I’ve always been a sucker for a good holiday song – growing up Jewish, I still probably know more Christmas songs than I do Hanukah ones, maybe because there’s just nothing jolly about a menorah and a couple of potato pancakes. Early on, I took a strange liking to Johnny Mathis’ Merry Christmas – particularly the track “Sleigh Bells,” which is so damn jovial I have been known to put it on in the middle of summer during a pit of humidity-induced seasonal depression (I prefer snow to sun, with my east coast roots showing).
Which is why I couldn’t resist the chance to exclusively premiere these Christmas tracks from two Nashville favorites – Pony Boy and Justin & the Cosmics, who are releasing these tracks as part of a series of split 7” from Cosmic Thug Records. “(Please Don’t Leave On) Christmas Eve” is Pony Boy’s deliciously sultry offering, with Justin & The Cosmics’ lucid rock ‘n’ roller “Father Christmas,” with help from the Georgettes. Cosmic Thug will release a new 7″ every 2-3 months, with each release in the upcoming series will feature artwork by local Nashville artist Casey Tanner. The next offering will be a split 7″ by Vincent Van Gold (Rob Crowell and Dennis Ryan of Deer Tick and Adam Landry) and Happiness (Dennis Ryan , Chris Ryan, Ian O’Neil of Deer Tick along with Rafay Rashid of Ravi Shavi).
“During the deluge of holiday cheer and relentless songs of merriment, I wanted to write something that expressed and alternative sentiment around the holidays,” says Pony Boy’s Marchelle Bradanini. “I’ve always loved Darlene Love’s melancholy swagger on ‘Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)’ from the classic Phil Spector Christmas collection, A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector, and I think both my song and Justin’s ‘Father Christmas’ are in the spirit of these types of tunes. ‘(Please Don’t Leave On) Christmas Eve’ is a first take vocal, recorded live to 8 track with my wrecking crew of Adam Landry, Justin Collins, Robbie Crowell, and Carey Kotsionis.”
“‘Father Christmas’ is about the emptiness that often ensues with the holidays and an acknowledgement that there is still always suffering among us, no matter how happy one may feel when occupied with Christmas and such,”says Justin. “It is a reflection upon how we find things (like beer) to fill up those holes inside of us.” Both songs be available for pre-sale on Black Friday in select record stores and cosmicthugrecords.com.
Catch Justin & The Cosmics tonight at their album SCHOOLY DREAMS release show at Queen Art Collective, alongside Pony Boy.
Lockeland Springsteen 