Check out my recap of tonight’s Santa show and see more photos by clicking below! Click!!
[My new camera is a lot harder to use when my photographer boyfriend isn’t whispering everything I should be doing into my ear. Therefore, there aren’t too many pics, since whatever I did made the boys look like cartoons in most of them. Especially Otto, but that shouldn’t surprise anyone.]
Tonight was the first time I’ve seen Santa with their new lineup. Having witnessed the various changes in members and music since freshman year, the current group, which includes new members Steve Plock on drums and Tommy Trafton on keys, feels…right. It also feels very new, which coincides with the staggering amount of new material they presented at this show as opposed to the performances of yesteryear before everyone (in the previous lineup) except bassist Otto Stuparitz peaced out and spent semesters abroad in various countries.
The new songs they debuted marked a shift from their past eccentricities and stereotypes — you know, the jungle-y necklace that hung from lead guitarist Stan McConnell’s neck, the regular “Burning Down The House” cover, and a mildly predictable set list. Expanding their sound to one that is more mainstreamed yet still channels their signature quirks (such as Stan’s wailing voice), you can now show up to a Santa show and have no idea what they’re going to play or what fresh tunes you’ll get to hear.
For example: tonight, Stan brought his “blood sister” on stage to sing backup vocals with him, which she performed beautifully:
It’s this type of thing that highlights their unpredictability and further emphasizes the fact that Santa, with their catchy, pop-rock mix, is at a turning point. Now, instead of drawing a crowd of friends, Santa’s new material will allow them to fill the crowd with die-hard fans, too.
But, forget the show. The true highlight of the night?
Oh yeah. Top score on the bar’s Playboy memory match game.
Carlye Wisel: if sarah silverman, stacy london, buster bluth and ari gold had a love child, it would be me.
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Carlye Wisel
if sarah silverman, stacy london, buster bluth and ari gold had a love child, it would be me.