Re: What are you playing for the holidays?
This is always a fun topic. My band has worked up a few numbers, trying to stay in keeping with our main style or character - a mix of swing, ragtime, jug band, rockabilly, and other genres. These include two from Elvis - "Santa Claus Is Back In Town" and "Blue Christmas" - The Drifters' doo-wop version of "White Christmas," Chuck Berry's "Run Run, Rudolph," "Jingle Bell Rock," "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree," and though we've only played it once, "Jingle Bells" - which I want to speed up at the end into breakdown tempo.
Solo songs include more standard fare: "Silver Bells" (thank you, Willie Nelson, for introducing me to this lovely melody on hi Christmas album decades ago), "White Christmas," in the loathsome key of Ab, which the band learned it in (thus compelling me to practice it), "Silent Night," and so forth. But my favorite is a medley in G, done rather forcefully, almost punk style, with a heavy rhythmic attack and a lot of droning G and D strings. This usually starts with "Joy To The World" and wraps up with a slam-bang "Angels We Have Heard On High." In between there could be "Hark The Herald Angels Sing," "Adeste Fidelis," whatever pops into my head. The main thing is to play loud, fast, and energetically. Since I am doing this at work, a coffee l]=kiosk in a somewhat dilapidated mall, I am trying to attract attention. Sometimes this works. The best moments are when I get looks of recognition from kids. Their eyes light up, they stop in their tracks, and if they are sitting on a nearby bench, they watch with fascination and sometimes even sing along. These are really sweet moments and transcend all the less relevant aspects of the surroundings.
But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller
Furthering Mandolin Consciousness
Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!
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