Tag: christmas

BGS WRAPS: Phoebe Hunt & The Gatherers, “December Again”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Phoebe Hunt & The Gatherers
Song: “December Again” (single)

In Their Words: “When we made the video for ‘December Again’, all I wanted to do was send it out the very next day. It’s so odd to know a piece of art exists and to not be able to share it. Alas, it was already almost January at that point and I figured it would come around again.

“To be completely honest, I never even thought this song would leave my journal. I love writing and have tons of nameless songs that just pop out and then never see the light of day. But, then something happens that sparks enough creative spirit to write out a chord chart and teach it to the band… Sometimes that part is the hardest because it takes a lot of vulnerability to open up your diary and share it.

“Felt like if we were gonna add to the shuffle of what is played in the airwaves at this time of year, it was important to include everyone, but still honor the profound spiritual connection that is brought out this time of year. Music is that thread. It’s what holds us all together.” — Phoebe Hunt

Bobby Hicks, “Snowflake Breakdown”

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

In our plaintive annual quest to unearth some semblance of a holiday-themed canon from the bluegrass songbook writ large, a few concessions must immediately be made. As argued in a past wintry edition of Tunesday Tuesday, titles of otherwise wordless and themeless songs are more than enough to justify a tune’s place in holiday and Christmas party playlists — or at least, this writer vehemently believes that they should be. 

That particular context might just be unnecessary, though, because anyone ought to welcome absolutely any excuse or justification to marvel at the sheer magic (holiday and/or otherwise) of Bobby Hick’s fiddling. Yes, this is no more than a contrived set up to allow some unbridled gushing about “Snowflake Breakdown.” The hoedown-style fiddle tune was a cut on Hicks’ 1978 album, Texas Crapshooter, which boasted an A side of all Texas and western swing tunes, featuring Buddy Emmons on pedal steel and Buck White on piano among others, and a B side of his signature bluegrass fiddling style, staffed by Sam Bush, Roy Huskey Jr., Alan Munde, and fellow Bluegrass Hall of Famer Roland White. The “wow, these pickers on this tune are each so unique and genius in their own rights, they’re like snowflakes” metaphor is just a little too irresistible here, so just go with it. 

For us fans of a bluegrass fiddler who plays with a heavy dose of North Carolina by way of Texas and a dash of the best parts of fiddle contests, has an unparalleled pedigree as a Blue Grass Boy with Bill Monroe, and a reputation as one of the most confounding double-stop talents in the universe, all we want for Christmas is (really, truly, honestly) more Bobby Hicks.

BGS WRAPS: Andrew Bird, “Skating”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Andrew Bird
Song: “Skating”
Album: HARK!

In Their Words: “I’ve never had the impulse to make a holiday record until last February. I found myself enjoying the Vince Guaraldi Peanuts records and thought I’d book a few days in the studio. It was an excuse to play some classic jazz with my favorite musicians. A lot of folks have a hard time with the holidays, but they serve a purpose to us as a people — to create comfort, warmth, and atmosphere within the darkness and the cold that can crush one’s spirit. There are a couple originals in here that address this idea of light and warmth in the darkness as well as some classics that have some nostalgic resonance with me. Hark! What sounds come flowing alabaster?” — Andrew Bird

BGS WRAPS: The McCrary Sisters, “Joy to the World”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: The McCrary Sisters
Song: “Joy to the World”
Album: A Very McCrary Christmas

In Their Words:

“It brings us joy to realize that Jesus was born to bring peace, hope, and joy to this world.” — Ann McCrary

“He is our joy, and his birth was amazing and remarkable! His the true King!” — Alfreda McCrary

“’Joy to the World’ is a song that I think should be sung all year round, ‘cause if the world had more love and joy there would be peace towards all men and we would get along much better than we do. My prayer and my gift is that we try to have more joy in the world. That’s it.” — Regina McCrary

“’Joy to the World,’ bring much needed joy to this world!” — Deborah McCrary

BGS WRAPS: Silent Winters, “Christmas Morning”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Silent Winters
Song: “Christmas Morning”
Album: Christmas Morning

In Their Words: “Christmas time always brings us back to a place of feeling at home and key memories always stick out to fill my heart at this time of year. Be it the feeling of joy spent with loved ones or the reminiscing of friends from what seems like another lifetime. This time of year also makes for hectic schedules and stress for some. ‘Christmas Morning’ is a song about reminiscing the best of times and making the most of the present, no matter what’s on your plate.” — Jonathan Chandler, Silent Winters

BGS WRAPS: The Oak Ridge Boys, “Down Home Christmas”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: The Oak Ridge Boys
Song: “Down Home Christmas”
Album: Down Home Christmas

In Their Words: “Down Home Christmas began much like the other seven Christmas albums we have recorded. But things changed. Most of the songs I had collected were put on the shelf, and we started looking for songs that addressed specific subjects related to Christmas. Dave Cobb was the producer/coach/motivator for this project. He encouraged us to dig a little deeper into our souls, to capture the magic of each song. With very simple instrumentation, the four Oak Ridge Boys’ voices are out front, and in your face, with the awesome, huge sound of RCA Studio A wrapped around, but not overpowering it.” — Duane Allen, The Oak Ridge Boys

BGS WRAPS: Robbie Robertson, “Happy Holidays”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Robbie Robertson
Song: “Happy Holidays”

In Their Words: “We love Christmas and the holidays, it brings good cheer, and also stress and depression, so I wanted to do a song that celebrates both sides and have a little fun.” — Robbie Robertson

BGS WRAPS: Liz Vice, “Refugee King”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Liz Vice
Song: “Refugee King”

In Their Words: “I don’t write very often. Songwriting often feels like a miracle and when I’m in a space to write there is an hour of wrestling myself to just chill, surrender, and let the music come to me.

“‘Refugee King’ was written during a songwriting retreat at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Five of us were put into a group together. We could either write an original song or rewrite a well-known carol. We decided to rewrite ‘Away in a Manger.’ One thought that came to mind was, ‘How does a crying baby change this whole image we tend to celebrate around Christmas?’ The arrival of Jesus wasn’t pretty and a lot of babies died during this time.

“The story of Christmas is less about gifts under a tree, but about Jesus coming to this hot mess of a world to invite us to indulge in what heaven has to offer on earth (now).

“I thought about this song often and as time went on, I knew the song was begging to be released to reach the people it was supposed to reach. I didn’t release the song to be a voice for anything other than the story of Jesus. Humans just tend to repeat history.

“I first performed the song when I opened for the Blind Boys of Alabama. While we waited to hit the stage, the band that I had hired sat in the lobby. To kill a little time, I decided to record a live take. After that short tour, while visiting family in Portland, I reached out to some people I knew and recorded the song. It was a pretty quick turnaround. I knew what I wanted and I wanted it to be simple and that’s how I produced it. Vocals, guitar, cello, and had my friend in Virginia, Orlando Palmer, add some of his sweet piano playing on it. Had my friend Danny mix and a woman who did the mastering for my vinyl master this track.

“Turned out great and I’m hoping that this song just causes people to pause and re-evaluate the real story of the birth of Jesus.” — Liz Vice

BGS WRAPS: “Christmas Is All Around,” BAILEN

Posted on by Editor

Artist: BAILEN
Song: “Christmas Is All Around”
Album: we did a Christmas thing (EP)

In Their Words: “The holidays are nothing without some fun romcoms, and we are all big fans of Richard Curtis and Bill Nighy and thought it would be funny to cover the cover in the movie Love Actually. It turned out that the song actually lent itself great to harmonies, so we had fun with it and kept it tongue in cheek.” — BAILEN

BGS WRAPS: Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, “Let It Snow”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors
Song: “Let It Snow”
Album: Let It Snow EP

In Their Words: “We are thrilled to release this new Christmas EP. It has our take on the classic ‘Let It Snow’ and two original songs — Ellie singing ‘Christmas Style’ and our first-ever Scrooge song, ‘It’s Christmas.’ ‘Let It Snow ‘ is one of my favorite Christmas songs to sing with the family around the holidays. Was a really fun one to record with Ellie.” — Drew Holcomb