding Present – (The Moment Before) Everything’s Spoiled Again – Tommy 30 – Anniversary re-recording.
Leonids – Teeth – Panel Of Experts Nolan Potter’s Nightmare Band – Pity In The City – Nightmare Forever Matt Jencik – Dead Comet Return – Dream Character Terminal Crash – Trafficante – 45 – Local. Peter Laughner – (My Sister Sold Her Heart To) The Junk Man – Pledging My Time (1973-1977) Califone – Snow Angel – Echo Mine – The score to a Robyn Mineko Williams dance performance. Silence Mill – Bullets – Silence Mill
Chris T-T – 100,000 Turkeys – .mp3 – Happy Thanksgiving! Neal Markowski – Repeal – Newer Electronic Music vol. 2 Friendship – I Don’t Have To Imagine Your Love – Dreamin’
Pegboy – Not What I Want – Strong Reaction Prince – Don’t Let Him Fool Ya – 1999 Super Deluxe Edition – 1982 recording. MONO – Com(?) – Before The Past * Live From Electrical Audio The Cars – Think It Over – Shake It Up – RIP Ric Ocasek. Scissor Girls – No Darling Pets – Phy, Diablo! Pan-American – Memphis Helena – A Son Bantam Rooster – Miss Luxury – 45
The Kyle Sowashes – I’m Busy – I Don’t Know What To Tell You Rachel Grimes – End Of Dominion – The Way Forth Crayon – Secret Goldfish – Moominland EP John Parish (Featuring PJ Harvey) – Sorry For Your Loss – Bird Dog Dante FACS – Another Country – IN FOCUS: 2019 In Review – [C] Hazy Sour Cherry – Like A Radio – Tour De Tokyo Ahem – Wishing Well – Try Again
Jon Solomon’s Holiday Radio Show returns for a 31st year.
The 2019 edition of my Holiday Radio Show on WPRB will officially begin on Christmas Eve at 5:00 pm ET and run until Christmas day at 6:00 pm ET, with a pre-marathon warm-up mix starting two hours prior to kickoff on 12/24.
Each of the last eight years I have asked a number of friends, musicians, comedians and others that I admired to record their definition of an original “Christmas story” to be interspersed throughout my marathon, alongside Snaildartha: The Story of Jerry the Christmas Snail, The all-Misfits-inspired sets, Ramones-o-Clock, Lindstrom’s “Little Drummer Boy,” The all-Fall Christmas set, Joel Phelps’ myriad pieces and other annual favorites.
This addition has brought a new level of excitement to the program and made the tradition all the more special.
In year 31, I’m counting on YOU!
Across 2011-2018, Mac McCaughan (Superchunk), wrestler/author Mick Foley, Glenn Mercer (The Feelies), Tom Scharpling (“The Best Show”), director Lance Bangs, Screaming Females, Pete & Alex from Star Wars Minute, Danny Tamberelli (The Adventure of Pete & Pete), Chris Brokaw, Jennifer O’Connor, Peter Prescott (Mission of Burma/Volcano Suns/Minibeast), Rick Rizzo (Eleventh Dream Day), David Hill (“Snap Judgement”, “This American Life”), Sadie Dupuis (Speedy Ortiz), comedian Jon Daly, Nick Thorburn (Islands), Doug Gillard, Rebecca Clay Cole (Wild Flag), Connor Ratliff & Mikey Erg, Bill Goffrier (The Embarrassment/Big Dipper), Joel R.L. Phelps (Silkworm/The Downer Trio), Mark Robinson (Unrest/Flin Flon/Air Miami), Brett Davis (“The Special Without”), Seth Herzog (“The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon”), Boston Red Sox organist Josh Kantor, actor Ethan Sandler, Matthew Reid-Schwartz (Kinski), Pat Byrne (“Prove It All Night”), Edith Frost, comedian Chip Chantry, Perry Shall, The Rutabega, SAVAK, AmandaX, The Gotobeds, “Financial Guru” Gregg Gethard, David Nagler, Fond Han, Jeff Lyons (Used Wigs), Franklin Bruno, SWIVS, Glazer and many other remarkable people have recorded pieces for the marathon.
The deadline for 2019 is December 20th.
What is a Christmas Story?
Well…it can be a reading of a favorite Xmas tale, a cover of a holiday song you love or an original piece.
I leave that in your capable hands.
I’d love to get so many recordings that I can once again debut one of these an hour throughout the marathon.
My lone request is that you do not post your piece elsewhere before it airs during the show! Please! Afterwards knock yourself out, just mention the show when you do share on Bandcamp/Soundcloud/Et cetera.
Please spread the word and have a happy holiday season.
Jon Solomon 103.3 fm WPRB
Ps. Songs inspired by The Fall, The Ramones and/or The Misfits will always get priority status!
Jon Solomon can be heard every Wednesday evening across the Delaware Valley from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm ET on 103.3 fm WPRB.
A veteran, award-winning DJ with over three decades of experience, Solomon is also available to DJ parties, weddings or private events. Just ask him nicely.
