Glen Burtnik's 9th Annual Xmas Xtravaganza
Dec 17 and Dec 18, 1999 – The Bottom Line, NYC – Four Shows
Tickets $20
Ever since I began presenting the show at the Bottom Line in New York, owner and manager Allan Pepper had tried to persuade me to do the show more than one night each year. I resisted for seven years (which is pretty good since Alan Pepper is a man of great persistence). In any case, after the packed audience turnout in 1998, I felt I had to give in to his request. We booked the show over two nights. Two shows per night, four shows total.
ENTER THE MELODICA
I advise every musician I ask to do the show to take another gig if it means making money. The lifestyle of a freelance musician takes some hustling for work and can be intermittently thin, financially speaking. I know this from experience. One of the Xtravaganza mainstays (and a favorite musician of mine) couldn’t participate in the show this year. Accordionist Charlie Giordano had a steady gig going at the Russian Tea Room. This became an obstacle since there were at least 2 songs in the show that positively needed accordion (Jill Sobule’s classic version of MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE FAMILY and FAIRY TALE OF NEW YORK). After calling around in search of another accordionist to no avail, I decided to buy a Hohner Melodica which is a reed instrument that sounds somewhat like a thin accordion (you blow into it and play it’s keyboard with your right hand). Some people refer to melodicas as Hooters and some of you eighties rock fans may remember the Philly band THE HOOTERS playing these.
Moving along and for what it’s worth, I had once again dyed my hair bright crayon red for the 1999 shows.
The XX band consisted mostly of the same cast of wonderful characters. Mark Sacco played drums as did Pat Petrillo, Arthur Scammacca (I think?) and Diego Voglino (a drummer I know from Marshall Crenshaw’s band). Tony Shanahan and Graham Maby played bass. Guitars were pretty much manned by Bernie Brausewetter, Jimmy Leahey, Blue Oyster Cult’s Buck Dharma and myself with Rob Paparozzi playing mouth organ. The background singers included a revolving cast of the following lovelies: veteran Nancy Sebastian, Slave of New Brunswick Barbara Hahn and my niece Megan Burtnick. I’m pretty sure Plinky played Hammond B3 organ and we were graced by a special new addition to the XX band on keyboards. An important artist in her own right and pleasure to work with, is a musician appropriately named Joy... (more to come on her a little further on).
FRIDAY NITE EARLY
We opened the Friday night show with Christine Ohlman’s ROCK N ROLL SANTA followed by the classic Waitresses’ tune, CHRISTMAS WRAPPING sung by 14 year old Darla Rose Burtnick and her beautiful Aunt Brijitte.
ENTER BRIJITTE WEST
She recently reminded me that I used to sing to her when she was a little girl when I was dating her big sister. Years later, she grew up to be a lovely singer and I wound up marrying that sister of hers. Although she may not appreciate my bringing it up, Brijitte was the primary writer and leader of a band called The New York Loose, who put out a very good record in the late 90’s. She now lives in London with her husband but was home this year in time to sing with Darla for the show. Next was Willie Nile’s O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL followed by Jules Shear (whose song title was maybe something like LATE FOR CHRISTMAS).
ENTER JOY ASKEW
Joy, who I’ve admired for years (not only is she a cool solo artist, but she’s worked with Peter Gabriel & Joe Jackson) joined our show in ‘99. A fan myself, I felt honored to have her appear. She sang Joni Mitchell’s RIVER (as well as played piano in the band this year which I believe I just mentioned up top).
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE STRING KINGS
Next up was this wonderful band of famous NYC players consisting of the legendary Dan Zanes, exceptional guitarist GE Smith, Cary Tamarkan and my friend John DiNicola. They played a song Dan wrote for the show called I REMEMBER SNOW.
Mark Sacco brought along the talented Mr. Ernie White and his Trenton group, The Ernie White Band. Mark plays traps for Ernie who had first appeared at the ’94 show (under the guise BIG SKY). This year, Ernie and band performed a lyrical rewrite of the Allman Brothers’ tune SOUTHBOUND renamed SOUTHBOUND SANTA. Curtis Stigers followed and sang his original HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.
ENTER ROGUES MARCH
Fronted by the gravel throated baritone of Joe Hurley, this New York celtic/country/rock n’ roll band caught my attention at one of Jeannie Stallman’s THE BEAT GOES ON shows. Comprised of Joe Hurley, guitarist/mandolinist Rich Feridun, drummer Chris Nappi, bassist Matt Lindsey and accordionist Kenny Margolis, they’ve released two independent CDs, NEVER FEAR and CHASER. I consider Joe’s singing special and the band equally cool (even if they did take too long setting up onstage at the Xtravaganza). They performed their song AMSTERDAM MISTRESS and Mike Errico returned to sing GOD. Carlton Brown did his yearly (and awesome) performance of MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY and Mark Pender joined us again to sing SANTA CLAUS IS BACK IN TOWN. Buck Dharma, the talented singer/writer/guitarist of Blue Oyster Cult returned to sing THE CHRISTMAS SONG. Tony Shanahan sang his annual BLUE CHRISTMAS then Bernie BB Brausewetter sang BACKDOOR SANTA (with the usual ripping guitar). Tommy Conwell had sent me a cassette of his new Christmas song THANK YOU CHRISTMAS, which we learned & he performed. My friend Marshall Crenshaw came back and performed SANTA'S GOTTA BRAND NEW BAG and TWISTIN' W/ SANTA CLAUS. Mary Lee Kortes was also generous enough to come back for another year to sing HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS.
ENTER KEVIN ANTHONY
Drummer Pat Petrillo worked with Kevin in the musical GREASE on Broadway as well as a national tour of DREAMGIRLS and asked him if he would come front a small gospel group Pat was putting together for the Xtravaganza. The group of singers were amazing and Kevin brought down the house with JESUS OH WHAT A WONDERFUL CHILD. Other singers in the ensemble were Mark Ford, Karl Dixon, Avon Chandler and Debbie Blackwell Cook (all NYC session and theatre singers). Playing piano was Mark Torres. This was unmistakably an exciting group and an exciting performance. John S. Hall was up next and returned to recite his JESUS IS WAY COOL.
ENTER BARBARA ILLANA AND RAHNI KUGEL
It was the late 60’s (around 1968 I think) when I caught a female singing group on television (Dick Clark’s American Bandstand I believe). It was a trio named The Cake. I instantly dug their music and ran out and picked up the LP which I have always loved. The group of three pretty girls disappeared pretty quickly and I always wondered what became of them. Flash ahead 25 years... My dear friend Patty Smyth informs me that her singing mentor - Illana - was in The Cake. Well, needless to say, I’m dumbstruck upon learning this.
Now, Patty returned to perform at the 1999 XX along with her friends Barbara Illana and Rahni Kugel to sing WINTER WONDERLAND and SLEIGH RIDE (Ironically, Patty Smyth appeared Friday night and Patti Smith appeared Saturday - never on the same night). Illana has patiently answered all my questions about her career and continues to be a creative and beautiful singer. Life is a trip for me. Okay…moving on…
Christine Ohlman and Matt Pinfield sang FAIRY TALE OF NEW YORK for the second year (always a highlight for me). Before the closing number, HAPPY XMAS (War Is Over), Jigs performed his physical and contortionistic interpretation of THE 12 DAYS OF XMAS, which he did at all four shows with exception of adding a new twist to the early Saturday night show.
The next three shows (Friday late show and two more on Saturday) were similar, but not identical to the first in running order. Included were a number of other artists and songs. Seven-year-old Sally Burtnick opened the late shows with THE FIRST NOEL.
ENTER GRACE AND MOLLY
To kick off the first show Saturday night, Jigs brought on two teeny tiny little four-year-old girls to join him in his 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS performance. His daughter, adorable Grace Giglio and her friend Molly Kuchler were dance partners in their little girl dance class world. Jigs had this brainstorm of an idea to try teaching them his choreography so as to make the dance a trio. They were rehearsed as much as two four year old could be (actually, Molly showed a bit more interest in doing it than Grace). And then came the moment of truth, early Saturday night, when the three of them walked on stage to perform…
The trio walked on stage. As they began the number, Grace was gleefully enthusiastic - definitely into it. She got what it was about. Inspired by the attention of all those people smiling her way from the audience and more than happy to entertain them in exchange for their attention (her father’s daughter no doubt). Molly was a different story. The pre-kindergartner was paralyzed. Jigs was trapped between trying to do his classic annual performance and making sure his friend’s daughter wasn’t being traumatized forever. They made it through the song without Molly moving a muscle. I have to say, Jigs showed a charming empathy and concern for this frightened little angel.
And moving on…
Matt Pinfield sang the cool Doors chestnut, WINTERTIME LOVE (I was so jazzed about it that I insisted on being ‘Ray Manzarek’ on the piano for this one) followed by the, by now, annual FAIRY TALE OF NEW YORK sung by Matt with
Christine Ohlman.
ENTER BEAU BURTNICK
Although he had technically already appeared in the show a few years earlier, 1999 marks Beau’s debut as a featured soloist. He decided to sing LAST CHRISTMAS by Wham, introducing the song with a rap about how he had always thought it was ridiculous his Dad could have a Xmas show without Wham being represented. Funny guy. Chuck 'Santa' Buck returned as, for lack of a better name, ‘Madonna Claus’ performing WALKING ‘ROUND IN WOMEN’S UNDERWEAR (a hysterical lyrical rewrite of WINTER WONDERLAND). Chuck pretty much outdid himself this year by removing his Santa costume and stripping down to bra, panties, stockings and garter belts. The place went insane. Take this show to the Catskills! San Francisco?
ENTER MYCHAEL LaMORTE
NYC musician Mychael LaMorte led us in a rocked up version of Paul McCartney’s SIMPLY HAVING A WONDERFUL CHRISTMASTIME. (NOTE: Take a deep breath before reading this part cause it’s a long one.) Jill Sobule returned for the fourth year to sing MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE FAMILY, Carlton Brown added another song titled SAD CHRISTMAS to his performance, the XX band played the Ventures’ SLEIGH RIDE, Erin O'Hara sang the Pretenders 2000 MILES, the Voodudes appeared again this year to sing their original LOW DOWN SANTA, Everlounge played both the GRINCH and SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN, Rob Paparozzi and Jimmy Leahey played a Christmas Blues tune they worked up and Lenny Kaye fronted the band with I WISH IT COULD BE XMAS EVERYDAY. In addition, Patti Smith generously came back with her band for a second year to play WE THREE KINGS and O HOLY NIGHT and Phoebe Snow sang Bob Dylan’s I SHALL BE RELEASED. I got chills.
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