Category: bluegrass

The African-descended banjer took the world by storm centuries ago, so we’ll expect more here.

Bob Johns gives us the homegrown folk of “The Christmas Banjo” as a Christmas present, and who give it him, and who made it, and on and on. It may surprise you that this is a short song.

Also a bit off-studio, William Evenhouse admits “I Want a Banjo for Christmas.” Okay, Boomer. Too earnest for bluegrass. But, some solid talent.

Dave Taylor invokes family again for “When Grandpa Played the Banjo.” This folk tune, however, does not behold the stringed whinger as gladly. Some nice strummin’.

Corny country from Ritchie Remo bequeaths unto us “Santa Played the Banjo.” The pop mush gives us a picking and grinning and tutoring Father Cee.

“Santa Gave Me A Banjo” gets us back to traditional bluegrass care of Self Rising Flour. Stately in its back-woodsery.

Box of Books gets more antic with “Banjo for Christmas.” This garage bluegrass can think of nothing better than this gift from Santa. Some silliness.

Also high-speed Spencer Chandler can’t stop gleefully celebrating how “Santa Claus Brought Me a 5-String Banjo.” It’s a bit ’70s gosh, a bit Sing Along with Mitch, a bit breakdown throw down. Whew.

Dan Cloutier takes another approach when he receives the unasked-for instrument. He is told “Yule Love the Banjo” in high speed folk. Apparently this is a family tradition. So it is enforced.

Steve and Bonnie Vetsch duet over a laundry list of wanna for Xmas, including how “I Want A Banjo For Christmas.” This CW grass leads me to believe Jesus played that thing. Huh.

Holy cats, but Bajazzerne rolls out the washboard jazz band–including midwestern scat–for the boggling “Santa Plays the Banjo.”

Buffalo Bill Boycott puts “The Christmas Banjo” in the hands of Daddy this time. Once he brushed off the coal dust. Sparkling bluegrass, with some schmaltz.

The Del McCoury Band featuring Ronnie McCoury revel in a “Bluegrass Christmas.” Guess which instruments get named for a proper holiday band?

Banjos get invoked late in the essential Sufjan Steves “Let’s Boogey to the Elf Dance!” as a means of dance-party celebrating. But this indie boogie is infectious. Some fun.

Jed Marum brings it home with the humbly elegant “Banjos We Have Heard On High.” A share from Pete th’Elf, this bluegrass sways gently in the Christmas breeze.

Again: Nicktoons’ Jimmy Neutron pits our eponymous hero against his entire schoolroom with the showtune debate “Basking in the Warmth of Christmas.” It’s a mainstream standoff.

Gighive indies an upbeat “Here Comes Christmas,” the whole time smirking behind their sleeves. Not really!

David Goody lectures us about what’s real and what’s true. With his toy piano pop he chides our Xmas trads, but stands by UK’s rock band Slade in the culturally bound “Mr. Holder’s Yule Log.” Better dresser than Santa, anyways.

Shorty Garrett don’t believe in any of this holiday hoohaw. You’ve heard all those lies, haven’t you? “I Think You Know” he declaims through strangled bluegrass, in case you hadn’t.

Gerry and The Crocodettes give us a way to answer the question “Is Santa Real?” It’s kidsong and it just takes the presents. Rough synth.

Wanting to believe–fighting for it–still counts. I’m talking about Sasha Alex Sloan’s lounge indie “Santa’s Real.” Poor child.

What was really cool music in the ’60s? Well, for a tutorial, try The Villa Capri’s “Do You Believe in Santa Claus?” Never mind the whole LOVE business, check out those strings!

Cian Foley stays up to prove “Santa’s Real,” then sings it all indie and whatnot. Years pass… can you guess what the boy grows up to believe?

Alex Smith applies Elvis to the question “Do You Believe in Santa Claus?” Spoiler: he doesn’t care what your answer is. He’d rather mockabilly his own beliefs.

Andrew Scotchie rocks lightly over the skepticism to declare “Santa is Real.” Get with it!

To sell it, Roderick Newport works up a bluegrass treatment for his “Do You Believe in Santa Claus?” It’s no break-down, so okay to share with the kids.

Trying again, Scott Hearn’s character in the musical ‘Christmas in Hell’ belts out “I Wish That I Believed.” He wants to connect to magic, the season, and hope. It’s regretfully heartfelt.

John Denver and The Muppets make “The Christmas Wish” about you believing. This maudlin middle of the road country bummer really wants what’s best for the whole world. Just so you know, God and Santa get mixed up a whole lot this month.

Seeing is believing, as we’ll see repeatedly here. “See the Big Man Flying” chortles Andy Beisel & The Buccaneers with totes adorbs low country swing. Follow that kid’s finger for yourself.

Perhaps turning away from Jesus, Kelly Galvin fronts “I’ll Believe In Santa If I Want To” by Wild Bill featuring the Whiskey Shivers. She figures more presents that way in this charming bluegrass strummer.

Maureen O’Brien jounces while “Waitin’ for Santa.” Euphemistic swearing results in some disappointment when it’s time. Electronic kidsong.

Thwarted lookouts in “Snow Got in Our Eyes” from Fruitcakes. Retro pop rock (my favorite) allows for other sense to take over. These snarky kids won’t quit.

Asking the tough questions  Charlie McAlister & Eric Ostrowski want to country know “Why Wait for Santa Claus?” The answer is pretty zen.

From some other country Will & Grego are “Waiting On Santa” with all the grace of an eight-and-a-half bluegrass fiddler. It’s jittery fun.

Who goes to bed Xmas Eve? You do! Yes, you do, you good boy(s and girls)!

From Pete the Elf comes an obscure 1967 45 from Bill Lamb(?) entitled “Go to Sleep, Little Lambs.” This pedagogical rant puts kids in their place (bed).

Perry Como seems too old to be anything but creepy when he sotto voces the details of children’s bedtimes for “Christmas Eve.” A la la la of an easy listening journey.

Remember? Rob Lord’s “Bag of Coal” only goes to the kids who aren’t good. But our protagonist’s eyelids are getting heavy, so he’ll be okay and NOT get clothes. Pretty indie.

Rita Faye Wilson (as brought to us by John Waters) childishly exhorts us to behold “Sleigh Bells, Reindeer, and Snow.” But you better be good or you won’t see him. Under the covers may not afford much view, but that’s the bluegrass pop deal here.

Let’s start with a Good Recording: “Mary’s Lullaby” from Madisen Renee is whispery/slurred, but effective and reverent.

Jim Adams gives the good old college try to his easy listening (sorry–that’s ironic) “Christmas Lullaby.” It goes to bed, or it gets the hose again.

“Close Your Eyes” by Douglas Murphy is poorly recorded, but quietly serious for a folk ballad. I like enough to want it to change.

Tumbling all over itself, “A Christmas Lullaby” by Hubert Dorigatti (feat. Laura Willeit) brightens up our corner with bluegrass pop and artistic virtuosity.

A fireplace glowing, a stocking warming (oh no, the chocolate orange!), a couple cuddling… it’s a scene out of a romantic movie!

“Stocking for Two” is an off kilter love song (show tune style) from Tracy Merle with a bit of a honkytonk push to it. Can’t help it.

“I Want You in My Stocking for Christmas” is a bizarre-o Dixieland number from Bobby Parr. I think it might be about romance. Or a funeral.

Luke Nelson is thinking of you when he begins “Stocking Up on Christmas.” That’s when you’ll get yours. Wordplay always wins me over. Jugband folk.

Who needs to fight for their Xmas stockings?

Kat Perkins rocks and rolls over who might remove her “Christmas Stockings.” The party seems to involve them being UP.

Quite particular, Garrison Bailey knows what she wants this Xmas: “Sheryl Crow in my Stocking.” Syncopated (not quite rap) alt-pop. Aim for the stars, baby!

All Wicked Lizard wants for Christmas is a “Barfy Stocking.” Short pop that may be nicer than you thought it would be.

Milan Millar is hoping against hope (at great speed) that there’s “Something in My Stocking.” Lightning bluegrass breakdown. Hee Yaw.

“Hang Up the Baby’s Stocking” is the lullaby you didn’t need from Christmas Music for Kids. Babies don’t really care, y’know.

Michael M. went to the trouble of re-editing Slade’s ‘Merry Xmas Everybody‘ so only the first line–about stocking hanging–is repeated ad nauseam. Love it.

Squirrel Nut Zippers’s epic Xmas journey begins with “Hanging Up My Stockings.” But this jug band take paints us a whole living room worth of kitsch. Whew.

“Hanging Up My Stockings” is that slow banjo exploration of feelings that adults get this time of the year. Plaintive folky bluegrass from Debbie Davis and Matt Perrine.