Cape Cod Rocks for Christmas, part 2
Last night’s Christmas Cavalcade for the Homeless was a smashing success. This is an event I’ve wanted to go to since it began, but always managed to be out of town or tied up with some inextricable family commitment (there ya go, family getting in the way of debauched fun).
Highlights: How about the Ticks covering the Chipmunks’ Christmas song? Or Rikki Bates turning into Elvis? Or Cape Cod legend Rock King getting two standing ovations? The Incredible Casuals turned “Summertime” into “Christmastime,” Bruce McLean made a holiday song out of the Flintstones theme song, and Greg Greenway reworked the Talking Heads “Psycho Killer” into “Santa Killer,” a song about the kid who wrecked the myth. A new band, the Flakes, rocked the Ramones’ “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight)” and Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” and made an instant fan out of me; can’t wait to see a full set by that band. Steve Wood of the Greenheads played slide guitar using his tie … now that’s something you don’t see every day.
And all that’s not to slight the other performers: the Chandler Travis Philharmonic, Crabgrass, Sarah Burrill, Stephen Russell, Toast and Jam, the Shook Fambly Singers, the Athol Thingerth, Randy and the Oak Trees, the Rip-It-Ups and the Spampinato Brothers. (Apologies if I missed anyone.)
But some nights there’s a moment when you get a chill during a performance and that helps make the night extra special. For me it happened last night when Monica Rizzio of Tripping Lily was singing “Santa Will Find You,” the band’s contribution to the recently released “A Christmas Miracle” compilation. A beautiful rendition of Mindy Smith’s song, which is on its way to being a Christmas classic.
Thanks to Chris Blood for the excellent sound, Chandler Travis for pulling the whole shindig together, Greg Waagner and all the staff at the Jailhouse Tavern … and all the bands who helped turn this into a successful fundraiser for the NOAH Shelter for the Homeless. See ya next year … no matter what the family’s doing.