Honky-tonk holiday: If you need a break from the ol’ Bing Crosby standards, check out raucous Jim Waive and the Sweet Nutcrackers at Sarah White’s annual Country Christmas show. December 23, Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar.
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The presents are all wrapped and under the tree. You still have time to go out and hear some music. At the Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar, Sarah White (www.sarah-white.com) is hosting the third annual Country Christmas show on Saturday night, December 23. Jim Waive’s (www.jimwaive.com) Sweet Nutcrackers will join White and her holiday band, The Manger Babies, for an evening of country music. Both bands promise to work up some Christmas tunes, as well. Waive says that the event “is usually a whole hell of a lot of fun.” Find out if you like a bit of twang in your carols.
Or on Christmas Eve, you can catch one of our hardest-working local musicians, George Melvin (www.homepage.mac.com/georgemelvin). Melvin, who has a spate of gigs during December, will be out at the Keswick Country Club playing until Santa comes down the chimney and makes him go home.
If you are still lacking in holiday spirit this late in the game, Christmas albums, perhaps in combination with your nog of choice, are the way to go. I grew up on Mitch Miller and Johnny Mathis (I swear my mom and dad do like music), and when it comes to traditional holiday sounds, it is very hard to beat Nat “King” Cole’s records. I have always found that the much-cherished Vince Guaraldi CD really conjures up a time of happiness and excitement in many people’s lives. Those first three recognizable notes launch people into the Christmas spirit. And I also like holiday CDs by Dwight Yoakam and Mary Margaret O’Hara. Good Luck finding the second one. My friend Tim Anderson, front man for the Stoned Wheat Things and The Gladstones, also recommends Tony Bennett’s Snowfall from the 1960s, Ella Swings Christmas and Mr. Santa’s Boogie on Savoy.
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Even the most hardened heart softens to the sounds of holiday tunes: Check out these classic recordings.
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I hate to do it, but given the small number of gigs in the clubs during December, I was forced to resort to the obvious. I asked a number of local music celebs what they wanted under their Christmas tree:
John D’earth—For Christmas I hope to get an elite, kick-ass speaking choir of 10 to 16 people to improvise crowd scenes and speak in unison using complex rhythms for a piece I’m writing commemorating 25 years of First Night Virginia, to be performed on New Year’s Eve by the Free Bridge Quintet, Charlottesville High School Strings conducted by Laura Mulligan Thomas, three actors, and the speaking choir.
The performances will take place on December 31st at 7:30pm and 9pm at Christ Episcopal Church. There will be some required rehearsals in the weeks ahead so individuals traveling during the holidays will be unlikely to participate. Individuals interested in auditioning should e-mail First Night Virginia Executive Director Steven Levine at info@firstnightva.org and use the phrase “Speaking Choir” in the subject line.
Matty Metcalf—Being under strict orders not to request any new instruments this year, my wife decided to give me a baby girl. And being the scion of oft-truant musicians, she will be arriving a month or so after Christmas. On my wish list: nose-clips, shoulder-bibs, and Tom Waits’ Orphans album for late-night baby/baddy bonding time.
Tanya K—Spiritualistically: an opportunity to give to others.
Materialistically: a round trip ticket to Salt Lake City, Utah.
Patrick Reed—Hmm. What do I want? A round trip ticket for the David and Oliver NYC Shuttle Bus [the Starlight Express]. A 2,000-2,500 square-foot-space with power and facilities to throw a one-off dance party in. And a cool, hip nonprofit to benefit from said dance party.
Michaux Hood—I am getting a serger sewing machine for custom clothing. And a Moroccan rug from Matteus Frankovich from his stash, just back from Marrakesh, for our new floors.
Bob Girard—A good review of [his new CD] SunGinChocolate. A sold out show
at Starr Hill on December 30. A fifth band to juggle.
Uh, world peace. What I’m surely getting is a sold out show at Starr Hill on December 30. It’s “The Thrilla at Starr Hilla” and it’s virtually sold out (Starr Hill may have some tickets available online). It features Capt Tunes and The Charlottesville Blues All Stars (Dick Green, Doug Jay, Paul Hammond, Steve Riggs). It will be ugly and crowded and a shitload of fun.
Tom Proutt and Emily McCormack—A hot tub.