Glen Burtnik’s 6th Annual Xmas Xtravaganza
December 13, 1996 - The Bottom Line, NYC – Two Shows
Tickets $17.50
For another year, Mark Sacco played drums as did Arthur Scammacca. I think Pat Petrillo didn’t make it this year as he was on the road playing drums with a national touring company of DREAMGIRLS
ENTER TOM BRISLIN
Tom is a terrific young musician, seemingly limitless keyboard player and promising singer/songwriter/band leader. Pat Petrillo had introduced us and I’ve worked with Tom every chance I’ve had since. This year, he jumped aboard the Xmas Xtrav to play piano (mostly).
The choir burned me out the previous year. I wondered if the show would work just as well without attempting to funnel 30 people on, off and through the stage and through the cramped dressing rooms of the Bottom Line. Eventually, the decision was made to let go of the choral idea for a while.
In promotion of the show, a few of us made another appearance on Vin Scelsa’s radio program Idiot’s Delight on Sunday night, Dec 8th (incidentally the anniversary of John Lennon’s assassination). I sang LEARNING TO CRAWL and YOU’VE GOT TO HIDE YOUR LOVE AWAY, Tony Shanahan sang Lennon’s JEALOUS GUY and then Tony, my daughter Darla and myself performed HAPPY XMAS (War Is Over).
ENTER THE KIDS
Little Darla Rose Burtnick, by now 11 years old, had been in the past 2 shows. I had recorded her singing little ideas and songs at home and I figured she could handle a bit more live singing. So without further ado, we opened this years’ show with Darla singing a verse of THE FIRST NOEL accompanied by her old man on guitar. Next, we brought on two of Darla’s friends, Kristi Garced and Jaclyn Barton, to join her in singing the Ross Bagdasarian (alias Dave Seville) classic CHIPMUNK SONG.
This was followed by an instrumental version of TOYLAND (Charlie’s chart? Dr John’s version?) which went into ROCK N ROLL SANTA sung by the inimitable Christine Ohlman. Following was CHRISTMAS (BABY PLEASE COME HOME) sung by Richard Barone.
ENTER FRED SCHNEIDER
The infamous frontman of the B52’s, the great Fred Schneider, announced he wanted to perform his HOLIDAY MEDLEY of AVE MARIA attached to HAVA NAGILA. Being the brilliant and hysterical concept that it was and is, Fred’s performance was stellar, fascinating and superb entertainment. What a guy.
Next up, Lenny Kaye sang his traditional I WISH IT COULD BE XMAS EVERYDAY.
ENTER MILA DRUMKE
I first met Mila during an early 90’s tour playing in Marshall Crenshaw’s band (she was in an opening act in Massachusetts). A beautiful girl with an almost operatic voice, Drumke performed an intense reading of A PLAY OF ST NICHOLAS at the Xtravaganza which left much of the audience blown away.
James Mastro, promising to learn a new song the next year, sang his trademark JESUS CHRIST followed by THE GRINCH by the Whirling Dervishes/Everlounge. Next was HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS done by Freedy Johnston and Mark Spencer.
ENTER AMANDA KRAVAT
Lead singer of Mary Me Jane and exceptionally lovely Amanda Kravat wrote her own song to sing, SANTA THIS HAS GOT TO STOP, a funny song about being a Jewish girl at Christmas. I recall her tossing bagels into the audience. ‘Twas far out.
Willie Nile returned to sing his OH COME ALL YE FAITHFUL and Mary Lee Kortes returned to sing I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS (she has one of the best voices that I’ve heard at the shows). Larry Kirwan returned to sing JESUS, THE WORKING MAN once again.
ENTER JILL SOBULE
I was thrilled when Jeannie told me she wrangled up the wonderful, quirky, adorable, talented and fabulous Jill Sobule to join our holiday hootenanny. Jill sang Robert Earl Keen Jr’s classic MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE FAMILY (this was her contribution to the 1995 Atlantic label Christmas compilation YOU SLEIGH ME). This song is so good I can’t believe it (file it under ones I wish I’d have written). Everyone in my family loves Jill’s recording of it (hats off to great Producer Brad Jones). My kids walk around singing it, my wife plays it at dinnertime. It’s a killer.
Next on the bill was Jules Shear returning to perform CHRISTMAS IN JAIL, this year without the backing band and all - just Jules and his guitar. Jane Kelly Williams did either GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN or COVENTRY CAROL (it all took place when I was so much younger, I can’t recall).
Proceeding came Chuck Buck’s return as a regular Santa singing Adam Sandler's CHANUKAH SONG followed by BLUE CHRISTMAS sung by Tony Shanahan. Then the great John Waite showed up to sing his ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU.
ENTER PHOEBE SNOW
I love Phoebe. When Jeannie told me Phoebe Snow agreed to join in, I think I did a little celebratory dance. After speaking on the phone, we got together to work on her song for the show. In typical Phoebe-esque style, she decided she wanted to sing Aerosmith’s ANGEL feeling the song had a spiritual enough message to it to fit into a holiday concert. Who am I to argue? She brought tears to eyes that night. There is simply something about when she steps up to sing, hard to explain. Goose bumps.
The last 4 songs this year were BOOGIE WOOGIE SANTA featuring Bernie, THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS featuring Jigs, MUST BE SANTA (with the extra crew of background singers joining the little girls in screaming "HO HO HO! Cherry Nose! Cap On Head! Suit That's Red!") and HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER).
Ta da!
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