Holiday show by men’s chorus sure to have plenty of sparkle
Published 2:58 pm Thursday, November 29, 2007
One thing you can count on in a world of uncertainty is that the Seattle Men’s Chorus will produce a holiday show of glitter, glamour and gorgeous music.
Before SMC opens its run in Seattle, it will perform Saturday in Everett.
“Home for the Holidays” is the theme of the 29th season for the 300-voice chorus, the largest community chorus in the country and the largest gay chorus in the world.
The Everett show will be filled with a homey assortment of familiar carols and holiday songs in addition to original pieces.
Several barbershop-style tunes evoke the past, and a new suite of Americana carols gently pokes fun at how we often view the world. The skits will create laughter, the stories tears, the music a sense of awe.
And then there’s the eccentric Hokum W. Jeebs, who will share his musical madness (think tuned Coke bottles, a tuba and a musical saw).
Allison Preisinger: The Arlington resident is touring the Northwest with music from her recently released “Moving On, Moving Forward.” The singer-songwriter plays the guitar and piano, and her lyrics work for the whole family. Expect themes of love, hope, passion, identity and dreams.
Walkin’ Jim Stolz: The singer-songwriter-hiker has logged more than 26,000 miles and countless performances with his slides-and-songs presentation. His roots are in traditional folk music.
Van Halen: The band’s current tour is part family, part reunion and all rock ‘n’ roll. Frontman David Lee Roth, drummer Alex van Halen, guitarist Eddie van Halen and Eddie’s son and bass player Wolfgang are rockers without walkers. Van Halen is in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most chart-toppers on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart and holds a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Hits include “Dance the Night Away,” “You Really Got Me” and “Jump.”
Tori Amos: Her instrumental skills earned her a scholarship to Baltimore’s Peabody Conservatory, but she fell for rock ‘n’ roll and moved to L.A. Amos made a career on spare lyrics associated with alt-rock with 1970s stylings, then moved to piano ballads. Over the years she has investigated the implications of womanhood, winning both fans and criticism. “American Doll Posse” addressed the 21st-century climate in America through the stories of female archetypes. Lately she’s been taking on politicians.
Mike Stern: The four-time Grammy-nominated innovative guitarist continues to spread his rocking, funky, jazz-fusion music. At 22, he was performing with Blood, Sweat and Tears before joining a fusion band. He was recruited by Miles Davis, toured with David Sanborn and was chosen as Best Jazz Guitarist (Guitar Player magazine).
Oak Ridge Boys: Classic hits from the band’s four holiday CDs highlight the Christmas Cookies Tour. Expect the group’s exquisite four-part harmonies and upbeat songs. The musicians have created dozens of country hits and a No. 1 song, and earned Grammy, Dove, CMA and ACM awards.
Flogging Molly: While Dublin-born vocalist-guitarist Dave King has returned to his roots in “Within a Mile of Home,” he hasn’t forgotten the brashness and sonic rebellion of the band. This album is comfortable with English pastoral folk (“Factory Girls”) as well as “Screaming at the Wailing Wall,” a condemnation of warmongering in the name of God.
Iron &Wine: Sub Pop Records took on folk-rock singer-songwriter Samuel Bean’s low-fi music, releasing a commercial version in 2002 (“The Cat Drank the Cradle”). Bean followed with “The Sea &the Rhythm,” “Our Endless Numbered Days,” “In the Reins” (a collaboration with Calexico) and this year’s “The Shepherd’s Dog.” Bean also creates music videos and once was a professor of film and cinematography at Miami International University of Art &Design.
Out and About: The modern jazz trio Beatlejazz will perform Beatles classics with imagination, Tuesday and Wednesday at Jazz Alley; $21.50 … The free KPLU Christmas Jam features jazz trumpeter and bandleader Lance Buller and jazz vocalist Stephanie Porter (Thursday, Mary Baker Russell Music Center, Pacific Lutheran University) … Symphonic rockers Trans-Siberian Orchestra return for two shows; last year’s winter tour played to more than 1 million fans in 80 cities (Saturday, KeyArena) … Ellen Jewell sings songs from “Letters from Singers &Strangers” in country, folk and blues styles (Wednesday, Tractor Tavern) … The Tegan and Sara show in Seattle has sold out … The roots-punkers of Pepper who can toss in some Caribbean beats are relatively mellow compared to their interest in metal (Thursday, Showbox at the Market) … KISS-FM presents its annual Jingle Bell Bash, this year featuring Jonas Brothers, Timbaland, Sean Kingston, Colbie Caillat and Ehpikf (Tuesday, Tacoma Dome).
