By Salvatore Sciandra:
Many people shudder at the prospect of spending an evening listening to holiday music, and in some cases for very good reason (Hearing Jose Feliciano's "Feliz Navidad" is enough to make anyone reach for the eggnog). Too often we're subjected to uninspired versions of well worn classics, like "Frosty the Snowman" and "Winter Wonderland". It's not that these songs are bad, but when played ad nauseum they can certainly lose their original luster. For that reason it's fun to find Christmas music that's off the beaten path, and for those of us who are looking for future classics, there's Robot Holiday.
Robot Holiday began almost 10 years ago, when local musicians, Jonathan Hughes and Alex Lynne, recorded a cover version of "Christmas Time is Here" (best known from the Charlie Brown Christmas Special). Their take on the song was only meant as a holiday gift for friends and family, but was the beginning of an ongoing tradition of Christmas recordings. Recruiting friends and musicians (including some robots), Robot Holiday has put out a wealth of material since 2001, including such songs as "Elves vs. Machines", "Walking through Wal-Mart", and "The North Pole is an Awful Place to Live". This year Robot Holiday will be releasing 16 new songs available for free download on their website, www.robotholiday.com. Complete with a back catalog from year's past, there are now close to 60 songs you can add to your holiday playlists free of charge. "It started off as just a fun little thing to do" says Hughes, "It's evolved into a battle against all the horrible holiday music that's impossible to escape from."
Also this year Robot Holiday steps out of the recording studio for the first time and debuts live on stage at the Sportsmens Tavern to benefit the Food Bank of Western New York. Says Hughes, "We figured that it was time to put on a live show, and since it was around the holidays, making it a charity event was a no-brainer." Hughes and Lynne will be joined onstage by a plethora of local talent that includes Dee Adams, Rob Falgiano, Lisa Forrest, Guillermo Izquierdo, Joelle Labert, Doug Lambert, Rob Lynch, David Mussen, Naryan Padmanabha, and Joe Rozler. In addition to a killer musical line-up, the live debut of Robot Holiday will feature a local artisan themed basket-auction. Just a portion of the auction lot includes Robot Holiday t-shirts, Hero Design print, a Robot Holiday Christmas Ornament from Studio Hart, a gift certificate from Amy's Place, a t-shirt package from Steam Roller Press, some kitschy towels from KitchTowels, and a CD box set comprised of music from the evening's performers.
The non-traditional holiday fun starts at 7:30pm this Sunday, December 5th, at the Sportsmen's Tavern (326 Amherst Street). Admission is $10, with your entry fee benefitting the Food Bank of Western New York.
Photo: Lisa Forrest & Doug Lambert recording by Ginny Rose Stewart
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Many people shudder at the prospect of spending an evening listening to holiday music, and in some cases for very good reason (Hearing Jose Feliciano's "Feliz Navidad" is enough to make anyone reach for the eggnog). Too often we're subjected to uninspired versions of well worn classics, like "Frosty the Snowman" and "Winter Wonderland". It's not that these songs are bad, but when played ad nauseum they can certainly lose their original luster. For that reason it's fun to find Christmas music that's off the beaten path, and for those of us who are looking for future classics, there's Robot Holiday.
Robot Holiday began almost 10 years ago, when local musicians, Jonathan Hughes and Alex Lynne, recorded a cover version of "Christmas Time is Here" (best known from the Charlie Brown Christmas Special). Their take on the song was only meant as a holiday gift for friends and family, but was the beginning of an ongoing tradition of Christmas recordings. Recruiting friends and musicians (including some robots), Robot Holiday has put out a wealth of material since 2001, including such songs as "Elves vs. Machines", "Walking through Wal-Mart", and "The North Pole is an Awful Place to Live". This year Robot Holiday will be releasing 16 new songs available for free download on their website, www.robotholiday.com. Complete with a back catalog from year's past, there are now close to 60 songs you can add to your holiday playlists free of charge. "It started off as just a fun little thing to do" says Hughes, "It's evolved into a battle against all the horrible holiday music that's impossible to escape from."
Also this year Robot Holiday steps out of the recording studio for the first time and debuts live on stage at the Sportsmens Tavern to benefit the Food Bank of Western New York. Says Hughes, "We figured that it was time to put on a live show, and since it was around the holidays, making it a charity event was a no-brainer." Hughes and Lynne will be joined onstage by a plethora of local talent that includes Dee Adams, Rob Falgiano, Lisa Forrest, Guillermo Izquierdo, Joelle Labert, Doug Lambert, Rob Lynch, David Mussen, Naryan Padmanabha, and Joe Rozler. In addition to a killer musical line-up, the live debut of Robot Holiday will feature a local artisan themed basket-auction. Just a portion of the auction lot includes Robot Holiday t-shirts, Hero Design print, a Robot Holiday Christmas Ornament from Studio Hart, a gift certificate from Amy's Place, a t-shirt package from Steam Roller Press, some kitschy towels from KitchTowels, and a CD box set comprised of music from the evening's performers.The non-traditional holiday fun starts at 7:30pm this Sunday, December 5th, at the Sportsmen's Tavern (326 Amherst Street). Admission is $10, with your entry fee benefitting the Food Bank of Western New York.
Photo: Lisa Forrest & Doug Lambert recording by Ginny Rose Stewart
Lots of different original material & local talent. Looking forward to the show!