Podcast appearances and mentions of alex rawls

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Chuck and Sam kick off Christmas week with three incredible guests. First, Brian Earl, host of the Christmas Past podcast, delves into the fascinating origins of holiday traditions like the Nutcracker, the 12 Days of Christmas, Toys for Tots, and more. Next, John Fuller of Focus on the Family shares insights on the meaning of family during Christmas, balancing traditions, and creating lasting memories. Finally, Alex Rawls, host of the Twelve Songs of Christmas podcast, explores the history and charm of holiday music, revealing how it brings people together. Join us for heartwarming stories, festive tunes, and meaningful reflections to make your season merry and bright!www.breakingbattlegrounds.voteTwitter: www.twitter.com/Breaking_BattleFacebook: www.facebook.com/breakingbattlegroundsInstagram: www.instagram.com/breakingbattlegroundsLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakingbattlegroundsShow sponsors:Invest YrefyYrefy offers a secure, collateralized portfolio with a strong, fixed rate of return - up to a 10.25%. There is no attack on your principal if you ever need your money back. You can let your investment compound daily, or take your income whenever you choose. Make sure you tell them Sam and Chuck sent you!Learn more at investyrefy.com4Freedom MobileExperience true freedom with 4Freedom Mobile, the exclusive provider offering nationwide coverage on all three major US networks (Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile) with just one SIM card. Our service not only connects you but also shields you from data collection by network operators, social media platforms, government agencies, and more.Use code ‘Battleground' to get your first month for $9 and save $10 a month every month after.Learn more at: 4FreedomMobile.comDot VoteWith a .VOTE website, you ensure your political campaign stands out among the competition while simplifying how you reach voters.Learn more at: dotvote.voteAbout our guests:Brian Earl is the creator and host of Christmas Past, the longest-running and #1 podcast about Christmas. Since 2016, Brian has been sharing the fascinating stories behind Christmas traditions and memories from listeners around the world.-John Fuller is the Vice President of the Audio team at Focus on the Family Broadcast and co-host of several popular programs, including the Focus on the Family Daily Broadcast, Focus on the Family Minute, Focus on the Family Marriage Podcast, Focus on the Family Parenting Podcast, and the Christmas Stories Podcast.-Alex Rawls covers indie music and culture at MySpiltMilk.com and talks about Christmas music on the “Twelve Songs of Christmas” podcast from Christmas in July until Christmas. He lives in New Orleans. Get full access to Breaking Battlegrounds at breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com/subscribe

What's up, dudes? They say the sequels are never as good as the first. I think The Empire Strikes Back proves them wrong…but Band Aid II doesn't. I have music journalist Alex Rawls from The Twelve Songs of Christmas and My Spilt Milk with me to talk all about the second version of the charity song done in 1989! Spoilers: it's not as good as the first, but it's still fun!On Friday, December 1, 1989, Bob Geldof called Pete Waterman to ask if he would consider producing a new version of “Do They Know It's Christmas.” Waterman was part of The Hit Factory, a production team made up of himself, Mike Stock, and Matt Aiken. They were known for hi-NRG or Eurobeat style, with tempos usually somewhere between 102-140bpm, four-to-the-floor kick drums, staccato hi-hat, and bass lines frequently looped with fast eighth or sixteenth notes doubled at the octave. In fact, they produced 13 UK #1 singles and 3 US #1s. Waterman even postponed his wedding and rallied several artists together.Subsequently, on Sunday, December 3rd, the assembled artists recorded at PWL Studios in South London. Bob Geldof and family were present. On Tuesday, December 5th, the updated version was played for the first time on London's Capital Radio, 95.8 Capital FM. Advanced sales reached 500,000 copies, and the single was officially released on December 11th. It spent 3 weeks at #1, though Band Aid's original hit spent 5 weeks at #1 and sold over 2 million copies (which was approximately $24million in sales).Kylie Minogue? Check. Bros? Yep. Cliff Richard? A little out of place, but he was definitely there! So grab your denim jacket, put on an uptempo kick drum backing track, and jam out to this episode all about Band Aid II!The 12 Songs of ChristmasFB: @TwelveSongsofChristmasTwitter: @MySpiltMilk IG: @myspiltmilkGive us a buzz! Send a text, dudes!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com! Later, dudes!

Trey, Anthony, and Michelle preview the National College Cornhole Championship and the High School Championship which are being played this weekend in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They tell us the top players to watch. Captains from the Florida Freeze, Cheyenne Bubenheim and Alex Rawls, join the team to share their draft strategies for this upcoming weekend. Trey and Anthony give us their opinions on the money line odds for Pro Shootout #1. During this week's Buy or Sell, Trey and Anthony decide if given players will win a Pro Shootout this season. 

No more "picking our noses" this week as the 2nd-ranked ACL player in the world, Alex Rawls joins us!  At just 19 years old, Alex has quickly risen to the top of the ACL Pro Cornhole Standings to become the 2nd-ranked singles player in the world!  We dig into why this explosion of popularity in the sport of Cornhole has happened amongst youth players across the country.  Plus, Alex candidly opens up about the reality of dealing with the pressure of playing on national TV at such a young age and having to be on-camera the entire time while competing!  Also, “Meet Jeff & Bernie” returns this week… Why doesn't Bernie own a pair of jeans??  Episode 40 is available now!

Sandwiched between two Shootouts and Opens, there's plenty to talk about this week! This episode we chat about the dominance of Alex Rawls, the surprise of Rosie Streker, and the unlikely duo of Ryan Smith and Philip Lopez that all won at the Shootout this past weekend. Looking forward to this weekend, we debate which players can escape the temptations of Sin City and get a Shootout win themselves.

We're shaking things up here at Girls Throw Too! We have our regular pro cornhole player spotlight, BUT this time we're asking the pros to teach us something! Do you ever have a bag that you'd expect to be out of play? Alex Rawls is teaching us his famous push-shot to bring that bag back in the game. You don't want to miss this interview! Girls Throw Too jersey's are still available on our website girlsthrowtoo.com - don't forget to grab yours and post it using #girlsthrowtoo ! Links:Kids Throw Too New Website: https://kidsthrowtoo.com/Girls Throw Too Website: https://girlsthrowtoo.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276040074164229/Twitter: https://twitter.com/GirlsThrowTooInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsthrowtoo/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZZ9IXFbzMohv-lpWmzw9QTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@girlsthrowtooWhitney on IG: https://www.instagram.com/wingram/Michelle on IG: https://www.instagram.com/michellehastiethompsonhttps://www.wethrivetoo.com/michelle-hastie-thompsonhttps://www.wethrivetoo.com/eatlessSupport the show

Technology would not cooperate as the universe apparently wanted these parts separate. But lucky for you all this interview is excellent! Fresh off his 2nd straight ESPN broadcast appearance, Alex Rawls joins the show! We discuss practice routines, how he became partners with Trey Burchfield  and answered a variety of listener questions!!BIG ASP Cornhole Patreon page: 3 Tiers to choose from!! Come join our growing community and get insider info, become an active participant in show content, be eligible for bag giveaways and more!!!https://www.patreon.com/bigaspcornholehttps://www.localbagcompany.com/-Throw like a pro….Throw Localhttps://www.cornholesolutions.com/-For all your cornhole board problems-Code: BigAsp saves you 10%https://blackjackcornhole.com/Code: BigAsp saves you 10%https://airwolfathletics.com/Code: BigAsp saves you 10%https://www.harddragpush.com/Your one stop shop for all your cornhole content needs!!

This week, we have a few guests again as Christmas nears. Americana artist Amanda Shires is on hand to talk about For Christmas, and the way it reflects some of the less common impulses behind Christmas music. The husband and wife team of Rod and Rose—country singer Rodney Atkins and Rose Falcon—talk about why they recorded “Winter Wonderland,” and how their conflicting writing styles got them to a new song for this holiday season. Finally, indie multi-instrumentalist Julian Koster drops by to talk about his role in the 2008 album, The Singing Saw at Christmastime.    We'll have more with all three in 2022.   In the news this week, host Alex Rawls contributed a story on the influence of Vince Guaraldi's soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas to The New Orleans Advocate. The story includes quotes from George Winston, Steven Drozd, Kristin Chenoweth, Joey Burns of Calexico, Mega Ran, and Jen Gunderman of The Ornaments, all drawn from episodes of this podcast.    If you're maxing out on the Christmas music you have, let us help. At Spotify, you can listen to our 24-hour “Twelve Songs of Christmas Radio.” Just click Shuffle and you get the Christmas radio experience minus the repetition. Or, you can email Alex@myspiltmilk.com to get an mp3 of our 90-minute holiday mix.    If you haven't already done so, please do what you have to do to get Twelve Songs in your podcast feed. You can find us at Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Pandora, and Spotify.  

Welcome to the 96th episode of the WhoDatJedi podcast! This week, your hosts -- Aaron Svoboda (@Aaron_Svoboda), Alfredo Narvaez (@NOLA_Fredo) and David Gladow (@davegladow) -- are joined by New Orleans music writer Alex Rawls (@Alex_Rawls), who produces his own podcast, the "Twelve Songs of Christmas," which takes a closer look at unique or interesting takes on traditional Christmas music. This concept of telling the same story over and over again might be familiar to Star Wars fans. So, we talked about some of the complexities of that. What makes a piece of media special? What makes a sequel or cover song worth your time? Does a familiar song or story provide a better canvas for evaluating an artist? And what are some of the best and worst Christmas songs of all time? We covered all of that and absolutely took a look at some of the "geekier" Christmas songs in existence in the process. We also talked some Saints, "Rogue Squadron" delays, Kathleen Kennedy, and Disney+ Day. This show is big ... but it's worth your time. Listen on Podbean, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Tune In + Alexa, Amazon Music/Audible, iHeartRadio, and follow us on Twitter & Facebook!  If you like what you hear, be sure to click that follow button and leave us a positive review!  Read more of Fredo's musings here. Read more of Dave's musings here. Song credit: Far, Far Away (Star Wars Jazz), by the Swamp Donkeys Visit their website for more of their music! ---  Related: 'Rogue Squadron' delayed Related: Kathleen Kennedy's contract extended

It's mid-November, and with COVID numbers trending in the right direction, Mannheim Steamroller will return to the road soon. One of the Monsters of Christmas Rock, the group will start on Tuesday, November 16 in Loveland, Colorado, and it will have two companies on the road until December 30, when they'll finish up in Dallas and San Diego. The tour schedule is online, and tickets are on sale now. The tour will take place as it has since 2008 without founder/composer/arranger Chip Davis, who talks about why in today's episode, along with his journey from a series of albums with "Fresh Aire" in the title blending classical music, electronic music, and prog rock to 1984, Christmas, and Christmas music. Davis talks about his electronic music influences, as well as how he found an audience for an act that didn't fall neatly in any musical camp. He also talks about managing his success and dealing with the reality that Christmas music had become central to the Steamroller's identity, even if Davis didn't see it that way.  Also in today's episode, host Alex Rawls and singer Alexandra Scott discuss two Australian Christmas songs, Paul Kelly's "How to Make Gravy" and Tim Minchin's "White Wine in the Sun." We're still giving away our 2021 listeners-only Christmas mix. Write alex@myspiltmilk.com and request a copy.  This episode is sponsored by Car-Floats.com, purveyors of removable, reusable fabric stickers for your car.  If you haven't already done so, please do what you have to do to get Twelve Songs in your podcast feed. You can find us at Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Pandora, and Spotify.      

The Mekons and Waco Brothers founding singer, guitarist, and punk/alt-country pioneer takes a break from his latest Freakon collaboration to discuss his Welsh upbringing, his art school days with pals Gang of Four, his solo projects, and his successful career as a painter. Jon has a tremendous work ethic, releasing the first of 23 singles from the “Lucky Seven Series” and starting bands and records with any free moment. He’s also a real gentleman…qualities the Troubled Nation could use more of. Topics include roadwork, the Hard Rock Hotel scandal, the Rolling Stones at Jazzfest, vaccine resistance, port cities, Joe Strummer and the Clash, a record deal, LeMieux Galleries, Tom Stern and Blue Velvet Studio, Alex Rawls, OffBeat, Chickie Wah Wah, Steve Watson, Buddy Watson, the Sadies, Midway Pizza, country music, Thatcher and Reagan, union busting, signing to Virgin Records, a mining strike, the Aberfan 1966 mining disaster, moving to Chicago, honky tonk music, “Deserted,” inspiration, Yard Dog Gallery, “Lofty Deeds,” the chicken and the egg, and much more. Support the podcast here. Join the Patreon page here. Shop for Troubled Men’s Wear here. Subscribe, review, and rate (5 stars) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or almost any podcast source. Follow on social media, share with friends, and spread the Troubled Word. Intro music: Styler/Coman Break music: “Memphis Egypt” from “Heaven and Hell” by the Mekons Outro music: “Only The River” from “Jon Langford’s Lucky Seven Series, part 1” by Jon Langford & the Skull Orchard Welsh Male Choir Troubled Men Podcast Facebook Troubled Men Podacst Instagram Jon Langford Facebook Waco Brothers Mekons Jon Langford Artwork

Alex Rawls joins me to talk about his Open win and playing in the SouthEast Conference

Every holiday season from 1963-1969, members of the Official Beatles Fan Club would receive a special present from the Fab Four: a limited edition, fan-club-only flexidisc record, made just for them. What started out as a brilliant turn of PR, scripted to strengthen the appeal and bond between band and fan turned into an outlet for the boys to create whimsey and weirdness without consideration of commerciality. As they got turned on, so did the Christmas records. Bringing in elements of their beloved Goon Shows, pantomime and theatre, avant garde sound collages, the band turned in increasingly creative, then increasingly distant records every year, providing a fascinating glimpse into their trajectory throughout their career. To discuss this curio in the catalog, we teamed up for this crossover episode with Christmas music fanatic, previous guest, and host of the 12 Songs of Christmas Podcast, Alex Rawls. For several years now, in addition to his regular music website, My Spilt Milk, he devotes the end of the year to discussing Christmas music old and new, it's place in the zeitgeist and the relationship we have it. It's a fantastic podcast we highly recommend subscribing to. If you want to dive deeper into the Beatles Christmas discs, they're pretty easy to find on Youtube. They reissued them in a 7" boxset in 2017, which can still be purchased should you love them and decide to add them to your collection. Also featured in this episode is The Breton Sound's cover of "Wonderful Christmastime," which you can stream on all streaming sites, or download on iTunes if you really want it, and The Fab Four's "Tomorrow Never Knows"-ish cover of "Jingle Bells," which is absolutely a blast. They have a Christmas album called HARK!, all holiday songs done in Beatles-style, and it's a hoot. Highly recommend. Be sure to follow along, leave your comments, and join in on the discussion on the rankings at Facebook (facebook.com/rankingthebeatles) and on Instagram @rankingthebeatles. Enjoying the show and want to show your support? Check out https://anchor.fm/rankingthebeatles/support! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rankingthebeatles/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rankingthebeatles/support

When 2020 started, The Goo Goo Dolls had no plans to record a Christmas album, but it’s November and we have It’s Christmas All Over. Today The Goo Goo Dolls’ John Rzeznik tells the story of the album and talks about his relationship to Christmas music growing up. How do fans of rock ’n’ roll who have been historically suspicious of sentimentality sing such sentimental songs? And how do guys who learned to play by making their own songs handle some of the Christmas classics? It’s Christmas All Over was released on October 30, as was A Tori Kelly Christmas. Today, host Alex Rawls reviews Tori Kelly’s new album, which includes two new Christmas songs and her version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” from the movie, Sing! If you liked today’s episode, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts—Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify.  

Before our conversation, bluegrass musician Rhonda Vincent never thought about the lack of Christmas music in her house growing up. She played in her family band, The Sally Mountain Show, but they didn't play Christmas music onstage or at home. Vincent chews on that with Alex Rawls while talking about the ideas behind her two Christmas albums, Beautiful Star (2006) and Christmas Time (2015), and her upcoming residency in Branson, Missouri, "Christmas in Branson." She talks about the challenges posed by Christmas shows, bluegrass and country Christmas standards, and the challenge of singing Christmas songs. Before that, Alex reviews Carrie Underwood's new Christmas album, The Gift.  In the episode, Rhonda talks about "Beautiful Star." While preparing for the interview, Alex ran across this history of the song. Producer AF the Naysayer made the 12 Songs theme music, and he has a new single, "Adelheid," on Strange Daisy Records.

Sorry if we offended anyone by approaching something from Revolver so quickly, but alas, here we are. George's first full-on excursion into Eastern music may be one of the more significant and important songs in the Beatles catalog. That doesn't mean it's my favorite of his songs though. I've got it ranked at #219, but music writer/critic Alex Rawls totally disagrees with me. We talk about Alex's history with Beatles music, Christmas music...all kinds of music! Check out Alex's site www.myspiltmilk.com where he covers the cream of New Orleans music and beyond. ALSO, if you love Christmas music like we do, check out his Christmas music podcast, 12 Songs of Christmas, and be sure to subscribe!! Be sure to follow our socials! www.facebook.com/rankingthebeatles and on Instagram @RankingTheBeatles. And lastly, be sure to do your part in keeping everyone safe and healthy by staying home when you can, and wearing a mask when you have to go out. We want to interview our guests in person one day!! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rankingthebeatles/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rankingthebeatles/support

The Swaggernautz' members, Tat Tong and Jovany Javier, stop by Forum to discuss collaboration songwriting and global record producing with New Orleans journalist, Alex Rawls. Filmed live February 17, 2020. ----------------------------- Guests: Swaggernautz, Tat Tong and Jovany Javier Producers: Professor Mike Twillman and Dr. Jeff Albert Editor: Courtney Garcia

Boston-based alt-rock band Letters to Cleo made its name in the 1990s and had its biggest hit in 1994 with "Here & Now." It split in 2000, reunited briefly in 2007, and it now exists-ish, coming together each November to play a series of shows. It doesn't occupy the same space in the band members' careers that it once did, but they found reasons to continue to play together.  This week, Alex Rawls talks to guitarist Michael Eisenstein about the state of the band, its plans, and how they led to this year's EP, OK Christmas. He discusses why it happened now and not sooner, and how the gigs they've done since made it possible now.  After that, Alex reviews new Christmas releases from the Peter Holsapple Combo, I Don't Know How but They Found Me, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, and Rebecca Angel. For full-length videos from these songs and more reviews, visit a recent reviews column at MySpiltMilk.com. This is the last episode of season two of 12 Songs. It will return for season three on the first Wednesday after Labor Day. If you haven't done so yet, please subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. That will help others find out about the pod and make sure that you don't miss an episode when 12 Songs returns. 

In this encore presentation of an episode from last spring, Alex Rawls talks to Scott McCaughey of The Minus 5 about the band’s Dear December and the unusual circumstances surrounding its release. McCaughey finished the album, then shortly before its release in the fall of 2017, he suffered a stroke. That ended any promotion for the album as well as any performing for McCaughey, who started in Seattle’s Young Fresh Fellows, and also played in R.E.M.’s touring band and The Baseball Project with Peter Buck and Steve Wynn. In our conversation, he talks about the road the recovery and how not being able to play those songs for a while affected his relationship to the album. He also talks about how the song choices for the album and its release were affected by The Monkees’ Christmas Party album, which includes some of his songs. After that, Alex reviews new Christmas releases from Rob Halford, Ne-Yo, Keb’ Mo’, John Legend, and Diana Ross. If you haven't yet subscribed to 12 Songs, this is a good time to do so because the season ends strong. Go to Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify and subscribe.   

Salvation Army used record bins are crowded with Christmas albums presented in the 1960s, ‘70s, and ’80s by companies such as Firestone, True Value, and businesses that have since shut down. They often feature cover art that resembles a Christmas present or invokes nostalgic holidays from the past. On this episode of “12 Songs,” host Alex Rawls talks with New Orleans’ Joe Adragna about those albums and particularly one that was important to his family’s Christmases, A Very Merry Christmas Vol. 5, sold by Grant’s department store in Long Island. They talk about how these albums not only reflect but shape Christmas practices, and what the song and artist choices say the conception of Christmas put forward by these companies. Adragna is a pop classicist who records under the name The Junior League, and earlier this year he released a new album, Adventureland. After that conversation, host Alex Rawls talks about The Molly Burch Christmas Album by indie singer/songwriter Molly Burch (really this time!). The new album is Burch’s third, and Rawls reviews it, talking about how it fits into her body of work and some of the smart musical choices she makes on the album. We also hear her unusual take on “Last Christmas” by Wham!

For many, Nelson is the answer to a trivia question: What twin blonde guitar-playing brothers had a hit in 1990 with “Love and Affection”? Matthew Nelson acknowledges that his profile isn’t what it once was this week on “The 12 Songs of Christmas,” where he talks about This Christmas and This Christmas Too, companion albums that were released in 2015 and 2016. Each features the songs with a mix of vocal and instrumental tracks; songs that feature vocals on one album are instrumentals on the other, and vice versa. Matthew Nelson and his brother Gunnar are third generation in their family in the public limelight after their father, singer Ricky Nelson, and their grandparents Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, who had their own sitcom Ozzie and Harriet from 1952 to 1966. Matthew remembers Christmases with his family and talks about how he and Gunnar came to make not one but two Christmas albums, and why he considers “Blue Christmas” the hardest Christmas song to cover. The albums became part of a plan to do Christmas shows each year, and this year their Christmas tour starts on November 23 and runs through December 21. Go to their website for tour dates and tickets. After that conversation, host Alex Rawls talks about The Molly Burch Christmas Album by indie singer/songwriter Molly Burch. The new album is Burch’s third, and Rawls reviews it, talking about how it fits into her body of work and some of the smart musical choices she makes on the album. We also hear her unusual take on “Last Christmas” by Wham! If you’re listening to this episode here, please subscribe to 12 Songs through Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. That way, you don’t miss an episode and I have numbers to help convince artists and their managers that appearing on the podcast is a good idea. Those numbers also help advertisers see “12 Songs” as a way to reach their markets. It’s a win/win!

A Charlie Brown Christmas has a special place in the hearts of many. The cartoon from 1965 introduced generations of children to “ennui” before they had a name for it, and the soundtrack by The Vince Guaraldi Trio added some emotional gravity to effervescence that characterizes much of the Christmas canon. The album’s centerpiece, “Christmas Time is Here,” became a Christmas standard in the 1990s, when it was covered by Mel Tormé, Chicago, Shawn Colvin and guitarist Steve Vai, and last year Houston’s global indie/psychedelic rock band Khruangbin released a great version of the song. During the 12 Songs conversation with Chuck Mead that started this season, Mead talked about his inability to play Christmas concerts because his drummer, Martin Lynds, was busy in December with another band, The Ornaments, who perform the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack from beginning to end in a series of show through the month of December in Nashville. The Ornaments have been doing playing these gigs for 14 years now, and recently, host Alex Rawls talked to Lynds and pianist Jen Gunderman about The Ornaments, Vince Guaraldi, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and what’s wrong with Santa in the animated Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. After that, this episode returns to a guest from earlier this season, Joel Dinerstein. Dinerstein is a professor at Tulane University who has written extensively about notions of cool in America, and he recently appeared on 12 Songs to talk about cool and uncool Christmas songs. During that conversation, Dinerstein talked about A Charlie Brown Christmas, but since the episode was lengthy with a lot to think about before it got to that section, Rawls decided to hold that section until now. The second section of today’s show is that exchange. Recently, listener Raymond Martin shared a massive Christmas playlist that he posted on Google Play. You can hear it here, and if you have a Christmas playlist you want to share, you can reach Alex through Facebook or by emailing alex@myspiltmilk.com. If you think you've got good taste in Christmas music and/or some cool obscurities, show us what you've got. 'tis the season!  Finally, if you’re listening to this episode here, please subscribe to 12 Songs through Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. That way, you don’t miss an episode and I have numbers to help convince artists and their managers that appearing on the podcast is a good idea. Those numbers also help advertisers see “12 Songs” as a way to reach their markets. It’s a win/win!    

In this special NSFW episode of "12 Songs of Christmas," singer Erin McKeown makes the case against Christmas and holiday music. In 2011, she released F*ck That!--and in this episode, we do say "Fuck"--which started as a laugh and ended up being a tool to work out some demons. She talks with host Alex Rawls about her fairly typical childhood experience with Christmas, and how at some point her questions and issues surrounding the holiday came together to constitute a genuine antipathy toward the holiday season.  This conversation features music from F*ck That! as well as "Hey Lord" by Suicide and "Christmas with You (Merry Me)" by New Orleans' Kelcy Mae.  After that, Alex talks about Lucy Dacus' recently released version of "Last Christmas," which was originally done by Wham! To help explain his take on that song, Alex also plays Taylor Swift's version.

JD McPherson’s got a great backstory as a guy from small town Oklahoma who loved playing rock ’n’ roll so much that he finally started touring in his 30s. Fortunately, he’s good at it and has been able to sustain a career since. But that’s not why he’s on “The 12 Songs of Christmas.” In 2018, he recorded Socks!, which is perfect for people who want their Christmas music as schmaltz-free as possible. This week he talks to host Alex Rawls about he solved the problem of how to write Christmas songs with an approach that reveals a deep love of rock ’n’ roll history. This week, Alex starts a new segment and talks about a song that ought to be part of the Christmas canon, Charlie Rich’s “Santa Claus’ Daughter.” The song went unreleased in 1965 when Rich recorded it, so its obscurity is understandable, but its playfulness is undeniable and Rich’s Elvis-like vocal makes the song sound familiar on first listen. If you’re listening to this episode here, please subscribe to “12 Songs” through Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. That way, you don’t miss an episode and I have numbers to help convince artists and their managers that appearing on the podcast is a good idea. Those numbers also help advertisers see “12 Songs” as a way to reach their markets. It’s a win/win!

Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” is one of America’s least-loved Christmas songs if you read the annual lists of worst Christmas songs, but it’s also one of the most popular, so much so that Forbes reported in 2010 that it likely earned him between $400,000 and $600,000 annually. A sense of economic injustice likely fuels the outrage that writer Chris Chase expressed toward it and John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” in 2010: Them putting out this dreck is like if Irvin Berlin wrote The Thong Song. It’s like if Van Gogh had done macaroni art. I don’t care if the latest American Idol runner-up warbles his way through O, Holy Night, just don’t let me hear the great Paul McCartney butcher a song in the holiday season. Andrew Winistorfer defended the song for Vice.com in 2012 in a piece that often reads like an overcorrection—he claims the song is “the original--and by far best--Chillwave song”—and Annie Zaleski wrote at Salon.com in 2016 that “‘Wonderful Christmastime’ represents one of McCartney's biggest post-Beatles pivot points — a low-pressure song where he reasserted his independence and started a metamorphosis that would linger for years. Sometimes, the most unexpected (and most polarizing) gestures end up being the most enduring.” The song has proven to be very coverable, far more so than the biggest contemporary Christmas song, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You,” and on this episode I talk to two artists who have recorded versions of the song. Electro boogie duo Tuxedo cut an on-brand version in 2014, and New Orleans rock band The Breton Sound cut a pop-punk version a year later. For this episode, Alex Rawls talked to Tuxedo’s Jake One and The Breton Sound’s Jonathan Pretus about the song, versions of it, and their other Christmas songs. Tuxedo recently released its third album, Tuxedo III. 

The music writer and book critic behind the My Spilt Milk blog and the 12 Songs of Christmas podcast joins the Troubled Men for a final recap of Jazzfest performances as they stare into the void of the long, hot New Orleans summer. Good thing Manny is in such a positive mood. Topics include Mt Denali, an investigation, a fan favorite, the 12 Songs of Christmas podcast, Tav Falco, BR-549, Eddy Arnold, a Houston childhood, the Canadian years, early assignments, Offbeat magazine, Gambit, creative destruction, post-Katrina, Chernobyl, Moonlight Benjamin at Jazzfest, Diana Ross, a new music challenge, Pacific Breeze, backstage doubts, Janelle Monáe and Prince, an untimely death, an endorsement, hologram tours, the war on Christmas, and much more. Subscribe, review, and rate. Follow and share with friends.

The music writer and book critic behind the My Spilt Milk blog and the 12 Songs of Christmas podcast joins the Troubled Men for a final recap of Jazzfest performances as they stare into the void of the long, hot New Orleans summer. Good thing Manny is in such a positive mood. Topics include Mt Denali, an investigation, a fan favorite, the 12 Songs of Christmas podcast, Tav Falco, BR-549, Eddy Arnold, a Houston childhood, the Canadian years, early assignments, Offbeat magazine, Gambit, creative destruction, post-Katrina, Chernobyl, Moonlight Benjamin at Jazzfest, Diana Ross, a new music challenge, Pacific Breeze, backstage doubts, Janelle Monáe and Prince, an untimely death, an endorsement, hologram tours, the war on Christmas, and much more. Subscribe, review, and rate. Follow and share with friends.

On this Happy Hour, veteran New Orleans music writer Alex Rawls notes there are three ways to not get paid in the music business: write about music, take photos of musicians, or actually play music. We have all the bases covered in this conversation. Alex could have added a 4th way: podcasting. He's recently launched a new podcast which might actually have a bit of traction. It's called The Twelve Songs of Christmas, which is a bit misleading because it's about more than just 12 songs, but it is a quirky and unique examination of Christmas music by Alex and the people who make the music. By the way, to add to the cruelty of the poverty of the music business, Alex also teaches aspiring music writers at Loyola University. When she's not kicking fans in the face or beating adoring women away from her with a stick, Mia Borders is fantasizing about men she runs into at Costco. She got a great song out of the latter experience, which she sings on this show, and has some great stories about the former. And Mia has a new record out, The Good Side of Bad, a title that sums up the state of mind she was in but seems to have left far behind. Mia also teaches how to graduate into a life of poverty at Loyola University, educating young musicians. Hope Byrd has dreamed up a way to make a living that she describes as "a business plan destined to fail," aka photographing musicians. You can see Hope's photos on Instagram at her account The Gold Frame. They're impressive, and without the aid of encouraging poverty at Loyola, Hope seems to be keeping body and soul together just fine. Don't ask her exactly who she's dating though. Okay, ask, it's totally worth it. Photos at Wayfare by Jill Lafleur.

The Squirrel Nut Zippers had to make their 1998 holiday album Christmas Caravan, says band member Jimbo Mathus. It was part of the deal when Disney bought the hot band's label, Mammoth Records, so even though no one in the band felt any particular fondness for Christmas music, they wrote and recorded an album anyway in the summer heat in New Orleans at the now-defunct Kingsway Studios.  Mathus tells host Alex Rawls about how the band recorded what has come to be a holiday classic despite the odds against its success. It only includes one cover of a holiday favorite--"Sleigh Ride"--and a song written by the drummer's parents. He also tells the story of how some songs have had to change over time, and how the rejuvenated Squirrel Nut Zippers released new Christmas music last season.  The conversation was part of a larger one that also discussed Mathus' new album, Incinerator, due out April 5. You'll be able to find that story at MySpiltMilk.com shortly after its release. 

In 2017, The Minus 5 released Dear December, but it didn't play any CD-release shows or holiday shows that year because the lone constant in the group, Scott McCaughey, had a stroke a week before its release.  Recently, host Alex Rawls talked to McCaughey about his stroke and how it affected his music and his relationship to the album. He recalls the music of his youth that inspired him including a track by The Voices of Walter Schumann that he quoted on Dear December, and talks about the role that The Monkees' 2018 Christmas album,  Christmas Party, played in the making of Dear December. 

Alex Rawls spoke with the Norwegian Americana band Darling West before Christmas about two Christmas music videos that the band posted on YouTube--a version of "Blue Christmas" and the Norwegian folk Christmas song, "Kling No Klokka." Mari and Tor Egil Kreken talked about the place that American Christmas songs occupy in the Norwegian celebration of Christmas, as well as the popularity of canonical Christmas songs sung in Norwegian. Mari talked about the love of Jussi Bjørling's version of "O Helga Natt"--"O Holy Night" in Norwegian.  One caveat: This conversation was recorded via a computer call while the Krekens were at home in Norway and starting to work on a new album (While I Was Asleep, due out February 15), so the sound is less than optimal. One cause for celebration: This episode marks the debut of our new theme music, made exclusively for "12 Songs of Christmas" by New Orleans' producer AF THE NAYSAYER. I've really liked his work for a while now and am glad to have his music be part of the show. You can hear more of his work on his Soundcloud page.  

Los Straitjackets' Christmas albums--2002’s ‘Tis the Season for Los Straitjackets and 2009’s Yuletide Beat--are inventive in a way that you don't expect from surf rock and might not expect from Christmas music. They're respectful of their tradition, so much so that their version of "Sleigh Bells" owes a lot to The Ventures' version from 1965. But they're not hamstrung by their respect for their genre and open with "La Bamba" en route to "Feliz Navidad."  In the recent Christmas season, the band released Los Straitjackets' Complete Christmas Songbook, which also includes loose tracks including a live version of Vince Guaraldi's "Linus & Lucy" recorded in 2015 when the band spent the Christmas season on tour backing Nick Lowe. Guitarist Eddie Angel talks to host Alex Rawls about Nick Lowe, Christmas shows, mash-up arrangements, and his relationship to Christmas music. The show also includes Christmas music by The Ventures and Nick Lowe. The episode also features the return of Nashville songwriter Jim McCormick to talk about The Band's "Christmas Must Be Tonight." The song from 1977's Islands is sincere in a way that most Christmas rock and pop isn't, and it prompts Jim and Alex to talk about The Band, Bob Dylan and his Christmas album, Christmas in the Heart, and one of the many roles Christmas music plays in the culture. 

Twas the week before Christmas, and host Alex Rawls talked to the legendary singer/songwriter Rodney Crowell about Christmas Everywhere, the holiday album he released recently. The conversation deals with Crowell's relationship to Christmas music, but it's clear in the conversation that the same ideas and aesthetics that have shaped his songwriting for decades shaped his Christmas music as well. He worked to make Christmas music that is true to his art and that surprises in the same way that his songs can. With the title song certainly, he succeeded.  In the second half of this week's show, Alex talks to singer K.C. O'Rorke of the New Orleans funk/rock band Flow Tribe. This is the 10th year for the band's annual Christmas week show, and O'Rorke talks about the art and commerce of it along with the band's first Christmas song, "Hammered for Christmas."  During the conversation, Alex fumbles for the artist and title of a song he picked up from the program director of New Orleans' Magic 101.9, which goes all-Christmas at some point every holiday season. The song is "Papa Noel" by Brenda Lee. The song is also included in the episode, but here it is as well since it's not clearly identified in the show. 

Seattle singer/songwriter Kristin Chambers is in the process of making her name, and she has done so in part by singing Christmas music. She has recorded one album, Snow Globe, and one EP, Merry Christmas, and they have helped to shape her identity more than she expected. Chambers talks with host Alex Rawls about the musical appeal as a singer and songwriter of Christmas songs as well as dealing with the success of that part of her songbook. They also talk about her background in theater and how it might relate to Christmas music.  In the second part of this week's show, Alex talks to saxophone player Mars Williams, best known to many for his stints with The Waitresses and The Psychedelic Furs. Williams also plays with Witches and Devils, his Chicago-based tribute band to free jazz hero Albert Ayler. Mars Williams Presents: An Ayler Xmas Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 document his efforts to fuse Ayler's music and method with Christmas music, something that's not as random an idea as it might seem at first.  Williams also remembers recording The Waitresses' 1982 Christmas classic "Christmas Wrapping," and explains how he adapted it to fit with Albert Ayler's "Soul Cry." For more on Mars Williams' Albert Ayler Xmas project, see Alex's story at MySpiltMilk.com.

Delicate Steve is a guitar hero for our time with no obvious North Star guiding his musical choices and no piety for the The Church of Shredders. In today's interview, he talks about being a child of Napster, and the self-taught musical education that came from downloading a world of music has led to a career of music that doesn't fit neatly in any box. He started at Luaka Bop, where his personal musical vision was thought of as psychedelic world music (the "psychedelic" part sounds right), and now he's on Anti-, where his instrumental music simply seems personal and at home. He recently released The Christmas Album, but as this conversation shows, Steve Marion is hardly a holiday true believer and approaches the songs as songs instead of as attachments to the season. In his talk with host Alex Rawls, he discusses Phil Spector, Bob Dylan, and his approach to instrumental music. Alex also talks this week to journalist David Dennis about Outkast's "Player's Ball." The song fits squarely into the "12 Songs" mission because its story is very much a business one, but it also reveals that Christmas doesn't live equally in everybody's imagination. David and Alex talk about why, as well as the role Sean "Puffy" Combs' video for the song played in shaping Outkast's image.

Today host Alex Rawls talks to Scott Kelly, who started The Wizards of Winter to play a tribute to Trans-Siberian Orchestra as a benefit for a local food bank. Kelly talks about the aesthetics of prog-rock Christmas music, and the challenge of finding the right people to play it.  The Wizards of Winter will be on tour performing their holiday rock opera "Tales Beneath a Northern Star" through the end of the year.  In the second segment, Alex talks to Nashville songwriter Jim McCormick, who Alex profiled McCormick in 2012 when he had back to back number one records with Brantley Gilbert's "You Don't Know Her Like I Do" and Jason Aldean's "Take a Little Ride." McCormick talks with some envy about "A Baby Changes Everything" from Faith Hill's 2008 Joy to the World. They discuss the song--which Alex pairs with The New Pornographers' "Joseph Who Understood"--and what comes with singing Christmas songs. 

Alex Rawls talked to Texas' singer/songwriter Robert Earl Keen backstage at Tipitina's, where Keen played earlier this fall. While talking, the two realized that they lived in the same Houston suburb at the same time and because they grew up there, the references in some Christmas songs mean nothing to them. The conversation focused on the story behind Keen's "Merry Christmas from the Family," which has become an Americana holiday staple. Keen tells its story and talks about its repercussions, and one of his few attempts to cash in on anything, "Happy Holidays, Y'all." Tickets to see Robert Earl Keen in concert this fall with Lyle Lovett, George Strait, and in his "Cosmic Cowboy Christmas" shows are on sale now through his website. 

Tony Award-winning actor Michael Cerveris and his friend Kimberly Kaye have careers in the theater and on the small screen, and they formed their alternative Americana band Loose Cattle in the late 2000s. In 2017, they released Seasonal Affective Disorder, their conflicted Christmas album. In this conversation with host Alex Rawls, they talk about their cover of John Denver's "Please Daddy Don't Get Drunk This Christmas," Tammy Wynette's "Merry Christmas (We Must Be Having One)" and the appeal of the sad Christmas song.     For more on Cerveris, Kaye, and the story behind Seasonal Affective Disorder, see Alex Rawls' story from 2017 at My Spilt Milk.  

New Orleans' Panorama Jazz Band folds a world of cultures and musical styles into its version of traditional jazz. Bandleader Ben Schenck and host Alex Rawls talk about how Christmas music fits into its business, and how one instrument can make a version distinctive. Music on today's show is available on Panorama's Bandcamp page on Song of The Month Club: Good Music for You. 

Today on Happy Hour, [Kerry Dunn][link1] can't keep his characters off cocaine, [Jim McCormick][link2] makes country singers sound creative [Andrew Duhon][link3] is given a set at Voodoo, and [Alex Rawls][link4] doesn't cry over spilt milk. [link1]: http://www.authorkerrydunn.com/ [link2]: http://www.jimmccormicksongs.com/ [link3]: http://andrewduhon.com/ [link4]: http://myspiltmilk.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The music writer and book critic behind the My Spilt Milk blog and the 12 Songs of Christmas podcast joins the Troubled Men for a final recap of Jazzfest performances as they stare into the void of the long, hot New Orleans summer. Good thing Manny is in such a positive mood. Topics include Mt Denali, an investigation, a fan favorite, the 12 Songs of Christmas podcast, Tav Falco, BR-549, Eddy Arnold, a Houston childhood, the Canadian years, early assignments, Offbeat magazine, Gambit, creative destruction, post-Katrina, Chernobyl, Moonlight Benjamin at Jazzfest, Diana Ross, a new music challenge, Pacific Breeze, backstage doubts, Janelle Monáe and Prince, an untimely death, an endorsement, hologram tours, the war on Christmas, and much more. Subscribe, review, and rate. Follow and share with friends.