Here We Come a-Wassailing

This just in from the Workshop:

Elf Johnny, through bursts of profanity, threats of grievous harm to computers, forays into the World of Commerce, fair amounts of beer consumption, quality time with Miss Oonagh and the creatures of the Holler, Christmas eve supper with some old friends (and a big sack of oysters), and a tad of NFL action, has somehow managed to finish this sucker and stick it under your tree, just under the wire.

It was mixed on some weird monitors and is kinda 80% finished, but I do hope you like it.  That's Mike E on the drums, Thanksgiving.  I guess in the long run, the holidays are all what you make 'em, so do make 'em count.

Peace and love to all-- That includes anyone whose machines (I'm looking at YOU, Apple Inc) can't do the Flash Player below. You guys can head to the link at bottom....

jk

Christmas Ain't for Family:


Link:
http://www.box.com/s/f154ec46igesu5g452nc

Ho!-down!

'tis the season, peoples!  As perhaps only Santa and a few others know, I've been trying to be a good do-bee the past couple of years, attempting to cook up a new Christmas/ seasonal hit for when the holly jolly time rolls 'round.  There's indeed a new one in the hopper for 2011, thanks to Elf Mikey's help over Thanksgiving at Harpswell Holler, but we've since hit a few snags on the production line.  There's no telling if I'll manage to get that new product under your tree by Flying Baby J Time on Sunday but in the meantime, you can reheat these classics in your microwave.

"Christmas Parties" needs a bit of cleaning up, and somehow this version's missing a verse, but I'm proud of my little Yuletide kiss-off, and that's Roady on the drums.  It's the kind of song you could only write on a Wurlitzer electronic piano--- a lil' nugget of heartbreak, bitterness and ill will with that gooey heart of sentimentality that you love (or hate). "Everyday Christmas" is really more of a Christmas-in-July thing, but it does have plenty of the C-word in it, two drumsets, a dinger-bonker and all my other usual slatherings, in tribute to Phil Spector and Brian Wilson.  "Ho!" thyself up and "Ho!" it back down again!

And of course if anybody needs holiday cocktail recommmendations, our HelpLine is always open!


Christmas Parties:


Everyday Christmas:

Buttsteak, summer '09, part 6: Going to the bullpen

Ladies and Gents--- Hoist one for the back-benchers and pinch hitters!  Wrapping up this particular trip down Memory Lane with the Buttsteaks, Scotty and I turn over the vocal chores to some fellows that don't get to sing often and, when they get the opportunity, can really bring some goddarned joie de vivre!

First up is John T. Faulkingham with his perennial, classic take on the Beat Farmers' "Lost Weekend".  The 'Steaks have always had a secret ability to pull off some honky-tonk C&W, and this was probably the first tune on which we really ran with it.  It used to be something of a Tom Waits parody but as Faulk's grown more rowdy and shameless over the years, he's taken ownership of this particular barn-burner. 

And speaking of the country music, we follow up with an off-the-cuff version of "Folsom Prison Blues".  During the summer '09 recording session, we did have some company in the studio, in the form of Al Schnittman and Dennis Hoban.  They lent us their ears and opinions,and helped us make a dent in the refreshments.  After a large number of said beverages, we stumbled into "Folsom...", got Denny up to the mic and rolled tape.  One-take wonders never cease!

jk

Lost Weekend:


Folsom Prison Blues:

It wasn't all fowl

More photo goodness as you recover from the last batch of songs. The Roadkills took a visit to Maine over Thanksgiving and were treated quite well by the Buttsteaks. In addition to the aforementioned fowl, there was the requisite lobstah and some fine dining in Portland. And a meat wagon.

There was also some new rock, recorded at the scene of last spring's hootenanny crimes. The cue of stuff to post is long, so who knows when the new songs will grace your in boxes. And, I fear things may have been lost due to a conflagration in the Greater Lexington area. But that's another story.

The view from behind the drum kit.

Keating's wagon of meat.

Doc tickles the ivory.

Photo interlude: "Buttsteak Rulez!"

Many thanks to Andy Thomas and his crazy bunch of pirates over at Donna's in Charles Village for the heartwarming reception during one of our spring '09 practice sessions....