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12 Bands of Christmas returns with New CD and Listening Party

By Stoney ⋅ November 11, 2008 ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

Since 2001, The 12 Bands of Christmas has closed out the final weekend before Christmas in grand rocking fashion bringing Augustans together for a great night of live music and fund raising. Season three in 2003 saw Joe Stevenson and Ruskin Yeargain jump into the event with the debut of the very first 12 Bands of Christmas companion CD and the event exploded into the biggest local music party of the year. This past Friday, the 12 Bands Volume Six CD officially hit the streets and this year’s release continues the tradition of great holiday music from area artists.

Augusta meets Atlanta band Whosehouse kicks off Volume Six with a great rendition of Christmas classic “Silver Bells”. Headed up by Augusta singer-songwriter Jacob Beltz and featuring several Atlanta musicians, Whosehouse stick respectfully close to the original while still managing to put their own spin on the long-time holiday favorite. Beltz’ vocal delivery is powerfully sincere and the “La Bamba” style breakdown adds a festive feel.

Thomson’s own Crosstie Walkers keep the holiday spirit in Georgia with their take on Red Lights (Merry Christmas), originally written and recorded by 80’s Athens New Wave band Dreams So Real. Starting off with precious singing children Crosstie Walkers turn in a great catchy tune that sways between Americana folk and just good pop.

Kids and Christmas music go hand in hand and no one knows how to rock the kids in the CSRA like Tara Scheyer and the Mud Puppy Band. Made up of a multitude of great Augusta talent and topped off with Scheyer’s sweet vocals this original tune- “Red & Yellow, Black & White”, is unmistakably a Scheyer composition. Rumor has it that the great chorus of voices behind Scheyer’s lead vocals took 22 tracks!

Former Horsepower guitarist/vocalist Grady Nickel shows his Americana colors on his great original tune “Decoration Day”. Fans of Nickel’s former projects will undoubtedly love to toss back a few cold ones to this track while toasting the upcoming holiday season. Nickel always manages to mix melody with heartfelt energy and his latest song has that combination stamped all over it.

Former Augusta resident Greg Hester brings one of the most soulful voices in music to the table with an oh so funky version of “Back Door Santa”. This bluesy ode to year-long holiday lovin’ features tasty guitar licks by another former Horsepower alum (and James Brown guitar player extraordinaire) Keith Jenkins and offers just enough groove and grit to keep the big kids from feeling excluded.

While not an Augusta artist, singer-songwriter Jennifer Daniels has logged as many Augusta show hours as some born and bred local bands drawing rooms of fans with each and every visit to the area. One listen to her rendition of the traditional Christmas hymn “O Holy Night” and it’s easy to hear why Daniels is consistently one of Augusta’s favorite visiting artists. Daniel’s enchanting vocals do great justice to one of the seasons most cherished and beautiful classics providing perhaps the most tender of moments on this years release.

Who better to musically share the true meaning of Christmas than the legendary Swanee Quintet? With a history that spans over six decades and includes sharing the stage with such music icons as Shirley Ceasar and James Brown, this incredible Gospel act graces this year’s 12 Bands with the very soulful and moving “In Bethlehem”. While some members have come and gone over the years the one thing that hasn’t changed is the Swanee Quintet’s ability to stir the soul like few others in music can.

Leave it to Say Vandelay to take a song by 80’s pop sensations Wham! and turn it into a driving rock tune so catchy that anyone within earshot will be tapping a happy toe in mere seconds. More hooks can be found in this version of “Last Christmas” than on a lake during fishing season. Only a band that rocks would have the coconuts to tackle a George Michael song and well, Say Vandelay definitely rocks!

One of Augusta’s most interesting original bands, Debt of Nature returns to the scene after nearly a 20-year absence with “Santa Claus is DUI (of Love)” on this year’s CD. Made up of musicians that would go on to be members of bands such as Hundred Year Sun, Smile, Billionaire, Deviltown, and 48Volt, Debt of Nature not only returns but also does so by sounding as remarkably fresh as they did when they first rocked Augusta in 1988.

Made up of current/former members of Augusta bands Taming Bacchus, Dirty Sons of Ireland, The Radar Cinema, and Atlanta rock-a-billy act The Hot Rods, G-City Rockers take the Ramones and Buddy Holly and tosses them in the blender for their take on the traditional Christmas song “Up on the House Top”. Fans of guitar rock and gang-style vocals will enjoy rocking out with this fun tune.

“Lights on the Boulevard” by 48Volt is a gorgeous song written with love for our very own Stoney and his wife Jean. (Don’t believe us? It even says so right on the back of the CD jacket!) Christmas is a time for family even the ones who can longer be with us no matter how hard it may be. Nothing says this more than the line “…let the memories turn into gold of every Christmas you’ve ever had.”

It comes as no surprise that Ed Turner and Number 9, the South’s greatest tribute to the Beatles, would contribute by paying homage to the Fab Four. Ed and his merry band do a spot-on (that’s right, I said “spot-on”) medley of the mop tops holiday tune “Christmas Time is Here Again” and George Harrison’s 1970 hit “My Sweet Lord”. While the first may appeal mainly to die-hard Beatles fans, the latter will surely have music fans of all ages singing along. Just more proof that the music of the Beatles is timeless and that Augusta is home to some of the most incredible musicians in the south.

Not only does this year’s 12 Bands of Christmas feature almost all acts not featured on a previous Volume, Tara Scheyer and the Mud Puppy Band being the exception, it could also possibly be the strongest of the six CDs yet. With nearly an equal mix of covered renditions and original compositions, Volume Six has something for just about every musical ear out there. Even better is that you can already run out and get it and start listening to it as soon as you’d like. The CD is available at many locations around Augusta including all area Circle K stores and is a must addition for any local or Christmas CD collection. They’d make a superb gift as well!

If you’re still not convinced, come out to this year’s 12 Bands of Christmas CD listening party this Friday November 14th at Sky City. The fun starts at 7PM and the event is free! You can hear the whole CD before you pick up one and if it moves you to the point that you must purchase one immediately…copies will be on hand! This year’s show will be held December 21st at the Imperial theatre.

For more information visit www.myspace.com/12bands

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