What is it with rock stars (indie and otherwise) and Christmas songs lately? Do they feel some kind of obligation to contribute to the new Christmas canon, or to dilute the lameness of some of the elder statesmen of that category? Well, whatever the case, this week has already presented us with a great Sleater-Kinney cover of The Ramones’ “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight),” and now comes word that The Both has released a Christmas-y single, “You’re A Gift”. It’s a mellow little tune, perfect for the impending long trip home for the holidays that may or may not include seeing an old flame. (Ahem.)
The Aimee Mann-Ted Leo super-duo is developing a habit of writing Christmas-invoking songs, having released “Nothing Left To Do (Let’s Make This Christmas Blue)” just last year. The Both continues its annual holiday tour Friday night, and will be accompanied by Liz Phair for the remaining dates. So if you’re in Philadelphia, Brooklyn, or Alexandria (Virginia, not Egypt), you can hear Phair’s repurposed-for-the-holidays song, “Why Can’t I Wreath.” Below are both the tour dates and The Both track.
December 11—Union Transfer—Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
December 12—Music Hall of Williamsburg—Brooklyn, New York
December 14 and 15——The Birchmere Music Hall—Alexandria, Virginia