Christmas A Go Go!

From us here at CAGG headquarters, we wish you the bestest 2025. Thanks for visiting, commenting and sending nice music. We'll be back in November. Until then: stay safe. And remember, there's always nèxt year to have a happy new year: Happy New Year EP by Violent Femmes

One of the most remarkable releases of this year is that of The Qualities, an unidentified male vocal quartet from the late 1950s. The catchy doo-wop "It's Christmas Time" was written by jazz pioneer and innovator Sun Ra in 1957. Some believe The Qualities entered the studio that same year, while others think it was recorded in 1960, shortly before (in 1961?) it was first released as a single on Sun Ra's El Saturn label.  The story goes that the two sides of the single were recorded at Sun Ra's home and that he can be heard playing a harmonium. In 2011, the single was re-released by Norton Records, and in 2024, "It's Christmas Time" and "Happy New Year To You" were released on a 7-inch by the German label Strut. It seems The Qualities only recorded two songs. So here is their second title, also Christmas related: It's Christmas Time by The Qualities, Sun Ra

We hardly write about Italy. ' Memoria Polaroid ' is a music blog and radio show from Bologna, busy since 2001. "On the morning of December 13th, scandinavian girls wear white robes and a crown of candles. The darkness of the night of Saint Lucia, which according to the Julian Calendar was the longest night of the year, is now behind us and light can return." This is how their Xmas bandcamp compilation opens. After a couple of december posts about Xmas music, like  this one , they released this fine compilation. Between the 19 contributors a lot of unknown names and quite a few Italian names. Unfortunately not every song sound or is christmassy. This one is a nice Italian electro song:  A polaroid for Christmas 2024 by Baruf And there are few covers to discover like this noisy one from the great Low song:  A polaroid for Christmas 2024 by PoPo Or this very Christmas version, with bells, from the Joni Mitchell classic: A polaroid for Christmas 2024 by Danxgerous ...

There I was at my Christmas gig playing some old, early 1980s favourites, like Montréal's Rational Youth and I hadn't realised that they have a Christmas song called 'Merry Christmas Mary Ann' (2013). I usually mix their song 'Cité Phosphore' (1981-1982) with Trans X 's 'Vivre sur Vidéo', another band from Montréal. 'Cité Phosphore' is the French version of 'City of Night', while 'Vivre sur Vidéo' (1981, released 1983) is the French version of 'Living on Video'. Rational Youth says this about their Christmas song: "This is a track that Tracy wrote and recorded a few years back as a Christmas present for Gaenor. The name 'Mary Ann' refers to when Gaenor and Tracy first met at a Rational Youth show in Edmonton in 1983; Gaenor told Tracy that her name was Mary Ann. Who knows why? Probably so we could do this song years later!" Rational Youth started in 1981, clearly influenced by Kraftwerk and ot...

We have completely ignored the Christmas compilations that the Chirp Records label (Check ’em all at their Bandcamp ) from Portsmouth, Rhode Island invariably releases on Christmas Day for the past four years. We were probably too busy preparing Christmas dinner and the eggnoc. But luckily the guys from The In Betweens pointed out the existence of the compilations after this post about them last week. Reason enough to step away from the stove today for a little while and take a listen to this fifth Bandcamp compilation .  There are five tracks at this one, one of them the one from The In Betweens, but there's more. For instance the filthy and distorted grunt track below by Abbi Cadaver ft. Azazel . Don't expect holly jolly sleigh bells and rumpumpumpums by the way, but Christmas is almost done anyway. Chirpmas Vol. 5 by Abbi Cadaver When it comes to the other compilations the last years, it's a bit like pearl diving, but then you come across raunchy DIY indie rock track...

MERRY CHRISTMAS! An oldie but a groovie: The Gruesomes from Montréal, Québec, a band that is still around and synonymous with Canada's 1960s scene, has a Christmas song called 'Santa Claus'. Feel free to rock out to this old treasure while chopping your Christmas veggies like I do. Their signature look is a cross between the Beatles and the animated characters The Gruesome Family , which some of you might know from The Flinstones. The show also featured a Beatles-inspired band call the The Way Outs, while The Gruesome Family were a nodd to the Addams Family. Both of these influences are definitely part of the band in spirit as well. If anybody wants to help The Gruesomes get bookings in Europe in 2025, follow them on Facebook and get in touch!

When you release a Christmas record at the end of September, you run the risk of being overlooked in November, December. And Kees Draaisma, the infamous singer/songwriter from - again - Nijmegen, almost succeeded, if it weren't for the fact that Christmas Eve is also ideal for a (final) search for new 2024 Christmas music. And so Kees Draaisma's somewhat alienating but humorous take on Witte Kerst (White Christmas) still graces Christmas A Go Go at the very end of this season.  Kees Draaisma Insta over there .

Last year our beloved collegue Christmas Underground already pointed us the way to this utterly superb indie Christmas album from The Happy Somethings . So to all you people out there being alone this Christmas: enjoy and merry, merry Christmas! Because "There's nothing wrong with being alone at Christmas. It might be a mistake to think they're lonesome. They might be having more fun than you" . Point taken. Love y'all! DON'T MENTION IT! (ALBUM) by The Happy Somethings

What does it matter if the AI occasionally falters during your AI Christmas show when you are blessed with one of the very best R&B soul voices in the country? Nothing, right? The future belongs to the voices. Especially if they are just as intense and sighingly soft as the stunning red velvet Betty Boop / Jessica Rabbit dress with which she burst off the stage.  Tonight Linde Schöne fulfilled a long-cherished private wish. After having released a great Christmas album in 2022 ( read here on CAGG), tonight in an intimate and enthusiastic hall the live version of it. Supplemented with Christmas classics, one new non-Christmas song (Dochter van de Stad, insanely beautiful!) and with 'Ik Loop' another sublime asset from her oeuvre.  Linde was all: disarming, messy and intense, but above all very, very good. Merry Christmas daughter of the city! And also merry Christmas to all the flying Christmassy AI figures and awesome musicians. 💖 Linde's Insta over there .

The Christmas rush has also started in full force at the CAGG headquarters. Add to that the fact that So-Fi (Sophie Reekers) also has a close call with her annual Christmas song and you'll understand the shortness of this post (although it deserves more!). But don't let that stop you from taking your time for this beautiful little song, with - again - a great arty animated video, called 'Kaarsje Voor Jou' (Candle For You). More So-Fi at CAGG and her Insta over there .

If you weren't there last week in Paradiso Amsterdam (and why not?!), then you also missed the scoop of their brand new Christmas single: The Mieters with 'La-la-la-Kerst'. You could have also caught that wild and awesome Christmas A GoGo live performance in the second chance on YouTube . And if you didn't do all that (and why not?!), then The Mieters are also to the rescue, because today they are giving away this great original beat Christmas track (with a touch of Wham!) plus a cover of the Dutch cult Christmas classic 'Elke Punk Viert Ook Het Kerstfeest' by the legendary Groningen punk band Boegies on their Bandcamp . There. Now you really have no excuse anymore, I dare you: beat The Mieters! The Mieters Insta over there . La-la-la-kerst by The Mieters La-la-la-kerst by The Mieters

This mural depicting Beau Dommage , one of Québec's most popular 1970s bands, is the cover of their eponymous first album, which features '23 décembre'. All past band members are in the picture and still alive today. The mural is located in Montréal behind 6760, rue de Saint-Vallier, where award-winning band member Robert Léger used to live in 1972. This address is also included in the lyrics of the song 'Tous les Palmiers' ('All the palm trees'). Alongside Rush, The Guess Who and The Tragically Hip, Beau Dommage are featured on Canadian stamps from 2013, to give you an idea of their popularity. '23 décembre' from 1974 written by band member Pierre Huet is sung from a young boy's perspective during the 1950s when French Canadians in Québec where still treated as second-class citizens despite being a majority in the province. The use of 'joual' (Québécois slang) had been slowly introduced in music in the 1970s to accurately reflect ...

Arbor Christmas, we've discussed them here many times and this twenty-fifth (!) edition also contains six beautiful tracks. Of course The Not Fur Longs are back, as they are in almost every edition. With their 'XMAS IS LIT' (we would be the last to dispute that) they immediately make the best song of this compilation , although The Pizza Carolers make a brave but futile attempt to dethrone The Not Fur Longs from their Arbor throne. Arbor Christmas: Volume 25 by Arbor Christmas Arbor Christmas: Volume 25 by Arbor Christmas

Ten years of Santa Tell Me , the modern xmas pop classic that shows (over a billion streams on Spotify) that, yes, there ARE new seasonal hits after Mariah. Kelly Clarkson's Underneath the Tree is another. Mistletoe by Justin Bieber is one too. See this ranking by Billboard. Santa Tell Me, like all other really great Christmas songs, isn't about Christmas as such, but about desire, and longing. It's like a prayer, with Santa in the role of God. Santa needs to tell Ariana if the one she fancies is the right one, if the feelings she has for this potential partner are mutual. Because, Christmas is the feast for being together, with a signficant other, NOT to be alone. It's in so many Christmas songs. Plus, it's catchy like a cold, it's sung really really well, there's bells, and a nod to 90s R&B; nostalgia is always a big part of good Xmas pop songs. The cover versions are 'okay' at best, with a Danish hiphop-version and a funky brassband taki...

Duncan Baird , the mastermind behind the Christmas music force that is Winterval , wrote a guestblog on Paul McCartney's Wonderful Christmastime. Because CAGG asked him to. Let's settle this once and for all: Every Christmas I see people on social media excitedly proclaiming that Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime" is the WORST CHRISTMAS SONG EVER . I'm here to tell you that they're wrong . It's not even the worst Christmas song on the original 7" single - that accolade goes to the b-side " Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reggae " which is perhaps not as bad as you're imagining but still pretty awful. In a world where Michael Bublé and " Cheeky Christma s" exist, why does "Wonderful Christmastime" get singled out as the worst example of holiday music? Is it the lyrics? Yeah, they're dumb. I love interesting Christmas songs, unusual Christmas songs, sad Christmas songs... but when I'm in the pub on C...

This one's soooo cool! The Living Pins (Carrie Clark and Pam Peltz) have released a Christmas song every year since 2021. And with this delightful 'Christmas Here to Stay' they reach a temporary shoegazy highlight. Good luck topping this one next year! Christmas Here to Stay by The Living Pins You want it more atmospheric? You get it more atmospheric! Read more about the temporary farewell of Bolywool and this song on their Bandcamp page. A nice shoegazy Christmas parting gift. O Helga Natt by Bolywool Not very shoegaze, but nevertheless: Knifeplay from Philadelphia collected their Christmas songs from the last five years, plus the one from this year in the album 'For the Holidays'. Including a majestic cover of 'A long December' originally by Counting Crows.

In 1973 the mighty Merle Haggard and the Strangers recorded the original version of 'If We Make It Through December', Xmas country at its best, although Haggard always said the song was not a pure Christmas song. Of course this classic is covered a lot too and featured here at CAGG. Check for instance this beyond beautiful version of Phoebe Bridgers from 2020. This year we can add another gem to that list. The In Betweens (God's loneliest indie band) made a dark, dragging version that fits the theme of the song perfectly. It builds up slowly, guitars grow heavier and heavier and the vocals sound increasingly desperate. Finally, 'Happy Xmas (War is Over)' is also seamlessly integrated in this shoegaze kinda indierock track. The In Betweens took their time for this track, but hey, what's six and a half minutes in a life when you make it through December.  The In Betweens Insta here , their X over there .

The best ideas start like this: Last week, Chelsea texted me, "I wish I had thought of it sooner, but it would be fun to do an Urge Surfer Christmas cover lol." Seven days later, here it is. Happy holidays, y'all. And this is the result, with a cold windy synth, heartbeat bass and ha ha ha ha-choir. Love it. Nice 'n short too: Happy Xmas (War is Over) by Urge Surfer Earlier this month, we had THIS fine version of the same classic on the blog.

Yep, we had a vinyl giveaway this year again. A red or green vinyl ten inch record, A Dutch Xmas Party , curated by CAGGs very own Oscar Smit. This was the blogpost in which we asked: write us a guestblog on your favorite post-punk Christmas tune. And the winners are Jon and Jake! Jake on The Three Wise Men : 'If you haven't heard 'Thanks for Christmas' by The Three Wise Men, you're seriously missing out on a holiday treat! This hidden gem by the brilliant XTC (under a perfect Christmas pseudonym) is the perfect blend of festive cheer and pop magic. The melody is infectious, and Andy Partridge’s distinctive voice floats effortlessly over lush harmonies, evoking a sense of nostalgia and warmth. It’s the kind of song that makes you feel all the holiday feels without being overly cheesy. Trust me, it’s a must-add to your Christmas playlist.' Jon, aka DJ Tenderloin , walks us through his considerations: 'Man that's a hard question for someone who...

In 2013, at the International Documentary Festival in Amsterdam, I met Mitchell Kezin (he's the tall guy). Mastermind behind Jingle Bell Rocks , THE must-see documentary on offbeat Christmas music, makers and collectors. And the personal history of Mitchell, 'the little boy that Santa Claus forgot'. We immediatly connected, there in that cinema. He was an overwhelming guy, tall, superenthusiastic and very kind. My date for that night felt like we were talking in some kind of secret language (it was our first date; she stayed with me, luckily). Read a fine interview with Kezin HERE . Mitchell and I stayed in contact, albeit via social media and the odd email; there were two main topics, Christmas music and his Merry Mix. He'd send me cd's, later downloads, it was wonderful. It was a shock when the message came that he died, early 2024. For his family and loved ones, of course, and for the whole offbeat Christmas community. Some members of that community made a tr...

The artwork of the disastrous, desolate Christmas tree with bleak decorations says it all: The Midway is sick and tired of Christmas. Fortunately, the gifted Dallas rockers have skillfully packaged all their distaste into a compact and catchy rock song of over just three minutes. Hopefully that will ease the pain. So get yourself another eggnoc guys, Glühwein or hot cocoa with vodka if necessary. It will pass again, really. See you at the other side of Christmas!  Their Insta over there .

In 2020, back in the dark ages of Christmas, Émile Gruff (aka Daniel Laflamme) gave himself a big present by releasing the Christmas song 'Illumination', featuring singer Marie-Claudel and with the help of Max Lalanne and others. The resulting magic is a slow burn about not having enough money for Christmas. Some stuff is cheap or free like dreaming, beer, hope, listening to free music in the shops where germs are also free. The latter will take some explanation in a few decades. Hailing from Montréal, Québec, Émile Gruff sings, "Christmas is a blank page that we're obliged to colour in every year. Some people have a nice set of colour crayons, while others only have a pencil. To make a nice drawing, you only need imagination." Illumination by Émile Gruff

California collective Reindeer Tribe released their 14th Christmas release. Every year the group of friends (actors, singers, musicians) make an EP or full album with classic covers and self-penned originals. We've been following them on this blog for quite some time, with pleasure . At the start, the songs had an Americana/indie folk coat on, later they added more styles. Country, northern soul and last year the sound of Joy Division and New Order were influences. This year, they rolled out the fx and the pedals for a dreampop Christmas album. Again, they reworked xmas classic like Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas and Angels We Have Heard On High, but added some reverb and (in some cases) fuzz and distortion. The original track are rock solid, I love Christmas Is Coming Early. To be honest, not every remodeling turns out well. Feliz Navidad staring at its own pointy shoes, idk. The Most Wonderful Time, same. It feels forced, if this was a coat, it would itch and pull...

Of course, Boy Band from New York consists of three gals, what else. And boy, can they sing! Chillingly beautiful harmonies (recorded mostly in the kitchen) that hit just the right notes, including those of the soul. "And don’t be worried about my lonely, My Nostalgia is plenty company." This great original is from their 2019 album A Very Boy Band Christmas, that was re-released this year. A Very Boy Band Christmas (2019) by Boy Band Vista Blue , do we need say more ? There are few bands that set the xmas bar so high and manage to put a few delicious Christmas bangers under the tree every year. Three this time; one Connie Francis cover , plus two VB-originals. A pinch of Ramones here, a touch of Margo (referring to THIS Christmas movie, of course) there and we're gonna be warm this winter. We Don't Know, Margo by Vista Blue A cover of the 1960 classic 'Must Be Santa' by Mitch Miller and the Gang that starts furiously with the famous dirty 'Helter ...

As you know, we're keeping a list ( HERE , and HERE ) of songs that underline that Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Or are just about the movie, the characters, or just a line. Another modern day classic Christmas movie, is the Home Alone series (well, #1 and #2 are). McAuley Culkin, Joe Pesci, Donald Trump even, the 'Merry Christmas, Ya Filthy Animal'-line, you've seen 'm. Probably more than once. This week I bumped into this track, from a nice Australian Christmas EP. Basically the story of the first movie, retold as a folksong: SLEIGH 2 by Alana Jagt So, I looked for, and found of course, more songs with a Home Alone-theme. Here are some notable examples. If you know more, please holler in the comments. Let's stay with the Kevin MacAllister-character. From Austin, Texas, the Basketball Shorts, punking up the story of a guy being 'home alone' and fighting 'them' on his own: Hot and Ready by Basketball Shorts Kevin McAllister looking ...

The day after, and the sounds of the Christmas A Go Go night in Paradiso yesterday are still ringing in our ears. On particular moment, to be exact. Pondertone , the Utrecht bunch, playing Silent Night. Or, better, with the thunderous finale of that song in mind: Not So Silent Night (photo above). The version started with an introduction by singer Patrick Tersteeg; he recorded this version in 2009, for this compilation . It was right after the first Gaza war; Patrick wanted to make a version with as much impact as the famous Simon & Garfunkel version . That 2009 version has a dark, menacing undertone from the start, and it stays that way. In Paradiso, the audience started singing along cheerfully, until the music took a different turn. At one point, it was free jazz mayhem. Pondertone unsilenced Silent Night, very LOUD. This made a big impact. As our host Santajan said beforehand, songs by Pondertone have meaning. And we all felt it, right there. Because the world isn't a ...

Short Notes , where we write short notes on notable Christmas songs. Like this one, by jolly Australian EDM-band Confidence Man . They made this festive dance track earlier. Now tis time for some more xmas club music (thanks to CU ): Santa's Comin' Down The Chimney by Confidence Man Budget yacht rock by Lux Perpetua , if that's a thing. Slightly streamlined, easy on the ears rock. Cool vibe: A Very LP Xmas by Lux Perpetua Even sunnier and more laidback, with steeldrums, about Santa gettin' sunburned. By Lucky Halfspeed . sunburned santa (ft Mike Fuller) by Lucky Halfspeed Wake Up & Smell the Sun , VERY welcome guests on this blog, released two new Christmas songs. In this dark sounding, bluesey track WU&StS's John Murray sings how singing about Santa helps to chase away the depression: The Pedestrian Chronicles, Part 6 by Wake Up And Smell The Sun One of the best tracks last year was 'Merry Christmas, Now I'm Leaving' by braden rap...

While we're all getting ready for the third annual Christmas à Gogo tonight in Amsterdam , here's a swinging song by Deux Filles et un Banjo from Montréal, Québec, called 'Chants Insipides' ('Insipid Songs') from 2021, a darker time in Christmas history, so dark that we missed it! Chants Insipides by Deux Folles et un Banjo If we go back to 2016, the band has an entire Christmas album called 'De Noël' ('Of Christmas'), with a little bit of everything in it. Here's the song 'Noël': De Noël by Deux Folles et un Banjo The last track of this six-track album, which I sadly cannot embed, is called 'Aspic' , which is weird food in gelatin. I absolutely hate it, and the song hits home hard . Picture an old Québec auntie encouraging their guests to feel at home with traditional food from the last century. That's all fine, but aspic isn't food, and Deux Filles et un Banjo are on my side!

Ever since Cocteau Twins recorded their version of 'Winter Wonderland', it's clear: dreampop and shoegaze are PERFECT for Christmas. The empty-cathedral reverb, the ethereal, choir-like vocals, the icy atomsphere, the feeling you're walking on a misty field... it all screams ànd whispers 'Christmas' to me. On the Christmas Underground blog, Jim is preluding to, begging even for the Perfect Shoegaze Christmas Mix. Let's pick up that glove. Or rather, let's take a first step on how that misty mix should sound. About an hour long, with the big names, the covers and the nuggets. Loud, dreamy and hazy. So, effects pedals to the metal, here we go a-caroling in fuzz & reverb. HERE is the mix on Soundcloud, with a slightly different tracklist. INTRO: Winter Mix Vol. 14 by Rob Nawrocki First classic, by the godfathers of shoegaze: Tempo down, reverb up, another bunch of pioneers (not a Christmas song, but Christmassy) Late Night Tales: Friendly Fi...