Xmas in the 215

Local Holiday Music

by Jon Solomon

One of the primary pleasures in doing City Paper's biweekly music podcast Local Support is getting to show off all the interesting sounds being made in my backyard. That pride multiplies exponentially when it comes to this list of 10 brand-new holiday recordings, all by artists from the greater Philadelphia area.

Gang, "Little Drummer Boy," myspace.com/xgangx

Stephen P. Anderson, "We Three Kings," beefeaterrecords.com

Pattern Is Movement, "O, Holy Night," Peace on Earth Vol. II: A Charity Holiday Album

Paper Masques, "Auld Lang Syne," Oh Come All Ye earSnake

The Classic Brown, "Comin' On Christmas," Arbor Records Christmas Collection Vol. VIII

The Emotron, "Santa Clause (I Still Believe In You)," Chicken Ranch Christmas 2008 EP

Leopulde, "Toyland," A Familyre Christmas Vol. II

The Clubber Lang Gang, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," mp3

The A-Sides & Sun Airway, "Santa Please," Peace on Earth Vol. II: A Charity Holiday Album

Zelda Pinwhel, "Little Drummer Boy," Oh Come All Ye earSnake

From the two drastically different spins of the same song by Gang and Zelda Pinwheel that pa rumpa pum pum each end of this roll to The Classic Brown's infectious, bittersweet and evocative original and Pattern Is Movement's bewildering, lumbering rendition of a staid Christmas staple — all are either available as free downloads or on compilations benefiting worthwhile charities. I'm particularly partial to "Santa Please," a fuzzy, jangle-filled number with faux-Spector production that serves as both the epitaph for the dearly departed The A-Sides and as an introduction to a new project from two members of that outfit, Sun Airway.

The majority of these tracks can also be heard on Local Support's Thee Holiday Spectacular, which is available for download at citypaper.net/podcast.

Happy Holidays!

Jon Solomon is the host of Local Support. His 21st annual 24-Hour Holiday Radio Show airs on 103.3FM WPRB/wprb.com starting at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve.