Category:

Stubbys House of Christmas

MATT TRAWINSKI (HANDS ON THE STEREO) - MISS CHRISTMAS

12/31/2010

Northern New Jersey's Hands On The Stereo describe themselves as a "Happy Hardcore Band". Forming, originally, in 2008, it's fair to say they're new to the game, but Hands On The Stereo is growing their popularity rapidly by performing at every opportunity and giving away some music for free through Bandcamp. Check out the group's self-titled EP, in particular the song "Can't Stop Kids Like Us", to get a feel for this melodic pop punk band. "Miss Christmas" is technically credited to drummer and vocalist Matt Trawinski, though it certainly sounds like he brought the rest of the band with him. Get your hands on this one at the Hands On The Stereo Bandcamp page.

THE AFTERBEAT - SANTA CLAUS

12/25/2010

A Canadian Ska band, The Afterbeat answered the call of the holidays with a pair of Christmas songs. First, they polish up Darlene Love's "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)". Then they have a go at the Sonics' "Santa Claus". Both songs get a bit of a punk make-over with "Santa Claus" sounding the more Ska of the two (to me). The Afterbeat is one of the top Indie bands in Canada right now and even scored a Super Bowl commercial last January. Head to PureVolume to download the Christmas tracks free, view the Super Bowl commercial, and get a preview of the group's forthcoming album.

PHILMONT - IT NEVER SNOWS (IN CHARLOTTE)

12/22/2010

Philmont is a Pop Punk band out of Charlotte, NC where, trust me, it does snow. These guys were signed to EMI's Contemporary Christian label up until earlier this year. Now they find themselves an Indie act in transition. "It Never Snows (In Charlotte)" has a good rock sound, reminiscent of Relient K, though the song's not especially Christmasy. You can find this one at Philmont's iLike page (What? No Bandcamp?).

VARIOUS - HAVE YOURSELF AN EITHER/OR CHRISTMAS

12/22/2010

1. Brandon Setta - From A Bedroom On The Hill
2. Run Forever - Silent Night
3. Shivers - I Never Liked Christmas Music
4. Alex Rochette (Louder Than Bombs) - Arctic
5. Koji - Placeholders
6. Jacob Clarke - Christmas Eve
7. Alex Lombardi (Settle For Less) - Christmas Song
8. Featherweight - What Christmas Means To Me
9. You Vandal - Stocking Stuffer
10. John Flemming featuring Nick May - Maybe Next Year
11. The Haunted Continents - Long Lonely Year

Well, this entry from Either/Or Records is a bit of a mixed bag. Most of these artists come from the Pop Punk field, but this whole collection has a bit of a thrown together feel about it. It's more like an album of raw demos than completed works. In a way, that's fascinating. In a way, it's disappointing. About half the tracks here are emo, which is really hard to take 3 days before Christmas (unless you're just naturally depressed). Some of the mixing is awful--can't even hear the vocals on The Shivers track (although, given the title of their song, maybe they were going for irony). But there are some good tracks as well, poor recording quality aside. Koji is solid, as always. Jacob Clarke does OK with his number. Featherweight gives a real nice finger-snappin' performance on the Stevie Wonder classic. You Vandal's tune is worthy of better production values, but shines nonetheless (profanity aside). And the highlight of "Have Yourself An Either/Or Christmas" for me was easily the closer, The Haunted Continents' "Long Lonely Year"; it was the one song with a fully realized and passionate delivery. It's free at Bandcamp, so help yourself. But, if it weren't, I wouldn't advise spending money for it.

ENERGY - I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS

12/21/2010

Punks from Massachusetts. My favorite things. The band from Stoughton have been together for a few years, at least. And now they've dipped their toe in the holiday waters, delivering a sweet version of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" that not only isn't the least bit Punk (to my ears), but actually sounds like what would have happened had Phil Spector been the producer for the Beach Boys. Not the bands regular fare, but a pretty nice song standing on its own. You can listen to Energy on their Facebook or MySpace page. And you can download "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" free at Bandcamp.

VARIOUS - xEASYCOREx PRESENTS: A HOLIDAY COMPILATION

12/20/2010

01 - With Honors - Happy Xmas
02 - Suckerpunch - This December
03 - Three Cent Cinema - Home(sick) For Christmas
04 - All Hands On Deck - Snowflakes & Heartbreaks
05 - Thieves - Lights On All The Housees
06 - Robbing The Vatican - Wonderful Xmastime
07 - Ghost I'm Gone - Of All The Stars On All The Trees
08 - Shelbyville - Leave It To Christians To Ruin A Perfectly Good Holiday
09 - Stick Around - That Time Of Year Again
10 - Talk About It - Not Now Arctic Puffin
11 - From The Top - Hot Chocolate Stains and Candy Canes
12 - Fingers Crossed - Full Moon On Christmas Morning
13 - We Stand Victorious - Three Ho's Are Better Than One

14 - Far From Proper - This Holiday
15 - Same As Sunday - Up On The Housetop
16 - Phantom City - Santa Claustrophobia

DOWNLOAD AT BANDCAMP

Not gonna say too much about this one. xEasycorex is an Internet forum for Hardcore, Punk and Pop Punk bands and the fans who love them. We've already featured a bunch of these tracks on our free list--some of my favorite tracks of the year, in fact. And the new ones, making their appearance for the first time, are every bit as high quality and high energy. Most of the tracks I've listened to from this so far are firmly in the Pop Punk category--so highly accessible Rock music is what we're talking--like the Happy Christmas series without all the religious overtones (not that I have anything against the religious overtones). I recommend you download "xEasycorex Presents: A Holiday Compilation" post haste. It's great stuff. Instant download, by the way. No email address required.

CAST BEFORE THE BREAK/LIVING CHIVALRY - REGIFTED, VOLUME 1

12/20/2010

1. Jingle, Jingle, Jingle - Living Chivalry
2. How The Grinch Folked Christmas - Cast Before The Break
3. Yule Shoot Your Eye Out - Living Chivalry
4. Christmas Tree - Cast Before The Break
5. Baby, It's Cold Outside - Living Chivalry
6. Silent Night (Reprise) - Cast Before The Break

DOWNLOAD THROUGH MEDIAFIRE

TJ Foster, of The Cast Before The Break, and Ben Hemingway, of Living Chivalry, pooled their Christmas efforts this year into one free 6 song holiday download. Ben's music tends toward Indie Rock and Pop Punk, bordering on Power Pop, while TJ is more of an Alt Folk performer, if this set is any indication. By alternating tracks, the set actually works incredibly well (and gives me an excuse for colorizing the track list). I'd love to point you to highlights, but this was a great EP from start to finish. For Living Chivalry, I guess I'd have to say "Baby It's Cold Outside" was especially tasty. And, for Cast Before The Break, it's hard not to cite the Folk Rock re-construction of Lady Gaga's "Christmas Tree" as a cut above. But, really, this EP's an excellent listen straight through. And it's free. Download "Regifted, Volume 1" through the generously provided Mediafire link. And, before I go, a big shout out to my peeps in Oneonta, New York, which Ben lists as his home town and it was mine, too.

FROM THE TOP - HOT CHOCOLATE STAINS AND CANDY CANES

12/17/2010

Another Pop Punk entry, this one an original. From The Top are California dudes with a sound that's half Green Day, half MxPx. Something like that. "Hot Chocolate Stains and Candy Canes" will cost you a Tweet or a post on Facebook. You'll find the link on the group's web site.

ROBBING THE VATICAN - WONDERFUL CHRISTMASTIME

12/17/2010

Who knew Connecticut had such authentic punks? Robbing The Vatican give a Wonderful hard core pop punk reading on McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime". This'll put some punch in your bowl and definitely enliven the office Christmas party. Doing a Punk Xmas mix tape? This just became an essential addition. "Oi! Oi! Oi!" to Robbing The Vatican for a job bloody well done. Visit the band on Facebook or MySpace and download the track through Mediafire, here.

WITH HONORS - HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER)

12/17/2010

Indiana Pop Punks With Honors have covered the John Lennon chestnut "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" in their characteristically energetic style. Visit the band and listen to the song on MySpace or their home web site and download through Mediafire, here.