Rocks Off is getting into the Christmas spirit, slowly but surely, and now that it's finally December, all your Facebook posts concerning your holiday plans have become much more tolerable.
The music, classic though it may be, has needed an update for quite some time. In theory, we appreciate those radio stations that are devoting all their non-advertising airtime to the likes of "Jingle Bells" and "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer," but we also enjoy hearing the reinterpretations and the covers. To spice it all up, you know?
Houston's thelastplaceyoulook have attempted as much with their cover of "Do You Hear?" The song, which the band has released on iTunes, is accompanied by a music video made by guitarist Richard Sherwood and his wife.
"Most classic Christmas songs fell into public domain decades ago, which is why you hear so many different versions. There are no licensing fees to pay," said vocalist Nava, when asked why there seemed to be a short delay getting the song uploaded. "It was more of a timing thing with lag between when you upload through a distributor and when they actually show up on iTunes."
The accompanying video, Nava went on to say, was never quite planned or scripted. It just happened.
"Our buddy Don Jantzen, who is over at 94.5 the Buzz, made a suggestion to us to help promote the song to radio stations it might be a good idea to have a little presentation video," Nava said. "So Richard and his wife Ranjana just sat down one weekend and knocked it out.
"They are pretty creative and had never done anything like that before ever, but we are super pleased with the outcome."
After performing it last year, all the members of the band sort of looked at one another and asked, "Why the hell didn't we record that?" Nava said they didn't want to make the same mistake this year, so it's all been taken care of before the show.
This may not be the only Christmas song tlpyl ever record.
"I've always wanted to do "River" by Joni Mitchell," Nava said. "It's a more contemporary Christmas song but Robert Downey Jr. did a piano male version on Ally McBeal years ago, and I've been obsessed with it ever since.
"Or maybe a creepy, ambient version of "Silent Night." And, of course, since I have that particular range, Bing Crosby's "White Christmas." I also toyed with a few versions of George Michael's "Last Christmas" but just couldn't get the right sad-drunk-bastard feel I was going for."
Tonight's show boasts a solid lineup, a cheap ticket price, lighting and production effects to get fans into the winter mood and, as usual, thelastplaceyoulook are hinting at a few surprises. Doors open at 7:30, and bands will begin playing at 8 o'clock.