Local sounds of the season from Jason Beers, Tim Whitmer, Radkey, and more
Thanks to Turkey Day coming right at the end of November, this year’s holiday season is truncated into five incredibly-packed weeks. With Christmas-themed concerts, performances, pop-ups, and film screenings happening seemingly every night from now until New Year’s Eve, it can feel difficult to get into the holiday spirit if you can’t make it out of the house.
Thankfully, as per usual, there is a cavalcade of musical releases to enjoy from the comfort of your couch. Heck, add these tracks to your playlist and use them to pre-game for your next get-together while you’re on the elliptical at the gym, if you’re so inclined. With sounds for fans for every genre, we’ve put together a massive roundup for you to enjoy, divided into local and national releases. Here’s the local tunes, featuring a premiere from Jason Beers.
Jason Beers, “A Christmas Wish”
This is not Jason Beers’ first excursion into holiday music, but it might be the most straightforward. We are not in an action movie following the adventures of Billy Stagger entitled Merry Christmas From Blood City, all woozy synths and over-mic’d drums. We are not getting dreary with Music For Seasonal Affective Disorder. This is jaunty and features equal parts squeezebox and banjo, along with a heaping helping of sleigh bells and a perfect spoken-word intro from Beers himself, courtesy of a vintage Christmas card. We’re premiering it exclusively here, so take a listen below.
Aud Whitson, “Christmas Time Is Here”
Produced by Chase Horseman and inspired by Whitson hearing her father play the song on piano when she was a child, this ethereal version of the Vince Guaraldi Trio’s keystone track for A Charlie Brown Christmas takes its sonic inspiration from “something so near and dear to [Whitson’s] heart,” as well as the music from Animal Crossing.
Tim Whitmer Good Time Quartet & Rod Fleeman, Happy Holidays
The Tim Whitmer Goodtime Quartet teams up with jazz guitarist Rod Fleeman for a mix of holiday tunes new and old on this new album. Recorded live at the Black Dolphin back in August, the Quartet and Fleeman tackle classics like “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” alongside originals from Whitmer and Fleeman, including the opening cut, “Plaza Tidings,” taken from Whitmer’s previous holiday recording, 88 Keys for Christmas.
“It’s Christmas Time Again (At Last)” has already hit the airwaves on a recent Fish Fry broadcast on KCUR, and it’s sure to find its way into your holiday rotation, as well. You can catch the band at the CD release for Happy Holidays at Black Dolphin on Wednesday, December 17. Details on that show here.
Kate Cosentino & Jo Mackenzie, “Kansas City Christmas”
Kansas City–raised artist Kate Cosentino came to national acclaim during her run with Team Niall Horan on season 23 of NBC’s The Voice. On this new single, she joins forces with fellow Kansas City songwriter and producer Jo Mackenzie “to create a Christmas song inspired by the hometown holiday magic they grew up with.” The woozy guitars and chimes of the xylophone contrast with the warm and inviting harmonies, underlined by sweeping strings and slide guitar.
Kirstie Lynn & Galen Clark, “Pray the Snow Melts”
Per Kirstie Lynn on Instagram, “As well as a commentary on the current events and the icy state of the country, this song was written as a hopeful anthem to continue being a good neighbor no matter what. Be the light, be the love, be the change you want to see in the world, and keep praying that the snow will melt soon!”
Combining lyrics like “big fear growing in my mind again” with imagery of watering plants to keep something positive alive is apt imagery for the winter months, as well as [gestures wildly at everything]. Surprisingly upbeat work from the folk duo, given the subject matter, but we all need some way to laugh through the tears, so why not kick up your heels and dance a little?
Radkey, “All I Want for Christmas (All of It)”
Everything you could possibly expect these pop culture connoisseur punk rockers to list, but it’s the heartfelt homespun things like wanting their cats back from the dead and to have a wife on a farm who makes apple butter that make Radkey’s newest single not materialistic, but idealistic.
