People often ask me (pictured above) “Jon, what’s a way to ensure I find a place on your 25-Hour Holiday Radio Show?”
The short answer is “Be Joel RL Phelps. If you are Joel RL Phelps, it is *really* going to increase your odds.”
That said, there are *many* thematic sets during the Xmas marathon, but I try not to re-air them all from year to year unless there’s fresh material to be added.
So…while there are no guarantees…allow me to present a few inspiring bullet points.
-Record a seasonal song reworking a Ramones tune and it stands a decent chance of showing up at 12:34 am ET for RAMONES-O-CLOCK. Curious if your cover has already been done? Ask me!
-Write and tape a holiday tune built around the Glenn Danzig songbook for inclusion on the ALL-MISFITS SET at 1:38 am ET.
-Have a song by or about reindeer? My daughter hosts a program WITHIN the marathon called MAGGIE’S REINDEER RUMBLE and she would love to hear from you.
-There’s an ALL-BLACK SABBATH SET that can always use new pieces. Especially this year. RIP Ozzy.
-Same with the soothing balm that is ALL-VELVET UNDERGROUND / LOU REED INSPIRED SET.
-In 2023 I did a well-received ALL-JOY DIVISION / NEW ORDER-INSPIRED SET for the first time. In 2024 it expanded. I’d repeat it this year with more material beyond what already exists.
-Enjoy mashing up the beats with the rhymes? The ALL-BEASTIE BOYS SET is for you!
-Fond of the post punk stylings of one Mr. Mark E. Smith? the THE ALL-FALL SET is your destination. Did you know Neal Markowski once re-wrote all of Hex Induction Hour song-by-song for it? (You don’t need to go that far unless you want to.)
-Last Christmas I premiered an epic ALL-NEIL YOUNG INSPIRED SET for the first time. Let us run it back with even more covers / originals / mash-ups / what have you.
-Finally, this Christmas Eve I will swing an ALL-KRAFTWERK SET for the first time. Ready your bleeps and bloops.
All submissions for my 25-Hour Holiday Radio Show on 103.3 fm WPRB can be sent right here. Please get them in by December 19th at the latest.
Here are the first half of the Christmas Stories recorded exclusively for the 2024 marathon on 103.3 fm WPRB.
Part two of this review will appear here on December 17th! Stay tuned.
Please follow the links provided to support these musicians, artists and incredible folks who were kind enough to create original pieces to debut during the broadcast.
May these recordings – several of which are “name your price” downloads for charitable causes – encourage you to record something for this year.
The submission deadline is December 19th! Don’t miss out!
You can explore a complete archive of stories recorded from 2011-2023 here.
And now, in the order they originally aired…
Dangeristic – “Just Like Christmas”
A belated Low cover from a family in Massachusetts.
Juliet Fletcher is a writer of fiction + nonfiction, event host and editor for hire.
Tobias Carroll – “Christmas Ghosts”
Tobias Carroll is the author of five books. Up next: Kill List, a book on the film for Bloomsbury Academic’s Timecodes series. Read his story here.
ANDEMIC – “Jingle Bells”
The solo work of Andy Williams, guitarist and vocalist of the band Lefty’s Deceiver and contributor to a number of other Philadelphia-area collaborations. Look for his new Xmas EP on Bandcamp soon!
Returning with a seventh marathon submission, please welcome Philadelphia’s own Sebstian Petu. This track puts the listener alongside Sebastian on a double decker tour bus on a Philadelphia December day.
Human Adult Band – “Celluloid Santa”
Human Adult Band is a long-running (since ’02) collective-style noise rock, no wave & drone rock band based out of NewJersey.
“Rec’d on the Tone Zone Mobile Unit in a room at Woodrock, Raritan, NJ. During the outdoor breaks, T was instrumental in converting the band into drone believers. Bleached garments, distro LPs and Reynols photographs were exchanged among these devotees of out-rock.”
Bret Saunders – “Is It Christmas already”
Did you know that Bret Saunders is a friend to music?
Old Brunswick – “Snowy Morning”
What if I told you Old Brunswick is an international blorp jazz collective with bases in St. John, Canada and Cape Cod? Well, they are!
The welcome return of the proprietors of ambient noisescapes and improvized electronics known as The Brown Christmas.
Keith Karabin – “Remembering the Light”
Keith specializes in helping clients create enjoyable anxiety and stress management lifestyles. He has been a counselor for over 20 years in almost every setting from small agencies to large hospitals.
Bela Koe-Krompecher – “Christmas 2024”
Frequent marathon contributor Bela Koe-Krompecher works as a social worker in Columbus, Ohio. He is the author of the book “Love, Death & Photosynthesis.” Read this story here.
Grass Jaw – Christmas Steve – “2024 Christmas Steve”
Wrapping up part one with an Advance Base classic reinterpreted by Ithaca’s Grass Jaw.
Speed Week – Business As Usual – Weak Speed – [N] – Members of Split System and The Brakes. Faradjallah & Attarazat Addahabia – Aflana – Habibi Funk 011: Al Hadaoui The Focus Group with Susan Christie – A Circle And A Star Part 2 (Poetry by Michael Hill) – The Fallen By Watch Bird (Expanded Edition) – [N] – 15th anniversary expanded edition of an early Jane Weaver album. Loop – Be Here Now – A Gilded Eternity Snail Mail – Shoot The Singer (Live from the Pavement Museum in NYC) – Pavements (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – [N] Tim Daisy & Ken Vandermark – Autostrata – Light on the Wall Ultra Lights – Just Like You Want – Just Like You Want – [N]
The Jesus Lizard – Nub – Goat – Might this be the perfect running song? Warda – Khaleek Hena El Wadaa Live pt 2 – Khalik Hena – Originally released in 1973. Spelterini – Magnésie – Hyomon-Dako / Magnésie – [N] FLOWTING CLOWDS – There Are Rivers – Earth, Sun, Moon / There are Rivers – Debut 7″ by Jeff Mueller and Sean Meadows from June of 44. OSEES – I GOT A LOT – LIVE AT THE BROAD MUSEUM – [N] Tortoise – Vexations – Touch Lifeguard – Ultra Violence – Ultra Violence – [N]
Chris T-T – 100,000 Turkeys – Best Of – HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Olaf Olafsonn and the Big Bad Trip – Full Divinity – Full Divinity – [R] Twisted Sandshoe Band – Enchanted Carnivore – The Science of Sand Ammar El Sherei – Enta Enta – Music From The East – Reissue of a 1976 album. The Exorzist III – The Missing Blinds – Who Are The Pagans Today? – [N] Exnovios – Ya Casi Es Navidad – Demo
The Night Is Young 4: For the first time since 2022, three all-new hours of Neil Young + Crazy Horse reimagined by an impressive assortment of musicians, including your recommendations, requests + recordings. Our community-supported radio station permits DJs the privilege to host conceptual broadcasts like The Night Is Young whenever inspiration hits! Please consider that when you visit pledge.wprb.com. Thanks to Pat for this latest header graphic. LONG MAY NEIL RUN.
Constantines – Don’t Cry No Tears – Constantines Play Young/Unintended Play Lightfoot Banda Los Cenzontles ft. David Hidalgo – Powderfinger – Powderfinger Squirrel Flower – Cortez the Killer (Live in Austin, Tx) – Cortez the Killer (Live in Austin, Tx) DJ Tenderloin – Keep On Rockin’ the Vote, Mr. Soul – [N] – Created for tonight’s broadcast! Neil Young – Natural Beauty – Dreamin’ Man Live ’92 Kathi McDonald – Down To The Wire – Insane Asylum Coca Leaves & Pearls feat. Chris Forsyth – Lookout Joe – The Gold Rush: An Uncut Tribute to Neil Young – [C] – [N]
Eleventh Dream Day – Like A Hurricane – Cover Zuma – Encore! Jeff Rosenstock & Laura Stevenson – Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere – Younger Still Buddy Miles – Down By the River – Them Changes Neil Young – Razor Love – Silver & Gold Scott The Hoople – Requiem For A Horse – NEIL IV: The Horse Lives On – [N] – Scott McCaughey from The Minus 5, Young Fresh Fellows, Baseball Project, Filthy Friends… The Walkabouts – On The Beach – Death Valley Days Kurt Vile with The Sadies – White Line – The Gold Rush: An Uncut Tribute to Neil Young – [C] – [N]
Thine Retail Simps – Barstool Blooze – Strike Gold, Strike Back, Strike Out Human Adult Band – Vampire Blues – Hearing Damage Sessions DJ Tenderloin supercut – Heart of Gold Experience – Created for tonight’s broadcast! Neil Young – Shots – Re-Ac-Tor Summer Snow – Flying On The Ground – 45 hench – borrowed tune – PRF Monthy Tribute Series May 2016: Neil Young – [C] The Rick Johnson Rock and Roll Machine – We R in Control – Headed for the Ditch – A Michigan Tribute to Neil Young – [C]
The Bates – Out Of The Blue (Hey Hey, My My) – Live Göttingen 1992 Joan Shelley & Nathan Salsburg – Little Wing – The Gold Rush: An Uncut Tribute to Neil Young – [C] – [N] Studio Boys – Bad Fog of Loneliness – Recorded for tonight’s broadcast! Joshua Newman, Pat Finnerty, Rory Connell, John Balz Balzarini, Andrew Jones, Rob DeCarolis and Zach Miller. Michelle Lordi – Only Love Can Break Your Heart – Two Moons George Korein & The Spleen – Music Arcade – Music Arcade – [N] – Recorded for tonight’s broadcast! Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Broken Circle (Over and Over) – Fu##in’ Up Lung – Don’t Let it Bring You Down – Look Out for my Love: A Neil Young Covers Album to Benefit RAICES – [C]
Five Eight – The Needle and the Damage Done – The Angriest Man The Knight Dreams – I Believe In You – I Believe In You – [N] – Recorded for tonight’s broadcast! FM Mason – Revolution Blues (Version) – PRF Monthy Tribute Series May 2016: Neil Young – [C] Highlife – Motion Pictures – Motion Pictures MJ Lenderman & The Wind – Lotta Love – The Gold Rush: An Uncut Tribute to Neil Young – [C] – [N] Popular Music – Philadelphia – Philadelphia
Des Demonas – Conduit – Apocalyptic Boom! Boom! Ara Kekedjian – Ghapama – Habibi Funk 033: Bourj Hammoud Groove – [N] – Out Friday! Pavement – Grounded – Wowee Zowee Art Heist – October 16th : Morning – Demo Tape The Kyle Sowashes – Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald – Wreck – 50 years ago Monday. Gordon Lightfoot cover. Tortoise – Axial Seamount – Touch – [N] The Original Sins – Sally Kirkland – Out There – RIP.
Tee Vee Repairmann – Only A Memory – 45 – [N] – Tour-only single. Homeboy Sandman – First Day of Christmas – 12 Days of Christmas and Dia de Los Reyes Zonk – A – ZONK Wreckless Eric – Lady of the Manor – England Screaming – [N] – Album out November 21st. Water Damage – Occii 090525 – Occii 090525 L’Orchestre National de Mauritanie – La Mone – La Mone / Kamlat the educated fools – dance the apartment – Tantric Decapitation: 69 minutes of trichotomy and liquefaction – [N] – d/b/a The Retail Simps.
Kiwi Jr. – Hard Drive, Ontario – Hard Drive, Ontario – [N] – First new music since 2022. Darius Jones – Another Kind of Forever – Legend of e’Boi (The Hypervigilant Eye) Wet Tuna – Raw Food – Warping All by Yourself
Black Eyes – Break a Leg – Hostile Design – [N] – First new record in 20+ years. Nalbandian The Ethiopian & Either/Orchestra – Amhara Rumba – Ethiopiques 32 – The series continues! Advance Base – Movie Theater Manager – [N] Yoo Doo Right, Population II & Nolan Potter – Cavalier (We’re Going Down) – Yoo II Avec Nolan Potter Ryan Werner – Dirty Mind – Dirty Hell – [N] – “This is side one of Dirty Mind by Prince and side two of Hotter Than Hell by KISS. I don’t know why I did this. Please don’t sue me.” Hadewijch – Salvia – Live Specimens I – [R] The A-Sides – Sidewalk Chalk – Hello, Hello
The Drags – Teenage Invasion – Dragsploitation…Now! – [N] – 1995 album, reissued. The Pastor Chris Congregation – Don’t Worry It’s Just a Snakebite (What Has Happened to This Generation?) – West Virginia Snake Handler Revival “They Shall Take Up Serpents” Natural Information Society + Bitchin Bajas – Totality – Totality – [N] Via – 1,000 MPH – S/T – 1987 recordings by Thalia Zedek (Come, Live Skull, Uzi) and Jerry di Rienzo (Cell, Nuclear Theater). Patrick Cowley – Tech-No – Hard Ware – [N] – Collects 1980–1982 recordings. Tim Barnes – Metamorphosis Alpha – Inside Energy IfIHadAHiFi – Everyone’s A Doctor – Paws in the Bacon Grease – [N]
Astute Palate – Loose Wings – S/T – Played last night at Johnny Brendas. Rolf Liebermann – Symphonie “Les Echanges” Komposition Für 156 Maschinen – Symphonie “Les Echanges” – [R] Prolapse – Ectoplasm Untied (A Faust Remix) – Swearing For Decoration – [N] Psychic Temple – Essaouira – Plays Planet Caravan – With Jeff Parker. Roseblood – Become The Night – S/T – Kathy Foster from The Thermals / All Girl Summer Fun Band.
Hoist the flag! Year 37 of THE MARATHON will be here soon!
The 2025 edition of Jon Solomon’s 25-Hour Holiday Radio Show on 103.3 fm WPRB rises on Christmas Eve at 5:00 pm ET and unfurls until Christmas Day at 6:00 pm ET.
Following this year’s live epic broadcast (which can run long if we need), for the first time ever a BEST OF THE MARATHON show will air playing greatest hits and your past favorites until 10:00 pm ET on Christmas.
All the best traditions are slated to return in 2025…
That means Snaildartha! Lindstrom’s Little Drummer Boy! Ramones-o-Clock!
We can pull from a pool that includes ever-evolving Xmas segments inspired by The Misfits, New Order / Joy Division, Black Sabbath (RIP Ozzy), The Velvet Underground, Beastie Boys and The Fall!
Joel RL Phelps! Maggie’s Reindeer Rumble too!
The Neil Young set that premiered one year ago too? Maybe!
…plus hours upon hours of new material.
On top of everything else, this Christmas Eve expect our first-ever Kraftwerk holiday tribute set! We’ve been planning since last fall. That’s a great inspiration if you’re trying to come up with something to record…
Find a fresh line of marathon-inspired shirts here, plus all the prior years’ graphics.
Thank you Patrick Rapa for the inspired marathon artwork.
Press folks, reach out.
Now, let’s get to my absolute favorite marathon tradition…
Each of the last 14x years I’ve asked friends, musicians, comedians, fellow DJs and others I admire to record their definition of an original “Christmas story” to be interspersed throughout my marathon, alongside other annual favorites.
These pieces then premiere hourly (if not more frequently) thought the marathon. Surprise submissions and pieces by listeners / strangers are often the best of the lot. That’s why I’m inviting YOU to be part of the show!
My lone request is that you do not post your piece elsewhere before it airs during the show! Please! Afterwards go wild, just mention the show when you do share on Bandcamp / Soundcloud / etc.
Please spread the word and have a safe holiday season, everybody.
Snõõper – Blockhead – Worldwide – [N] Group Hewaya – Irja – Habibi Funk 031: A Selection Of Music From Libyan Tapes – [C] Minami Deutsch – Fortune Goodies – Fortune Goodies Hand Habits – Lioness – Will Swim to You: A Tribute to Jason Molina – [C] Natural Information Society – Perseverance Flow – Perseverance Flow – [N] Kassa Overall – C.R.E.A.M. (CASH RULES EVERYTHING AROUND ME) – Cream Ladyhawk – Sinking Ship – No Can Do
Nape Neck – Pylon – The Shallowest End – [N] Nina Nastasia – A Blazing Fire – Songs for a World of Trouble The Necks – Ghost Net – Disquiet – [N] Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band – Better If You Make Me – New Threats From The Soul Street Eaters – Cuts – Opaque – [N]
The Bug Club – How to Be a Confidante – Very Human Features – [N] Muluken Mellesse – Djèmèrègn – Muluken Mellesse With The Dahlak Band – Originally released in 1976. Pavement – No More Kings – Schoolhouse Rock! Rocks – [C] Bitchin Bajas – Graut – Inland See – [N] The Untouchable All-Girl Band – Tollbooth – S/T – Wow! From 1960s Mercer County, NJ. Ahmed Ben Ali – Jara – Habibi Funk 031: A Selection Of Music From Libyan Tapes – [C] The Bats – A Crutch A Post – Corner Coming Up – [N]
OSESS – ENCRYPTED BOUNCE – LIVE AT THE BROAD MUSEUM – [N] Friendship – Hard To Love A Man – I Will Swim to You: A Tribute to Jason Molina – [C] Khalab & M’berra Ensemble – Curfew – M’berra – [R] The Blind Morning – The Furthest Part of the Near Field – S/T – Eben of Del Rey. Cast of Thousands – Serpo – Useful People – With Max from Flesh Lights! DJ SMILEY BOBBY – Drum Exercise For Sound System (90-110 bpm mix) – Dhol Tasha Drum Exercises From Maharashtra – [R] The Kyle Sowashes – What Do You Want Me To Do About It? – Start Making Sense – [N] – Playing Jerry’s on Front with Honey Radar this Friday night.
The Gotobeds – Non-Fucking Fiction – MASTERCLASS – [N] Mohamed Taled – Karr (I) “Bëndieu” – Nouakchott Wedding Songs – [C] Yeah Yeah No – Married Miss New Jersey – Leicester Square Bird People – Into the Ring Nebula – Terma
Twisted Teens – When the Wire Get Cut – S/T Hitomi “Penny” Tohyama – Sexy Robot – Tokyo Funk Diva – [N] – Originally released in 1983. The Lemonheads – If I Could Talk I’d Tell You – Car Button Cloth Lichens – You Are Excrement, You Can Become Gold – The Psychic Nature of Being Run-DMC – Rock the House – King of Rock Another Michael – Farewell Transmission – I Will Swim to You: A Tribute to Jason Molina – [C] – [N] – I’ve come around on this one. Camper Van Beethoven – Oh No! – Telephone Free Landslide Victory – It is the 40th anniversary of this album and this song was recently covered by Eddy Current Suppression Ring.
The Fall – Introduction / Cruiser’s Creek – Seminal Live – Recently remastered. Igor Lumpert – Resistance of the Earth – Resistance of the Earth sunn O))) – Eternity’s Pillars – Eternity’s Pillars b/w Raise the Chalice & Reverential – [N] Uncomfortable Police – Thermodynamic Moral Panic – Hazmat Kat – The duo of D. Trevor Kampmann (hollAnd) and Mark Robinson (Unrest/Flin Flon). Charlie Werber – Krater 0 – Krater Antibalas – La Ceiba – Hourglass – [N] Government Issue – Hear The Scream (alternate take) – S/T
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.
