News: December, 2009

Thanks to all of you who came out December 19th to Chicago's Double Door to benefit the "Get Well" funds for the Scotland Yard Gospel Choir and Lawrence Peters.  Thanks to you all we raised over $4000 for them AND gathered a couple bins worth of canned good for Catholic Charities.

Hope you enjoyed yourselves.  We're looking forward to new music in 2010 from all the bands that played: Dex Romweber Duo (baby, that killer cover of the Xavier Cugat nugget "Brazil" is still jumping in my head), the Blacks and the Detroit Cobras.

Happy New Year from your hard working pals at Bloodshot.

Ahhh, the end of the year.  Time for lists and resolutions.  Resolutions and lists.  The busy staffers at Bloodshot are no different, so I when I stood creepily over their desks and demanded some thoughts from them on the end of year, they obliged with the following:

The Hideout Players have scheduled two additional family-friendly performances of their fourth annual Hideout Christmas panto. This year's panto, Ho Ho Ho the Humanity: Prior to his career as a bringer of gifts, Santa Claus was a zeppelin pirate!, will re-play at the Hideout on Sunday January 3 at 3:00pm & 6:00pm.

The added shows are to benefit Burned Whale, a local, short-term charity that has been organized to help three panto cast members whose Pilsen home burned on December 17, the evening of this year's panto premiere. Both the early and late panto performances were cancelled for December 17, and all proceeds from the December 18 events were donated to Burned Whale.

In Ho Ho Ho the Humanity... the Hideout Players return with two performances of their annual pantomime, telling the little-known story of Santa Claus‚s death-defying former life as captain of the zeppelin pirate ship, Sally‚s Revenge, and his life-changing voyage to the North Pole in search of treasure.

Starring Chicago‚s newest Pantomime Dame Michael "Plus Size" Bulington as Bagatha Christie, reality TV celebrity and former Olympic wrestling bronze medalist. Also featuring Derek Erdman as Captain of the Sky Pirates (later becoming our hero St. Nick), Kenneth Morrison as the vaguely villainous Pasha and Callie Roach as Prince Terrence of Sardine-ia. Sally Timms and Nat Ward narrate as assorted Hideout regulars double as tough-nosed airbenders, swarthy pilots, polar bears and overworked pinko elves.

Directed and written by Nat Ward. Adapted and panto-fied by Jon Langford. Music arranged and performed by Rob Cruz and other talented folks.

Advance ticket purchase is highly recommended. 
Adults $12, children $5.  Floor and chair seating available.
Tix at www.hideoutchicago.com

Thank you, ye be warned.

Yes, it's that time of year.  You're all running out the clocks at work, waiting for the few precious days off that the holidays bring.  Or, you are so sick of those damn dogs barking "Jingle Bells" or hearing "Grandma Got Run Over by a Rainbow" that you wonder what's it all about?

Thus, we thought we'd answer the burning questions you have regarding what do those folks at Bloodshot love/hate about Christmas music?  Hopefully it'll add some levity and/or insight to your day, and pass a few more minutes until the boss lets you go home for the day...

JP:

Favorite: Anything off "A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector"
Most Hated: "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"
Sez JP: "Totally scarring if Santa Claus isn't your daddy. It's creepy. And weird."

Scott:

Favorite: "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas" Burl Ives
Most Hated: "Sleigh Ride"  Johnny Mathis

Pete:

Favorites:

Elvis-"Blue Christmas"
Bing Crosby- "Mele Kalikimaka"
Jose Feliciano- "Feliz Navidad"
Fear- "Fuck Christmas"
Mystery Science Theater 3000- "Have a Patrick Swayze Christmas"

Most Hated: "Santa Baby"
Sez Pete: "How creepy is that song? It's about a woman seducing Santa so he'll bring her more presents. Any song that even bares the potential of giving the listener a mental image of someone having sex with Santa gets an automatic, enthusiastic thumbs down." (Boss's editorial note:  Pete is wrong.  If Eartha Kitt's version of this song doesn't put, ahem, a candy cane in your stocking, then you're kinda dead...)

Marah:

Favorites: Above all else I think I like "Christmas Wrapping" by The Waitresses, however, I also like:
"All I want for Christmas is you" by Mariah Carey
the part of "Christmas don't be late" by Alvin & the Chipmunks where they sing about just wanting a hula hoop
"Just like Christmas" by Low (best Christmas record, as a whole)
"Christmas in Hollis" by Run DMC
(Boss's editorial note:  While Marah gets major points for the Run DMC, she needs a stern talking to regarding Mariah Carey.)

Most Hated: "My LEAST favorite Christmas song (w/ a bullet this year) is the new Bob Dylan version of "Must be Santa." It makes me want to die. "

Swank:

Favorites:
“Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis” - Tom Waits
“Hard Candy Christmas” - Dolly Parton
“Holly & Her Mistletoe” - Jim Lauderdale
“Jesus On The Couch” - Otis Gibbs
“Oh It's Christmas” - Rosebuds
“Just Like Christmas” - Low

Most Hated:
“Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” – Elmo & Patsy

Rob (Bossman):

Favorites:

"I'm Mr Heat/Snow Miser"   That's a helluva groove.

"Merry Christmas Baby"  Ike and Tina Turner (just HOLDING that record is an aphrodisiac)

"Daddy's Drinking Up Our Christmas" Commander Cody

"You're All I Want For Christmas"  Anita Ellis  (will melt the coldest of hearts)

"Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer"  Gene Autry.   Seriously, if this just doesn't make you smile and singalong, go live in your cave already...

Most Hated:

Like I said, those damn barking dogs.

"Feliz Navidad" Jose Feliciano   You know, it wasn't too bad the FIRST 9,000 times I heard it.....

"Having A Wonderful Christmas Time"  I don't who does it, but that jaunty, shitty synth pop evokes an almost primal anger in me.

Nan:

Nan does not partake in Holiday music.

Check out Amy Gore's little tribute to the fat man in red (no, not a badly sunburned Rush Limbaugh)....we're talkin' SANTA!

It's a sweet, lo-fi and a little twisted number called "Dear Santa"

DOWNLOAD FOR FREE HERE!

The Bottle Rockets will release a new live 7-inch single through Euclid Records store on Dec. 15. Recorded during the band’s in-store performance on Record Store Day this past April 18, the release, like all the 6 previous in the series, will be strictly limited to 300 copies.

The 45s are sold exclusively at Euclid Records for $9.99….

Miss the harrowing and entertaining documentary on Andre Williams "Agile Mobile Hostile: A Year With Andre Williams" when it played the festival circuit last year?

No worries, as now you can stream it from the comfort of your own home for free HERE.

It's worth yer time.  What a ride.....

Where can you find Ryan Adams' Heartbreaker nestled betwixt 50 Cent and Kings of Leon?

On Rolling Stone's Top 100 of the Decade list, of course.

Check it out here.

Marquee acts featured on our China comp tour the U.S.