CHRISTMAS 2003
After a number of sad events, we began to get the 2003 Xtravaganza together. Everett Bradley had to pull out of the show at the last minute as his Mom had suddenly passed away. Rob Paparozzi’s kid brother died unexpectedly a week before the show. And Tom Brislin was still mourning the passing of his sister earlier that year…
There’s much sadness in the world. The holidays don’t help – there’s a melancholy edge to it all. My heart goes out to all who must put on a brave face and try moving on in the shadow of such personal loss.
(I look at it as fate tapping on my shoulder, reminding me to cherish the good while you have it. Taking blessings for granted is a mistake.)
There were a number of radio appearances to promote the show, I appeared solo on Jim Monaghan’s WDHA show, Tony Shanahan and Rob Paparozzi joined me on the Scott And Todd morning show on WPLJ, Tony and Billy J Kramer performed with me on Ken Dashow’s afternoon Q104 show, and I made it down to the Jersey shore stations “The Point” (WJLK) and “The Hawk” (WCHR) to sing a little solo and be interviewed by Debbie Mazella and Phil LoCascio respectively. Many thanks to these stations and shows for their generosity.
ENTER THE XX GUITAR
On the night before the show my old friend Mark Zorn stopped over my place to give me a gift. I don’t believe I’ll ever get over the beautiful Fender Stratocaster with a Christmas themed finish Mark had an artist paint, which he gave me. Writing about it still makes me drool. Perhaps the coolest Christmas gift I’ve ever received…and the perfect instrument to play onstage the following two nights…
FRIDAY 12/12/03
We opened the show with a stripped down version of Robert Earl Keen’s classic “Merry Christmas From The Family”, performed by my children, my wife’s cousin Jeff Tomberg (on tuba) and myself. Next came the show stopping instrumental “Joy” (based on a 70’s arrangement of Bach’s “Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desire”) – featuring keyboardists Plinky and Tom Brislin. I followed singing Norman Greenbaum’s sole hit, “Spirit In The Sky”, with Tony Shanahan on bass, Steve Conte on lead guitar and Mark Sacco on drums. Next, Christine Ohlman sang “Rock N Roll Santa” with Friday night’s horn section…
ENTER TOM TIMKO
Saxophonist Tom Timko sought me out months before the show, offering his services. He not only played great sax and flute, but he wrote horn charts for the show and assembled a terrific horn section.
ENTER JERRY SOKOLOV AND DARCY HEPNER
Tom brought along trumpeter Jerry Sokolov and baritone saxophonist Darcy Hepner, to form a four-piece horn section including himself and Jeff Tomberg on trombone. It sounded nice and fat.
Tom also happened to be married to an old friend of mine…
ENTER DEENA MILLER
A talented singer-songwriter I hadn’t seen in over a decade, it turns out the lovely Deena is married to Friday’s sax player. I asked her to help out with background vocals, so she joined the returning, gorgeous Barbara Hahn in harmony parts both nights this year.
After Christine Ohlman’s cover of Huey P. Smith’s wacky and wonderful New Orleans Christmas tune came Jigs, along with little Grace & Molly, to perform their fabulous “Twelve Days Of Christmas” mime/dance.
ENTER FRITZ’S POLKA BAND
All the way from Troy New York, these guys came onstage and blew the roof off the house – I kid you not. The audience was hooting, hollering and stomping along with their energetic song, “It’s Christmas Time!”
Next was “Fairy Tale of NYC”, featuring Christine and Joe Hurley, followed by Carlton Brown’s “Merry Christmas Baby” and then came Everlounge, performing a reworking of a Whirling Dervishes’ song, now called “Santa Pants”, and their annual classic, the “Grinch”.
Next up Vicki Genfan performed her 5/4 arrangement of “Jingle Bells” followed by Erin O’Hara singing “2000 Miles” and Marshall Crenshaw performing “Pretty Paper”.
Billy J Kramer came back to the Xtravaganza for a second year, not only to revisit “Blue Christmas”, but he sang his hits “Bad To Me” and “Little Children”, with rewritten lyrics by Graham Maby and myself.
Joe Hurley returned to the stage to sing “Amsterdam Mistress”, Willie Nile sang his “O Come All Ye Faithful”, Tony Shanahan fronted the band on “Please Come Home For Christmas”, James Mastro returned to sing Big Star’s “Jesus Christ”, and Rob Paparozzi brought along a new song to the show, Tom Waits’ “Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis”, followed by Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas”.
Bernie BB Brausewetter fronted the band with his “Boogie Woogie Santa” (featuring some great horn solos) and Journey’s Steve Augieri sang “Christmas Song”.
Next up was my annual family band, The Burtnix performing “7 Nation Xmas” (The White Stripes’ 7 Nation Army with substitute lyrics written by Darla & myself).
This year, the Chuck Buck Santa character was “The Santinator” – Santa Claus ala Arnold Schwarzenneggar.
The great Antonique Smith sang what I consider to be her all time most perfect version of “O Holy Night” and dibs took the stage to perform their high octane arrangement of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”.
ENTER THE YOUTH AHEAD
A young punk band from the NJ Shore, The Youth Ahead performed a punked up rendition of Adam Sandler’s “Hanukah Song”.
The Tom Brislin’s band Spiraling played their slamming “Do You Hear What I Hear?” followed by “Nutrocker”. Next up was Bernie BB Brausewetter, who we felt lucky to have with us again this year after a close call that year, playing “Back Door Santa”.
To close the Friday show, I sang “Must Be Santa” and “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”, joined onstage by so many of the wonderful performers of the night.
ENTER ALEX SULTON
At the end of the first evening, I needed help removing the toys and food donated by the audience, which Kathy Wagner had neatly organized. Alex stepped in and helped out greatly, schlepping the filled oversized plastic bags up the nightclub’s stairs and into my car. Alex is a good man.
SATURDAY 12/13/04
Again The Burtnix opened with “Merry Christmas From The Family”, and I sang “Spirit In The Sky”, but then the show’s pacing began to go haywire for me. Artists & musicians were arriving late, so no matter what song I had scheduled next in the set, the list was constantly changing and being readjusted.
Many of the songs from the previous night were performed in SOME order, with the exception of a few acts (Fritz’s Polka Band, Marshall Crenshaw, Christine Ohlman) and the addition of a few others.
The Contes (brothers Steve and John) sang their hip-hop version of “Santa Claus Is Comin To Town”, Patty Smyth brought along her girls to sing “Sleighride” and “Winter Wonderland”, Larry Kirwan sang his a capella “Jesus Hero Of The Working Man”, Joy Askew sang perhaps her best ever rendition of “River”, and an old friend appeared…
RE-ENTER BOB BURGER
This was the second show Bob appeared at. The last time he joined us was in 1989 – the very first show at the Stone Pony. This year Burger performed Darlene Love’s classic off the Phil Spector Christmas album, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” – a bit closer to the U2 rendition.
Then there was Tommy Conwell…I have always said how much I admire this guy. He’s the real deal: a great musician and songwriter with the attitude of a punk with a heart of gold.
In a previous show, Tommy had shown up to sing his “Lullaby” which he had written for his son, about their not being able to spend enough time together and how much he missed his boy at Christmas. It is an absolutely heart wrenching song, and Conwell actually cried while singing it.
Well, this year he sang the original again, however he’d brought his son along with him. Now, what the audience didn’t see was what happened after the song was over. The boy burst backstage, and the father and son embraced in a long, slow, tearful embrace. It was, no doubt, the most emotional event in the history of the Xtravaganza. (I hope Tommy doesn’t mind my sharing this with you).
And that’s what happened this year, 2003.
Special kudos goes to Kathy Wagner, whose work toward the show is unmatched. From Public Relations to Press Representation to Advertising to arranging for artists Security Passes to coordinating with the Food Banks to organizing the bags of donations at the show, this girl put in more thoughtful, professional and expedient effort than anyone will ever know. God Bless Kathy Wagner.
In the show’s aftermath, while sorting through the giant bags of donated items, it occurred to me just how amazing the audience has been. I understand going to this show isn’t inexpensive – the tickets, the bar tab, etc. And beyond all that, so many bring along great items – including beautiful new toys and bags of clothes – which were passed along to total strangers.
In addition to raising more money than any previous year for our two charities, we collected 372lbs of food at the club for The Food Bank of NYC (the previous year it was 225 pounds), which will allow the food bank to serve over 300 meals to hungry New Yorkers.
Such spirit of giving really is humbling for me to behold. It is a blessing to be a part of that kind of kindness.
Thank you all for allowing me, my family and my friends to be a part of your Holiday.
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