On the day designated for airing of grievances and feats of strength, there was no way we couldn’t celebrate Festivus, for the rest of us. But who knew there were a half dozen songs about the holiday that made itself known through a 1997 episode of “Seinfeld”?

There were a lot of other holidays to celebrate this week, though, from solstice to Wednesday’s double whammy of Hannukah and Christmas. Of the latter, there were a dozen variations on “Little Drummer Boy,” including one especially recorded for us by Wayne Coyle of Flaming Lips (via Cameo).

A tribute, following the deaths last week of Mark Brewer of Brewer & Shipley, folkie David Mallett and Replacements replacement guitarist Slim Dunlap, got us started.

Here’s a link to the whole broadcast (now with more professional microphones!). The setlist follows: 

Capital Radio  December 23, 2024. 1- 4:33 p.m. www.cygnusradio.com 

  • “Washington, D.C.,” The Magnetic Fields
  • “Song from Platte River,” Brewer & Shipley 
  • “Garden Song” Dave Mallett 
  • “Achin’ to Be,” The Replacements 
  • “I’ll Be You,” The Replacements 
  • “Busted Up,” The Replacements 
  • “Ring Out, Solstice Bells,” Jethro Tull 
  • “The Winter Solstice,” Sufjan Stevens
  • “Festivus,” The Weeklings
  • “Festivus,” Andrew Bird 
  • “Festivus!” Mountain Sons 
  • “Festivus,” Albert & the Sleigh Riders 
  • “Festivus [for the Rest of Us Remix],” Oliver Ridley featuring Matt Cusson
  • “Grievance,” Pearl Jam 
  • “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Your Grievieance,” Clem Snide 
  • “Tower of Strength,” Gene McDaniels 
  • “God Give Me Strength,” Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach 
  • “Winter Wonderland,” Chet Baker 
  • “Xmas Time (It Sure Doesn’t Feel Like It),” The Mighty Mighty Bosstones 
  • “Shopping on Christmas Eve,” Keb’ Mo’ 
  • “Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence,” Ryuichi Sakamoto 
  • “Good Morning Blues [The Real Tuesday Weld Clerkenwell Remix],” Count Basie & His Orchestra 
  • “Little Saint Nick,” Davie Allen & the Arrows 
  • “O Fir Tree Dark,” Bing Crosby 
  • “Here It Is Christmas,” Red Sovine
  • “Sleigh Bell Rock,” Three Aces & a Joker
  • “All I Want for Christmas is You,” Josh Rouse
  • “You’re All I Want for Christmas,” Dean and Britta and Sonic Boom 
  • “Beatnik’s Wish,” Patsy Raye & The Beatniks
  • “Hung Fire,” Hiss Golden Messenger
  • “The World at Christmas Time,” Susan Cowsill 
  • “Xmas Bell Rock,” Barry & the Highllights 
  • “Merry Christmas from the Family [live],” Robert Earl Keen 
  • “Hanukkah and Christmas Hand in Hand,” Huffamoose 
  • “Can I Interest You in Hannukah?” Stephen Colbert & Jon Stewart
  • “8 Days (Of Hannukah),” Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings
  • “Feast of Lights,” They Might Be Giants 
  • “Hanukkah Joyus Holiday,” Jay Levi
  • “Festival of Lights (Hanukkah Song),” The Minus 5 with Mike Mills
  • “Hanukkah Dance,” Woody Guthrie
  • “Hanukkah Blessings,” Barenaked Ladies 
  • “Latke Clan,” The LeeVees 
  • “Little Drummer Boy,” Frank Sinatra 
  • “Little Drummer Boy,” Bright Eyes
  • “Little Drummer Boy,” Sean Kingston 
  • “Little Drummer Boy,” The Fab Four
  • “Little Drummer Boy / Peace on Earth,” Bing Crosby & David Bowie 
  • “Little Drummer Boy,” Wayne Coyne 
  • “Little Drummer Boy,” Joan Jett & the Blackhearts 
  • “Little Drummer Boy,” Corporal Blossom
  • “Little Drummer Boy,” Sufjan Stevens 
  • “Little Drummer Boy,” Los Straitjackets 
  • “Little Drummer Boy,” Ray Charles 
  • “Little Drummer Boy / Silent Night /  Auld Lang Syne,” Jimi Hendrix
  • “Fairytale of New York [Extract of 2nd Demo],” The Pogues 

Capital Radio returns Dec. 30 at 1 p.m. ET on www.cygnusradio.com, where this and other recent shows are posted. The show can also be heard via the cygnusradio.com app, available free at iTunes or GooglePlay. Older shows are available at Substack.com/@rogercatlin.

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