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PrintA Christmas music playlist
A look at what’s happening in the local music scene.
Dec. 8 — KISS BOK Center, 200 N. Denver Ave.
If your children (or your parents) start applying face paint and strutting around in breastplates and glittered platform boots, you may need to invest in a tranquilizer dart.
Or get yourself ready for the KISS Army, heading downtown Dec. 8.
After the band started in the early ’70s, no one paid much attention until KISS turned its live shows into a freak assault on every one of your senses.
Pyrotechnics; blood (food coloring and yogurt); and “breathing of the fire,” which frequently resulted in “burning of the hair,” are all staples of what made the band famous. That and the band’s penchant for merchandising that would make George Lucas blush (lunch boxes, “KISS Your Face” makeup kits and anything else that could be paid for with cash).
They have made a bit of a resurgence despite Gene Simmons’ recent interview with NPR’s Terry Gross, which Mr. Simmons declined NPR the rights to post on its Web site, but you can still find it, and I suggest you do — just for a great laugh.
The crowds at these shows are as much of a spectacle as the performers.
For this show, your game face will require Ponds to remove.
Dec. 12: Slaid Cleaves, Terri Hendrix and Lloyd Maines All Soul Acoustic Coffeehouse, 2952 S. Peoria Ave.
I have an ingrained loathing for Austin, Texas. I grew up in Oklahoma. My family all curses Texas during the annual Red River Rivalry game. During my one and only visit there, I was issued a citation for drinking a beer on Sixth Street while a junkie was passed out with a needle in his arm four feet away from the officer and me.
Arrgh!
So it’s hard for me to say the following: Austin, Texas, is the live music capital of our nation.
Singers and songwriters there are more prevalent than reverends and ministers here. Everyone is in a band. Only the great ones can make a living at it.
On Dec. 12, three of the best singer/songwriters Austin has to offer will be at the All Soul Acoustic Coffeehouse. Each is more than capable of headlining a show. But the three of them together will make for yet another beautiful night of music at Tulsa’s acoustic headquarters.
Dec. 25 — Johnny Polygon The Marquee, 222 N. Main St.
Making his home in New York, Los Angeles and Tulsa, Polygon (one of Tulsa’s best emerging artists — I cannot speak for L.A. or N.Y.) has some incredible music to practice his singing/rapping.
This will be a great Christmas present for the hip-hop lover in your life. His lyrics are both hilarious and hard. “The Riot Song” (available on his MySpace site and iTunes) is reminiscent of Gnarls Barkley but grittier.*
*4 out of 5 dentists surveyed recommended grittier music for their patients who listened to music.
Happy holidays and Merry Christmas, everyone.
Bonus: Free Christmas music section!
For those who have outgrown their grandparents’ or parents’ tastes in holiday music (it’s no holiday when you want to start jabbing your ears with sharp pokey things), I have made a list of my favorite Christmas tunes. You don’t have to like them, but you have to admit it’s a whiplash from Mel Tormé or Burl Ives.
1. Funny is as funny does.
2. If only to watch my dogs flip out.
3. Not much of a whiplash, but I can’t help myself.
4. A Christmas classic the second you hear it.
5. The Brian Setzer and Ann-Margret version is a real close second.
6. Some extra holiday bizarreness if your family isn’t weird enough.
7. Urban Christmas.
8. I would recommend anything from this “South Park” album (especially the Cartman songs).
9. Something you and the elders can agree on.
10. If Billy Corgan can get “Christmasey,” anyone can.
11. Holiday irony, anyone?
12. On the list of my favorite things, this song. Coltrane takes the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, mixes it in a shakerful of cool and serves it neat on a chilly night.
13. My sister just informed me that “That Spirit of Christmas” is one of her favorites (from the attic scene in “Christmas Vacation”). I vote for “Merry Christmas, Baby” from Mr. Charles, though.
14. This is the singular most beautiful Christmas song ever made. It makes we want to drink a Guinness and cry at the same time. If it can get me teary-eyed in October, it will probably lead to open sobbing come December and a few more pints of Guinness.
