Jack Johnson and an assortment of musicians on his Brushfire Records roster pitched in to create a debut holiday album called This Warm December.
Hailing from UK-based shoegazing bands Mojave 3 and Slowdrive, singer/songwriter Neil Halstead recently branched off to focus on a solo album that he dropped this past July. Since signing onto Brushfire Records, Halstead has been racking up critical acclaim while touring extensively. For This Warm December, Halstead contributed an original, somber acoustic track entitled, The Man in the Santa Suit. Halstead shares his thoughts about the holidays and his memories of Christmastime in the UK…
Jack Spilberg: What do you want for Christmas?
Neil Halstead: Time with the family and friends
JS: What’s better, naughty or nice?
NH: I have to say naughty and nice is probably the very best.
JS: Which do you prefer, real or fake Christmas trees?
NH: Fake Christmas trees are less messy I suppose. When I was a kid we would have a little tree that my dad would dig up every year for Christmas, and then replant afterwards. That is probably the best solution. You’ve got to go big in the end though.
READ ON for more from Brushfire recording artist Neil Halstead…
Jack Johnson and an assortment of musicians on his Brushfire Records roster pitched in to create a debut holiday album called This Warm December.
Zach Gill – Johnson’s keyboardist, solo artist and front man for the Animal Liberation Orchestra (ALO) contributed to the Brushfire holiday compilation with a solo track on the album and another one with ALO. Gill has been keeping himself busy lately touring with Mason Jennings after releasing an impressive new solo album entitled Stuff
Jack Spilberg: What’s better, naughty or nice?
Zach Gill: Naughty is usually very attractive at first, but I’ve found that nice works a lot better in the long run.
JS: Which do you prefer, real or fake Christmas trees?
ZG: I like living Christmas trees the most. We have had the same tree for the last few years- she lives outside for most of the year. It is always exciting when we bring her inside for the holidays and decorate her up. She is tiny compared to standard Christmas trees though. If she ever grows too big to come inside we will plant her permanently outside.
JS: What was the best Christmas gift you ever received?
ZG: My parents got me a puppy (a beagle named Frisky) and tickets to see Huey Lewis and the News when I was nine years old. That was a good year.
READ ON for more of Jack’s holiday interview with Zach Gill…
Jack Johnson and an assortment of musicians on his Brushfire Records roster pitched in to create a debut holiday album called This Warm December.
On the compilation, Money Mark contributes a quirky track called Stuck at the Airport. Mark is probably best known as the Beastie Boys’ longtime keyboardist. Aside from his contributions to the Beasties, he also tours and collaborates with Jack Johnson, and has released a number of impressive solo albums. Mark’s original material is filled with original and catchy tunes and a unique sound that’s tough to stick a label on. Money Mark shares his thoughts below about electric gingerbread guitars, Rudolph the stoned reindeer, and yummy apple cider…
Jack Spilberg: What do you want for Christmas?
Money Mark: I want a full size gingerbread Fender Telecaster guitar with a red licorice whammy bar- yummy!
JS: What’s better, naughty or nice?
MM: Ever heard of WWBD? “What Would Belushi Do?”
JS: Which do you prefer, real or fake Christmas trees?
MM: Fake aluminum Christmas trees mounted upside down on the ceiling- ha ha!
READ ON for more of Jack’s interview with Brushfire’s Money Mark…
Jack Johnson and an assortment of musicians on his Brushfire Records roster pitched in to create a debut holiday album called This Warm December.
One highlight of the holiday compilation is Mason Jennings’ interesting acoustic take on Santa Claus Is Coming To Town. With his original acoustic folk, rock, and country-influenced sound, and intellectually stimulating lyrics, Jennings has successfully cultivated an incredibly loyal base of dedicated and passionate fans over the course of his musical career. Below, Mason shares his thoughts about the holiday season.
Jack Spilberg: What’s better, naughty or nice?
Mason Jennings: I’ll take Nifty. Or Knopfler. Or Knuckley. Or Nascar.
JS: Which do you prefer, real or fake Christmas trees?
MJ: If you believe it is real, it’s real. I like our real tree, same one we’ve had for 10 years.
JS: Who personifies Scrooge the most in the world today?
MJ: I would have to say I do, at least the part about him being a man and changing his ways
READ ON for more of Jack’s interview with Mason Jennings…
