Category: blues

State Twenty-Eight: Illinois

FIFTY DAYS OF ‘MERIC-MAS
Prairie State don’t preach too much about itself.
Sylvia Green Robinson lovingly pounds out the musical version of her middle school poem “Christmas in Illinois” for us on the ‘tube. It’s a heartfelt pre-teen polemic warm up with her newly adult warble. E for effort, SGR. (Neither an A nor an F.)

[A gentle reminder: I’m still not allowing for sports teams goofin’ on ‘The 12 Days’ or whatnot. Yeah, the Bears, Cubs, Blackhawks, etc. all have ‘senses of humor.’ But those stuttering travesties expire quickly year-to-year, and they belong to their own sub-genre niche outside of novelty. I need odd music by musicians, whether it be good or bad.]

And you came for the odd, did you not? The how about the “Christmas in Peoria” song?! It’s just a quick gag on a Top Ten list from the David Letterman Show, but Josh Groban sings it so… i mean… damn.

But, what about Chicago, where musical styles are born? Well, there are a few testifying ’bout the Nativity here. You’d think the band Chicago woulda mentioned their namesake in all that crappy Holiday album noise-making thing they do… but, no!  If you desire the appropriate ‘soul,’ then check out J. Daphaney’s “Christmas in Chicago.” In “Christmas in Chicago” Rikesh and Jason break down the neighborhoods, in a playful rockin’ rap battle, to determine where to have fun. For that easy listening middle of the road mudsick, i recommend “Christmas in Chicago” by Silver by Fire. It leans into soul, but stops short of 1970s’ senior citizens’ dance stylings. To get your head straight, rock out to 7th Heaven’s “Merry Christmas in Chicago.” It’s overcooked (not raw), but fulfills that need you might have for 1980s’ pop vs. punk playfulness.
Now Leon Russell, that Rock’n Roll Hall of Famer sideman, makes music good. His “Christmas in Chicago” is some rockin’ blues for the yule, mmm-m. It sounds like Chicago, hog killer that it is.

State Fourteen: North Carolina

FIFTY DAYS OF ‘MERICA-MAS
I gotta tell ya. The Carolinas are worse than the Dakotas for differentiating the holiday music scene. Most songs don’t name N or S, but maintain a solidarity that all yall outsiders won’t get.
Check out Austin Rudy’s “Carolina Christmas.” It’s all USA-centric and too little ’bout states rights. Briana Atwell also sings (her original) “Carolina Christmas” available as a charity fund raiser on iTunes. Slurry blues tells it like it came upon a midnight clear. Even more romantically adult is the Marshall Tucker Band’s brassy disco-edged country version “Christmas in Carolina.” It’s slipperier ‘n a Swiss Colony sausage basket. Charlie Daniels & Friends narrates “A Carolina Christmas Carol” on his album Joy to the World: A Bluegrass Christmas. He’s trying to recapture childhood wonder about the no-snow South, but it’s just old folks’ talk (for over 16 minutes). Not A Song. Martin GT Middle School Choral Department finally has an angelic-sounding selection entitled “Carolina Christmas.” That should get you back on track for the season.
My pick of the “Carolina Christmas”es is by Squirrel Nut Zippers. Legend holds a man who drank potent moonshine (Nut Zipper) wound up climbed up a tree and was dubbed ‘Squirrel.’ These nutballs (there have been eighteen different band mates over the decades) wail with their eclectic fusion of Delta blues, gypsy jazz, 1930s-era swing, klezmer, etc (it’s on Wikipedia). Their Xmas album (Christmas Caravan) is a tradition ’round here, but don’t look for them on tour–they are been there done that so over they’re under clover. Their website has been dormant over a year now. Go, 1990s cat, go.