Keyboardist/ guitarist TJ Waltho, bassist Paul Holden, drummer Brad Brouwer and guitarist Aaron Trozzo have been enjoying starting their own local Christmas tradition by playing the soundtrack of the Charlie Brown Christmas special, while the show plays on a screen next to them for several years now.
They’ve since added a Ventures Christmas component to their show, by playing the Ventures Christmas album and a lot more after they’ve finished playing the soundtrack.
I caught the Ventures Christmas component at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Saturday, Dec. 16.
I haven’t been to a show for a while because of family and illness, but was pleased to catch this one.
The Venture’s Christmas is extremely well done. Trozzo gave the audience the option of having a fireplace playing on the screen or the band burning up a motorhome. They chose the motorhome.
I’m not a fan of Christmas music, but this show is definitely the exception.
They played a mash up of assorted ’50s and ’60s riffs, while playing popular Christmas carol melodies during the solo portion of the song. I recognized the Beatles’ “Day Tripper,” mixed with, I think ‘Frosty the Snowman,’ and ‘I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus’ mixed with ‘Wooly Bully’ for example.
Waltho played rhythm guitar for most of the set, allowing Trozzo to play the Christmas melodies, though he did double duty on keyboards for a couple songs.
They added a great version of the Ventures only original on the album “ Scrooge.”
For a more contemporary flair, they played some Los Strait jackets and. Shadowy Men On a Shadowy Planet’s “Having an Average Weekend,” best known as the theme from Popular ’90s TV Show “ Kids in the Hall.”
They wound up their set by getting the appreciative audience into the New Year’s spirit by blending ‘La Bamba’ with ‘ Auld Lang Syne.’”
There are two more chances to catch A Charlie Brown Christmas/ Ventures Christmas— Friday, Dec. 22 at the Slice and opening for Hippodrome at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Saturday, Dec. 23. Tickets are $10 for the Slice show and $15 in advance, $20 at the door for Hippodrome. Both shows start at 9 p.m.
— by Richard Amery, L.A. beat Editor
