Holiday Songs - Christmas, New Years & a Sarcastic Birthday Tune

 

Every Little Light, The Slambovian Circus of Dreams  For covers and radio only as this song lifts “Do You Hear What I Hear?” male vocal, Christmas folk-rock, with bells and electric guitar, open hearts, "wish the whole world were friends" celebration of lights on Christmas night, the importance of individuals, thinking like a child, peace, love for the whole world.

Robeone Christmas (instrumental) Robeone triumphant Christmas instrumental, all keyboards Used: Korg Karma. Mellotron 4000D, Roli Seaboard, Expressive E Osmose, Yamaha S80, Technics KN7000, Moog Sub 37, Kurtzweil K2000, ASM Hydrasynth  

Santa’s My Mum  Tony Moore thoughtful anthem ballad w/ bells, male vocal, this song pays tribute to his mom, keeping alive her tradition of perfect childhood Christmases, and he snuck down the stairs early in the morning and she was there, keeping him quiet. 

New Year  Izzy Meth tenor young voice, Kind of Mumford meets Lumineers meets Bob Dylan melody, about New Years, hopeful lyrics that could be about untapped potential or sticking to resolutions even though we know we should, seeking goodness in the new year, mentions "g-d"  

Just Another Birthday Song  Dean Friedman  music hall meets pop, tenor, witty, fun jabs at the birthday boy, "give thanks that your dad wasn't shooting blanks." "thank your mom for pushing you out." Mentions “isolation” from the Pandemic era

Glory to the Newborn King  Erin Hannon / Stephen Melillo classical music with a full lyric soprano that rolls her rrrrs, and "Sleep In Heavenly Peace"   

Five Days of Christmas  Elliott Murphy The story of Linear coming off his meds and coming to visit an easy-to-anger brother over the holidays. Bad boys, gangster, visual lyrical storytelling. 

A Very Slambovian Christmas - Yo Ho Ho Merry Xmas!!!

With a rootsy psychedelica that hints at Dylan, Bowie, Neil Young, The Beatles, Incredible String Band, The Waterboys, and Jethro Tull, the Slambovian Circus of Dreams ‘Very Slambovian Christmas’ show is guaranteed to 'flip your switch' and spark the holiday spirit!

Be prepared for Christmas songs with a "Slambovian twist” and rockin’ original holiday tunes for a fun ‘outside the box’ holiday show. The band will charm and disarm you from the first note - a great night out with family and friends to celebrate the holiday season!

“They take the stage by storm!” – The NY Times

“Best Band of 2022” – Chronogram Magazine, NY

“Like a snowball full of heart and unabashed beauty with songs of hope and resistant joy."
– Jambase.com

 Celebrate the holidays and have ‘A Very Slambovian Christmas’!

FRI DEC 08 7:30 PM

Chocolate Church Arts Center - Bath, ME

SAT DEC 09 8:00 PM

Infinity Hall Norfolk - Norfolk, CT

                       
FRI DEC 15 8:00 PM

The Drake - Amherst, MA

SAT DEC 16 8:00 PM

Towne Crier Cafe - Beacon, NY

 
FRI DEC 22 8:00 PM

Roy's Hall - Blairstown, NJ

SAT DEC 23 8:00 PM

Newtown Theatre - Newtown, PA

 

SAT DEC 30 8:00 PM

New Year's Eve~Eve Show

World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA

Fall 2022 Playlist for Covers, Syncs, Radio

I chose Look Around by the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, because it feels like the good people that gave up on public service years ago are looking around, and getting together to work on solutions that will make a difference. This folk rock band is fronted by Joziah Longo.  The band has an incredible time at Cropredy this past Summer, and came out as the Festival Favorite. 

Dan Berggren, who was my radio teacher at SUNY Fredonia, is celebrating 55 years on the radio. This veteran songwriter's "Free to Read" is midtempo folk with a marching beat, acoustic guitar, bass male vocals, "We need to be free to read." He sings a list of books that have been banned: To Kill a Mockingbird, Beloved, American Psycho, Harry Potter, Diary of Anne Frank..... 

danberggren.bandcamp.com/track/free-to-read

I Cry For You by Tony Moore is about Tony's emotional struggle as his mom went through dementia, Sounding a little like Yes' Jon Anderson, the symphonic pop-rock song shares his memories of her both during and before the diagnosis.  The former Cutting Crew keyboardist recently co-wrote "Love Never Dies" with Julian Lennon on Julian's new album, JUDE. Tony is currently working on his critically acclaimed one man show and album called AWAKE.  

Extremist by Kathy Zimmer is an upbeat & layered indie pop, female vocal about finding balance within the love and hate of a close, person relationship. Her rich alto sings, "You make me happy and depressed"  kathyzimmer.bandcamp.com/track/extremist

Robin Lane's new album, "Dirt Road to Heaven" has Americana and Folk stylings.  She's been performing this music sincethe 1990s. "Woman Like That" combines Native American roots and British and New England folk stylings, and is about being stalked. Woman Like That | Robin Lane (bandcamp.com)

 

You Hold My Soul, by Nicole Bacher, explores themes of gratitude and dedication towards her partner for their journey together ... He helped her fight depression. "You made me whole let me be bold you hold my soul." One of my Toastmasters' buddies is a corporate headhunter and wrote, "Great energy and you can tell they are working together so well as a team" and "The song is great." 

“Take Your Medicine" by electric violinist/vocalist/prog rocker Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius deals with hypocrisy. The song confronts a liar and watches him run away "You can never win, take your medicine" A live version of this song is available for radio programmers as it appears on the group's upcoming double CD/DVD/Blu Ray "Behind the Curtain: Live At ProgStock."  

 

 

The “Thank you, Greta Thunberg & Pete Seeger” Playlist

Songs about the Environment, Pandemic, Leadership, Relationships

   Dan Berggren & Dean Friedman have songs about dialogues with their daughters. Dean about war, and Dan focuses on the health of our planet.

   One Day (A Child’s Prayer) Hannah & Dean Friedman  Originally written for the 1991 Gulf War, the song is relevant now in the midst of one more, senseless, horrific war. Gentle strings and bells adorn a daughter and father duet.  She’s seeing children killed from missiles, The father sings that “One day there'll be no trace of war, disease, pollution.  If only presidents could see through children’s eyes, if only general could hear the babies’ cries.” Lots of comparisons and contrasts like kids fighting over toys with men fighting over land.   For charity info, please visit  deanfriedman.bandcamp.com/track/one-day-a-childs-prayer

    Looking for Answers Dan Berggren  Acoustic folk song with a hopeful, yet trepidatious.feeling about a daughter asking father what the environment will look like when she grows up. Long term / Short term materialism, greed, easy answers, ask questions, learn what's ahead.  The song is loaded with great advice on long-term thinking. 

Two songs about delusional leaders: one from folk singer-songwriter Michael Veitch and the other from wild prog rocker Joe Deninzon.

April Fools Michael Veitch  singer songwriter, male tenor, upbeat folk-rock with electric guitar, with pretty eagles-y harmonies  being fooled by leadership in a most rainy month “behind the curtain lies another strong man.  Pick a corrupt event when you have crazy leaders.  

The Prism Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius  (studio and live versions) dynamic and circular electric violin,  male vocals, rock band live recording, song about delusional leaders who lead with stupidity 

 

One more about crazy leaders-- what a woman thinks of crazy guys in the workforce....

        What’s a Place Like This Doing in a Girl Like Me?   Val Kinzler  uptempo & edgy, spoken word female voice like Kathryn Hepburn meets Tim Curry, spooky music. Pinpoints common pain many women go through in different work situations. The song is about a haunted woman inside of a manmade hell. Clever lyrics: graveyard full of rights gone wrong, weak from being strong. dr. jekyll, watch me hide.  dismember me. 

 

My artists offer solutions about improving the environment. Here's a new song from the Slambovian Circus of Dreams and a classic from John Hall.

Beez (I Know Where The Beez Have Gone) Slambovian Circus of Dreams Rock, slow tempo, environment, Americana, vocals like Tom Petty, “Stopped controlling the world,” lyrics offer ideas on how to increase the bees to visit plantlife. “the bees are in my yard, I know where the Beez Have Gone,” “Reteaching me the facts of life” “creatures great and small” chime-y, uses phrase ”yang dang doodle human race” 

   Power John Hall   male tenor, sax, yacht rock sound.  “Give me the warm power of the sun” includes wind and water power in lyrics. "take all your atomic poison power away" "everyone needs some power I'm told to shield them from the darkness and the cold, includes line about corruption” “Some may seek to take control when it’s bought and sold.”  This song was the theme song to the M.U.S.E. Concerts (Musicians United For Safe Energy) and a top 20 hit in 1979.  

A song about the end of the world:  

Armageddon Blues John Roy Zat  male vocals upbeat w/ swing energy & yodels, fiddle, "everybody's singing the armageddon blues.  anybody here know what to do?" keep the music going until... seeing that the world's gonna end, "facebook" and "brew" mentions  

Here are a few different ones that have goal setting thoughts or solutions:

Freedom Loving Heart Phoebe Legere gentle coffeehouse folk song, female voice, gentle guitar, "I got a freedom loving heart, because freedom's got a heart of it own." A gentle encounter with a lying guy, she sings, "I don't know where to start"  

Divided We Fall Bill Leverty  hard rock/classic rock, male vocals, bass, lead guitar,  divided we fall, show me the pain, let me inside. Show me the pain in your heart. And if we find common ground….United We Stand, Divided We Fall.  Song about mending fences in a way that the man wants to see inside his wounded partner’s soul..

   

 

Holiday Songs for 2021

 

PIRATE XMAS Slambovian Circus of Dreams  male vocalist, pirate march, Christmas song magic comparisons feels like a song Mr. Hook would sing! "childhood dreams at the realm" "Ring the Bells and Break the Spells that traps us in reality"

IF I WAS A DREIDEL by Dean Friedman   singalong with lyrics:  “If I was a Dreidel, gee, how I would spin…… I might be made of plastic, or wood or clay or tin…… And you could pick my letters, Nun, Gimmel, Hay or Shin…… And if your letter landed, the Chanukah Gelt you’d win, Oh….” https://soundcloud.com/deanfriedman/if-i-was-a-dreidel

CHILDREN BELIEVE Emily Hurd female vocals, jazzy-pop, keyboards, “children believe” is the hook.  the singer finds the comparison between children and grownups that connect w/ them. "we need the magic too"

CHRISTMAS TIME Jon Mullane Upbeat! Baritone version of Adam Levine, song in the same tempo as USA for Africa’s “Do They Know it’s Christmastime” About the joys of Christmas, and getting ready for it.  

CHRISTMAS LULLABY Leo Schaff  Haunted or gothic or mystical song. No two snowflakes are the same. Mystical melody. Orchestrated    For covers only Christmas traditions, gentle magic. Pagan stylings.  Fill our hearts, fill our dreams, fill us with love and peace.”

CHRISTMAS IS COMING Leo Schaff  Beach Boys meets Shins. Male vocals. His true love ran around the world, and said she’d make it home for the holidays.  A year has gone by, and he’s singing, “Christmas is coming, New Years is coming,” sand “Will you make it home for the holidays?” https://soundcloud.com/leightonmedia/christmas-is-coming-by-leo-schaff

Songs Dedicated to Greta Thunberg & Pete Seeger

Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius playing Arlene's Grocery, NYC on Feb. 27 for StringFest II (presented by SonicVoyageFest and Composer's Now).  Also appearing are Echo of the Ghost & Susan Aguila.  Their hard rock prog song, GAME OF CHICKEN features an electric violin-driven in a mold like Dream Theater, Rush, and Styx. "We're heating up as we run out of time."  People are daring one another to play with risk.  We're busy bickering while the planet is losing it. 

Please listen to the music hall-inspired A TERRIBLE PICKLE  by Folk-Pop songwriter Dean Friedman Some mentions of Australia's nature-- Koalas and eucalyptus trees, all kinds of mentions about the environment, the oceans are rising.    
Los Angeles, hear Dean live at Kulak's Woodshed in North Hollywood, on Saturday night, February 1! #Pre-GroundHogs' Day!

MY RIVER’S RUN DRY Karen Besbeck & Billy Montana (Modern Country) Vocals like Kacey Musgraves, Margo Price, Cassadee Pop   The song is a metaphor for land going barren and love going barren—the “true” lover won't change even though it's too late.

BEEZ (I KNOW WHERE THE BEEZ HAVE GONE) (Americana) Slambovian Circus of Dreams Rock, slow tempo, environment, Americana, vocals like Tom Petty, “Stopped controlling the world,” lyrics offer ideas on how to increase the bees to visit plant life. “the bees are in my yard, I know where the Beez Have Gone,” “Reteaching me the facts of life” “creatures great and small”  

Friends in the New York City/Woodstock region, get ready for an announcement on the Slambovian's Earth Day activities. My UK Friends, the band will be back this summer, and one of the shows will be at Fairport Convention's Cropredy Festival.

POWER FROM ABOVE Dan Berggren (Folk)  The metaphor of the sky and the Christian concept of God,  Gospel-y folk, play on words "Power from Above" the song encourages wind and sun power, "Faith & Respect & Hope for this old earth." traditional-sounding.

Slambovian Holiday Shows: December 2019

 

“Like a snowball full of heart and unabashed beauty with songs of hope and resistant joy." - Jambase.com

The Hudson Valley’s 'best band' brings Christmas songs “with a Slambovian twist” and rockin’ original holiday tunes for a fun ‘outside the box’ holiday show. A rootsy psychedelica that hints at Dylan, Bowie, Neil Young, The Beatles, Incredible String Band, Waterboys, and Wilco with the perfect mix of Christmas tradition and cool vibes for all ages and persuasions. Celebrate the holidays and have "A Very Slambovian Christmas"!

This just in: The Slambovians will be performing at Fairport Convention’s Cropredy Festival this August 14.

“They take the stage by storm!” – New York Times

“The cool end of Americana” – Maverick Magazine, UK

“One of the finest American bands" – All Music

16 + recommended.

December Holiday Tour Dates

Thursday, December 5: Skyloft, 1 Crossgate Mall Rd., suite #200, Albany, NY

Friday, December 6:  Roy’s Hall, 30 Main Street, Blairstown, NJ

Friday, December 13: Club Passim, 47 Palmer Street, Cambridge, MA

Saturday, December 14: Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center Street, Northampton, MA

Sunday, December 15: Six on the Square, 6 Lafayette Street, Oxford, NY

Friday, December 20: Mauch Opera House, 14 West Broadway, Jim Thorpe, PA

Saturday, December 21: The Towne Crier, 379 Main Street, Beacon, NY

Sunday, December 22: Hopewell Theater, 5 South Greenwood Avenue, Hopewell, NJ  08525 (Mercer County)

Monday, December 30:  World Café Live, 3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA                                                                                         Our Annual New Year’s Eve-Eve Show 

The Slambovian Circus of Dreams Celebrate Release of New Album at New York City's Webster Hall, April 12

A BOX OF EVERYTHING to be released on Red River Entertainment April 1

Joziah Longo

www.slambovia.com

www.facebook.com/theslamboviancircusofdreams

www.twitter.com/slambovia

www.youtube.com/slambovia

soundcloud.com/slambovia

Listen to songs from A BOX OF EVERYTHING on Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/slambovia/sets/a-box-of-everything

On April 12  The Slambovian Circus of Dreams perform at Webster Hall's Marlin Room, at 7:30 PM

Webster Hall is at 125 East 11th Street (between 3rd and 4th Avenues) in New York City.

Webster Hall is near the N, Q, R, W, L, 4, 5, 6 subways.

Admission is $25.

Admission is only for those 19 years and over

The venue phone is 212-353-1600

The web site is www.websterhall.com

A BOX OF EVERYTHING is The Slambovian Circus of Dreams' first new release with the Sony / RED-distributed Red River Entertainment.  Due out April 1st, A BOX OF EVERYTHING is a compilation of "the greatest Slambovian hits you've never heard" newly remastered with three new studio cuts - the upbeat title track "A Box of EveryThing," Syd Barrett-inspired "A Very Unusual Head" and the anthemic "Alligators'"that justifies the Pink Floyd-esque descriptions of the band. The A BOX OF EVERYTHING CD Release Show at Webster Hall April 12th is a special one-time event, with special guests (who played on the album) performing with the band and a multimedia show created for the upcoming tour. 

From Sleepy Hollow, New York, The Slambovian Circus of Dreams (AKA The Grand Slambovians) pioneered the alt-folk/americana genre totally under the radar for over a decade. Defying traditional rules of success (like changing their name at whim), they built their career from the ground up with a loyal fan base fueling and supporting them since open mic days in New York to national tours of the US, Canada and the UK.  

"We've done very well as an independent band, but one of our goals has been to find someone who plays business like Sharkey plays guitar. We think that Bob Frank of Red River is that guy. We're inspired to have Bob (former president of E1 Music Worldwide/Koch Records) on board at this point in our career," says lead singer/songwriter Joziah Longo. "He's a force of nature, constantly building creative alliances with people that any band would love to have on their team."

Though approached by labels for years, in 2013 the band decided to dance with Red River having been among the first artists tapped to sign with their newly formed company.

Left to Right: Sharkey, Joziah, Tink and Eric

THE NEW YORK TIMES says of the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, "Their songs are imbued with mystical stirrings and idealism... they take the stage by storm!" They've been compared to an array of artists including the Waterboys, Jethro Tull, The Decemberists, a quirkier Tom Petty or Buffalo Tom with an exotic instrumental arsenal. The group's "dusty Americana ballads" may evoke Dylan, Cracker, or the Wallflowers, but then along comes one of those Pink Floyd-esque cinematic anthems with otherworldly slide mandolin, accordion and cello and suddenly you're in a whole different dimension!  Although there are lots of comparisons, UK'S MAVERICK MAGAZINE calls them "Mightily impressive and hugely original."  

The Slambovian Circus of Dreams are: Joziah Longo songwriter/vocals/guitar/ harmonica, Sharkey McEwen - guitar/mandolin, multi-instrumentalist Tink Lloyd - accordion, cello, uke, theremin, melodica and Eric Puente, percussion. 

A BOX OF EVERYTHING - Coming April 1st, 2014