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.