News:

Every Wednesday during the winter months, the blog Soup and Bread hosts a soup party at the Hideout.  From 5:30 to 8, eat soup, drink beer, see friends and be convivial.  The event is free, but donations are very welcome and all donations go to various food pantries in the city to help alleviate hunger--this week it is the Franciscan Outreach.

This week, Bloodshot Rob and a few other cooks  are contributing some nifty little concoctions and will be ladling them out to the soup lover that resides in all of us.

Rob will not tell us what he is making, but promises it will have nothing to do with all the haggis he has been making us eat this week for the Scottish holiday Burns Night.

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.

Hate the malls?  Don't trust the postal service? Lazy?  Like to shope while drinking beer?

Us too.

Thus, Bloodshot is participating again in the annual HIDEOUT HOLIDAY SALE.

Get fine crafts and gifts from some of Chicago's finest crafters and artisans.  And also us.

Pick up t shirts, CDs, kiddie gifts, pint glasses, and other nifty goodies for that Bloodshot fan on your list (Or you, even.  Someone's got to look out for you, you know)

6 to 9 pm on December 15th and 22nd at the Hideout, of course.

Work in the Loop?

Well, head on down to the Christmas Market in Daley Plaza this holiday season and stop by booth #47.  It's run by our friends over at Lake Claremont Press, who specialize in books on Chicago's history and characters.  They're also carrying some Chicago-Centric Bloodshot titles.  All can be had for quite cheap.

So, when you're out sneaking a smoke or running to get a bagel, or going to the Daley Center to pay off that stack of parking tickets issued by the new fascist parking meter goons,  stop by the LCP booth on Dearborn.  Hours are 11-8 (until 9 on Fri & Sat) and the Market runs until December 24th.

Ok, look, we work hard here.  We love the bands and artists we represent.  We have kissed normal lives and paychecks goodbye to be here, to sing the praises of music we feel has merit and meaning, to do our part to keep the forces of mediocrity and dim-wittedness at bay.  Countless hours are spent screaming into the void, hoping that what we do is noticed by some discerning ears and that the culture is made just a little, tiny bit better.

Then we get news like this.

Seriously, people, is this the best we can do as a culture?  It really makes us want to kick a bucket of gasoline over in the office, turn our backs as the sirens arrive, and disappear into the woods.  We may or may not be armed.

Please, help save what little shreds of dignity remain in the musical landscape and put a stop to this madness.  Fine, don't buy Bloodshot.  But at least go buy some Ray Charles, or Cramps or Peggy Lee  or Sham 69 or George Jones or Black Flag or Little Walter, SOMETHING of merit.

It's hard enough to get out of bed sometimes, but I think we'll all be coming in late tomorrow.

Bloodshot Digest: The "I'm So Pissed FOX Cancelled Dollhouse" Edition:

• Check out this week's Gapers Block feature on music-industry interns -- the piece features a couple of Bloodshot's own, Jill and Zach! Thanks for all the nice stuff you guys said about us (and thanks for not telling the writer we paid you $20 to say those things).

• No Depression has been hard-at-work digitizing its back issues for the web. This week, they featured Scott H Biram's cover story from a few years back -- fans new to Scott's work can read about the horrific car crash Biram survived, and recovered from, with determination and humor.

• Speaking of surviving, we're happy to report SYGC continues to heal from their van accident. We're told that Mark's now able to take walks, and should be able to go home soon. There's another benefit show for the band tomorrow night at the venue, and our just-announced holiday show at The Double Door will also aid the band. Gapers Block has the rundown here.

That's Right!  More anniversary tomfoolery, but this time for a good cause!

December 19th at the Double Door in Chicago we're throwing another affordable bash and 100% of the door goes to the recovery funds of Scotland Yard Gospel Choir** and Lawrence Peters*

Playing will be The Detroit Cobras, Dex Romweber Duo, The Blacks and the Lawrence Peters Outfit.

There will be a canned food drive (bring a couple of cans and get something nice) and you can do all that last minute Christmas shopping at our booth of wares.

Join us for some holiday cheer and some fine rock and roll.

** Read about Scotland Yard's horrible van accident here

* Who is Lawrence Peters? Lawrence is probably best known for singing The Old Black Hen on the first Magnolia Electric Company album. He also sings, and/or plays drums, or washboard, with The Golden Horse Ranch Band, Plastic Crimewave Sound, The Velcro Lewis Group, Mar Caribe, Eiren Caffall, Hardscrabble and more. Perhaps you know him as a bartender at the Hideout, or with his singing on a Bloodshot comp with Nora O'Connor and  he DJs all over.  He broke his foot in an accident this year and was unable to work and is spiralling into debt due to his medical bills.  It's our way of helping out of the unsung heroes of the Chicago scene that makes this city so great.

The Lawrence Peters Outfit is a dyed-in-the-wool honky tonk band, with bluegrass influences, in the tradition of Webb Pierce, Jimmy Martin, George Jones, Roger Miller, and Loretta Lynn. Lawrence sings, and plays snare drum, leading the band through his classic originals, and a choice selection of vintage material. The group gets it just right, with plenty of fire on the faster tunes, and that sweet country smolder on the moodier songs. This is for fans of the deep-rooted, heart-felt kind of country music that you don't often hear anymore.

Well, here we are, back in Chicago after a whirlwind 36 hours in the Valley of the Sun.   The forecast for us?  Cloudy, drizzle and in the low 50's all week (why did we leave again?).  It seems like only yesterday we were all parading around the hotel pool in our Speedos ordering Bloody Marys from the cabana boy.  Oh wait, it was.

Anyway, we wanted to thank all of you who came out on a perfect evening and supported the cause.  Everyone at the Sail Inn was super nice to us, and all the regulars who were sipping beers from their personal-sized pitchers all day helped moved stuff around and pitch in.  The BBQ from Honey Bear's was top notch, and, forgive me fellow members of the Shrine of the Holy Smoked Pig, the beans were almost soooo good as to outshine the pulled pork.  Damn, they were tasty.

We're sorry Justin couldn't make it, but when he cancels a show, you can be sure there is a damn good reason behind it.  We'll make sure he gets out there soon.

Thanks to all folks of Tempe who were giddy at such an event being held in town.  So many of you were so appreciative of it, it makes all the logistics going into it worthwhile.  We also want to tip our proverbial hats to the folks we who came from such far flung places as Oklahoma City, Reno, Santa Barbara, Albuquerque, Durango, and many other locales.  It really and truly means a lot to us.

Thanks to all the great support from local record shops for spreading the word.  You folks there are lucky to have them around.  There are a lot of places that have chosen not to support local music stores and they are the poorer for losing them.  Buy local.

Finally, we want to say how great it was to see a some of our old buddies from local heroes the Grevious Angels, one of the first bands to be stupid (or canny?) enough to record for us.  They were there BEFORE the gold-plated Hummers and platinum walking sticks.

Thanks again for coming.  We still think you are all insane for living in a desert (keep your hands off our Great Lakes), but you showed you can come together and partake in a grand party.

Bloodshot