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When it comes to holiday music, there are two types of people. Those of us who can’t wait to reconnect with traditions of the past as soon as there’s a chill in the air — and the rest.
The Holiday Hustle Club is a throwback to the era of iconic vocalists and songwriters. It connects to the Great American Songbook through the likes of Irving Berlin, Mel Tormé and Billie Holiday, and introduces new tunes inspired by their sophisticated musicality, simple storytelling, and winking innuendos.
• The title track, Snow Day!, (sung by Claire Campbell of SubTweeters, Dark Meat, Hope for Agoldensummer, and Cloud Recordings) captures the excitement of a day off from school with a harmonic nod to Vince Guaraldi’s piano-driven classics.
• Blues tune, Secret Santa, (sung by Betsy Franck of Bloodkin and Betsy Franck and the Bareknuckle Band) is a naughty treat for the adults that’s in the vein of Clarence Carter’s Backdoor Santa.
• My Favorite Holiday Song (sung by the songwriter, Bart King of Bart King and the Fairshakes and Pet Volcano) describes the makings of a classic, from its contemplative introduction to the cheerful imagery of the verses, and the minor turn of the B section.
The two cover tunes on the album are a ballad rendition of Jolly Old St. Nicholas and a unique instrumental take on We Wish You a Merry Christmas that switches between the original 3/4 waltz time and a raucous 4/4 second-line New Orleans beat.
The Holiday Hustle Club brings old and new friends back together for sold-out shows each year in the music town of Athens, Georgia.