Author: douglove1225

Xmas Instruments: Guitar (pt. 1)

Slap that axe, boy-o, it’s twelve the twenty-fifth! Left-handed, right-handed… let’s go! …no, wait, wait, wait. First we have to acquire one:

Randy Franklin wants a “Guitar for Christmas,” but his dad rock is so calcified we might wanna check the naughty list twice.

William Baron also declares “I Want a Guitar for Christmas.” Still pokey, but pretty awesome vocals.

Max Benitz is so focused he is unplugged and folk with his need for a “New Guitar for Christmas.” He describes it; it’s the one in the pawn shop window. Poor guy.

The Stompers are a bit slick with “All I Want for Christmas is a Rock n Roll Guitar.” Doesn’t sound like they need one.

Joernsson Overdrive brings the funk rock with ’70s electronica to his wish for you… and a “New Guitar for Christmas.” Bring your disco shoes.

Watkins & the Rapiers don’t just want a guitar for Christmas, they want a “Big Guitar.” Groovy rock, makes me want to listen to ‘Tommy’ again.

Bob Wire and Chip Whitson toss blues against the rock and most of it sticks for their wanting a “Guitar for Christmas.” Good club sound.

Trey Stone & The Ringers beg “Santa, Please Bring Me a Guitar.” Adorably, each member of the band asks for a different instrument. More blues rock, Americana style.

“All I Want For Christmas Is An Acoustic Guitar (1-2-3-4)” in a bizarre twist is EDM from TDJ. It’s more about the drug experience. Not so much about the guitar.

The classically novel “Santa Claus” also asks for a guitar, but we’re including it ’cause Wild Billy Childish & The Musicians Of The British Empire punk it up just right.

Garage rock by its nature is more earnest, less polished. So i believe in The Pink Flamingos’ “Mama, for Christmas I Want a Guitar.” The talent shines through the roughness and the message is thereby elevated. According to me.

Xmas Instruments: Glockenspiel

The percussive gongs, the malleted piano bars, the carillon is so pretty to hear and so funny to watch. Silly music!

We tried TIMŌRĀTUS’s gift panic a couple years ago when Courtney didn’t know what to buy her significant other. NOW it’s “Christmas Present Crisis (David’s Conundrum)” in which he trolls the mall and, settling, wonders why this foreign speak n’ spell… they spelled it with a ‘G’–to which she replies Tha… that’s a glockenspiel… but, sweet. Metal millennial comedy.

“Santa’s Stuck on I-75” is Rubber Heart playing slick rock with an indie garage core. But they banter comically at the end like some ’60s ironic group. And in their ending they explain what this instrument is, god love ’em.

Xmas Instruments: Fife

This military piccolo brings the family into formation, in time for the holidays.

For instance, yet again the WWI football match truce at Christmas is represented by Kerry Patrick Clark is a folk letter to “My Dear Sister Janet.” They had marched to drum and fife (in 1914??), so there was a soundtrack to war.

I’m a drummer boy, wontcha play my fife may be euphemism, but the sweaty jazz of “Jingle Jingle Makes Me Tingle” from GK Vocal Coaching’s Mia Messado is pretty impressive swing. Look–goosebumps!

Fife and drum is featured in the 17th C. “Patapan” (original title ‘Guillô, pran ton tamborin’ or ‘Willie, Bring Your Little Drum’ for the Nativity’s shepherds’ instruments). Keith Michael Roman rocks it though. And Big Bernie Burgundy or Bernie Money & His Wenches squeeze electronica and comedy into it so it becomes truly modern.

Xmas Instruments: Fiddle

The Devil’s Box can turn a hoedown into a ho ho ho down.

“Grandpa’s Christmas Fiddle” is probably the same as Grandpa’s everyday fiddle, but with The Barefoot Man’s bluegrass breakdown it seems more magical. Go, Grandma, go!

Glen Duncan wants his own “Fiddle for Christmas.” Give it him says i. Gnarly bluegrass.

Shouldn’t Celtic rock have fiddles? Allan Schau answers the riddle with a snowed-in “Christmas at the Pub.” Drinking and cavorting, they prefer fiddles to carols. Tough fun.

Look out, country’s back. “Cowboy Santa” by Deanna D’Amico-White comes off as a gushy girly wish list. Though she does want Santa to meet me in the barn where the fiddles play. Uh oh.

Aurosa sings “Christmas on the Country Road” with a scosh of polka, but there’s plenty of guitars, banjos, and fiddles mentioned.

Did you say POLKA? The Andrews Sisters front Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians (1949) for “Merry Christmas Polka,” where they’re tuning up the fiddles. Why? Because they like you!

Betty Overstreet stirs monotonous kidsong into her bluegrass for “Billy Bob the Hillbilly Goat.” And suddenly it’s Christmas.

Richard Melvin Brown spices up the bluegrass with downbeat party pop for a “Tennessee Bluegrass Christmas.” Spare the fiddle, spoil the season.

Xmas Instruments: Drums (pt. 2)

If you go around saying no one writes Baroque chamber music anymore, stop it. Passamezzo’s “Beat Up a Drum for Christmas Reigns” (circa 2020) is too cool for you to pass by.

Enya’s “One Toy Soldier” has a clockwork beat, which might make this militaristic plaything (who wants to sing) even more poignant for Xmas. I dunno, i’m just sad about it.

Sensitive Men band-rap about a party in “Two Drummers.” Not clear who exactly is playing but smiles for the exuberance.

But–what about the twelve drummers drumming?! Fan 3 dishes the cheesy pop rock with “I Love Christmas” wherein lots of gifts are received, including On the six I got some drums… Midnight Whistler gets country rocking with “Twelve Drummers Drumming.” Can you imagine a dozen Keith Moons in your house together??

GIFT TIME!

“Little Tessa Boy” wants a drum. Natalia Wohler (feat. Crazy) gives it to him. Parang parang parang.

Twinkle Toes’ Music take ‘This Old Man’ and sling us a baby song: “This Little Drum Under the Tree.” Fear not, more gifts are a’comin’.

Pat Guadagno got a drum for Christmas. You’ll hear all about it in the bluesy folk of “New Christmas Drum.” Sadly it was a gateway to rock and roll.

The Kavanaughs rock with pop in the superior “Bang the Christmas Drum.” It’s the way you revere, party, AND annoy.

“Billy Got Drums for Christmas” by The Hooves is more pop and rocks even more about that noisy gift.

From the 1950 78rpm, Ole Svenson and His Smorgasbord Band march out “I Want a Christmas Drum.” Thanks once more to Pete da Elf for this one.

Xmas Instruments: Drum (pt. 1)

The skins get big ups on Christmas ‘cuz of some starstruck urchin banging and pounding on whatever he could find at the Nativity. Typical kindergarten behavior. Let’s respond.

Mighty Magic Pants begins the parade against the noise complaint with the honestly folk “Lay Down Your Drum, Little Drummer Boy.” Take that drum and beat it, kid.

Herschel Cedricson aims for that joke about the drum solo that overstays its welcome in a song with his Something Awful “Little Drummer Boy.” Sorry, Bing.

Rapping for Jaysus, Zach S embarrasses himself with the mixup “Drummer Boy.” Look away.

More appropriately, Pineapple Posse raps the ups and downs of “Drumma Boy.” They got the sticks.

The Little Drum Machine Boy seems like an obvious alt-play on the legend. Beck may have started it with an observance over Hanukkah. Vice Versa plays it pretty straight with apparently a robot wanting presents. Wolf Blitzer lays the digital on thick with their electronica. Jane’s Party goes all out when a kid raiding Gramma’s attic for her old Roland gets invited by Santa for a ride-along for being so dope. [Check out synthesizer offerings for more.]

Ray Stevens spoofs up the tune with “The Little Drummer Boy–Next Door.” No peace on earth with that noise! Boy that’s a bother. (Even more of a bother is Pat Boone‘s original retake.)

Watch Out for Rockets pairs that boy with “Drummer Girl” for some frolicking garage frisky-do-dah. Why’s he waiting in a tree?? Must be an indie thing.

Xmas Instruments: Cymbals

CRASH! BANG!

Young Kernel request you “(Shake)” like a cymbal for Christmas time. Repetitive, hypnotic, partytime. Not strictly an instrument, but certainly a boisterous music.

Rap relies on some rhymes more than others, cymbal bell may not ring true for our purposes, but Ranna Royce’s rap out “Silent Night (Carol Flow)” is BLUE ALERT violent and threatening enough to earn a spot on the laissez-faire blog.


Pipes’ll get their due, but for scarcity’s sake let Celtic Woman pair the cymbals with the “Christmas Pipes.” It’s all about the party.

Xmas Instruments: Chimes

Just more bells these chimes, eh?

Charley Pride recalls “Christmas in My Home Town.” Chimes in the square call all together for this easy listening big band kind of stuff.

Alternately, Geoffrey Savage savages the opening melody of 1974’s animated special ”Twas the Night Before Christmas’ entitled “Christmas Chimes are Calling.” It’s Santa they’re calling for, btw.

Todd Michalik chants out “Christmas Chimes” with mixed media in the pursuit of madness.

“When The Christmas Chimes Are Ringing” by Lewis James (1922) is that operatic ragtime love crooning that comes off so grating nay more. hey, those are gongs!

Southern rock the tells a tale, “Chimes of Christmas” is Beat of Alabama unraveling the ones who didn’t get none. (Or AI, p’raps.)

Snappy zydeco from Brenda Lee, “Papa Noel” also has chimes down on the Bayou. Hot stuff.

The Chills sing out those “Christmas Chimes” bong bong bongbongbong. It’s all a metaphor. You know, like life. Indie zippiness.

Xmas Instruments: Cello

Violincellos are not the deepest of instruments, but they get cinematic representation as in ‘Hilary and Jackie’, ‘Truly Madly Deeply’, and ‘The Soloist’.

Neighborhoods and instruments become “Blocks and Strings” from Winter Reverie. Jazz band insouciance that features cellos well.

Even jazzier, Ella Blocker’s Christmas wishes include all “Four Seasons” with you. The final one is you playing cello and her singing. Sexy.

“Little Drummer Boy” will get his day later, but when Panda Corner takes us to the toy instrument factory cars and clocks and trains go by. But then we see a xylophone and a piano and fa la goes the cello bow. Kidsong on drugs.

Xmas Instruments: Bongos

Beatnik skins might simplify musicality, well at least as Hoops & Yoyo present it in “Bongo Christmas.” Carib beatings.

Bryce Bowyn is hunting for bear in “Santa Daddy.” You can hit it like a bongo drum, he advises, in the queerest of ways. Rhythmic pop.

Funnin’ on ‘Nuttin” Snook’s “Nan’s Drownin’ Kittens” is a tragedy… until he gets bongos for Christmas. Huzzah.