W♥M (Archive)

Christmas 2014: Christmas Colors

Read More Jillette Johnson Singer/songwriter Jillette Johnson has become Wal-Mart's unlikely spokeswoman, having reference the store chain several times in her set. If you didn't know, Wal-Mart welcomes RVs …

Read more Christmas.

Please send your Christmas-related music now with the subject header "Christmas" and also include your band biography and tour dates.

JILLETTE JOHNSON
jillettejohnson.com

We previously caught Jillette Johnson on her tour with Mary Lambert, and I noted that she probably love other people's music and would likely cover their songs.

Johnson recently released two Christmas-related songs: "River" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas".

The first one, by Joni Mitchell, is about a romantic breakup, set around Christmas time (from her popular album Blue)... while the second is a Bing Crosby classic "I'll Be Home for Christmas". The latter is a more popular choice, considering that Front Porch Step, Fifth Harmony, Seth MacFarlane, Christine Anu, and Johnnyswim, among others, have covered the song for 2014.

You can stream both songs at jillettejohnson.com.

THE PRETTY GREENS
theprettygreens.com

Normally I'm only looking for current Christmas songs, but I'll make an exception for this Philadelphia trio The Pretty Greens (Julia, Carly, and Kool Schmool).

Their original Christmas song called "When Krampus Calls" last year in a less-than-professional recording studio ("in a dimly lit basement singing into a Mac microphone located securely on top of a washer and dryer.")

Hear all about the anti-Santa song at bandcamp.com.

Upcoming dates:

12/18 - Philadelphia @ Chill Collins
01/30 - Philadelphia @ PhilaMOCA

THE PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR
madagascar.dreamworks.com

Composer Lorne Balfe and DreamWorks recently released The Penguins of Madagascar: Black & White Christmas Album on November 24, 2014, via Relativity Music 2 ... a companion soundtrack to the children The Penguins of Madagascar animated film.

This a PG-rated film is fun for the whole family, watch as our favorite birds enter into the global espionage business.

Tracklisting:

1 Real Chill Christmas
2 Jingle Bells (Power Mix)
3 Stuck In The Chimney
4 12 Days Of Missions
5 Flying Home For Christmas
6 Silver Smelt

MORGAN SHAUGHNESSY
morganshaughnessy.com

I previously mentioned that Atlanta's Morgan Shaughnessy was "about to re-release the (Makeout Scars and Breakout Stars EP) with a new bonus track."

One of the new bonus tracks will be a new holiday single called "Pretty Colored Lights".

Here is how MuseBox described her music:

Morgan Shaughnessy blends 1990s alternative pop and rock with her own brand of indie folk rock, bringing to mind a hybrid of The Cranberries and Cat Stevens. She has built a solid fanbase in and around her native city of Atlanta, Georgia.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Mary Lambert w/ Jillette Johnson at Fine Line (01 Nov 2014)

Mary Lambert Setlist When You Sleep So Far Away Born Sad Body Love Monochromatic Sarasvati Sum Of Our Parts Heart On My Sleeve Ribcage My Moon Red Lipstick Secrets -- Encore -- She Keeps Me Warm Tour Dates Nov 02: Omaha, NE - The Waiting Room Nov 03: Kansas City, MO - Record Bar Nov 05: Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater Nov 06: Fort Collins, CO - Colorado State University Nov 07: Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex Nov 09: Mesa, AZ - Club Red Nov 13: Boise, ID - Knitting Factory Nov 15: Vancouver, Canada - Rio Theatre Read More Mary Lambert And today, Johnson announces her support on the forthcoming Mary Lambert tour across the States, set to kick off later this fall. "I'm thrilled and honored to open up for such an outspoken powerhouse of a talent. … Jillette Johnson Creating authentic and infectious pop that bleeds with heart and soul is no mean feat. Save for Jillette Johnson - taking songwriter cues from esteemed artists like Fiona Apple and Stevie Nicks …

Singer/spoken word artist Mary Lambert and Jillette Johnson are currently touring across America, stopping by Minneapolis' Fine Line Music Café last night.

Jillette Johnson's infectious smile

Singer/songwriter Jillette Johnson has become Wal-Mart's unlikely spokeswoman, having reference the store chain several times in her set. If you didn't know, Wal-Mart welcomes RVs and truckers to use their parking lot to sleep overnight, so Johnson and her musical partner, Matt Pynn are experiencing life at different Wal-Marts across the country on this tour. It would seem that her favorite Wal-Mart night is spending it on Halloween and waking up with fried chicken on the floor... then to step into a Wal-Mart the day after and seeing random costumed people with her own clothing rivaling their costumes (hint: she's not in a costume). Jillette Johnson seemingly wouldn't trade this glamorous life for anything, because she is loving her time with Mary Lambert on this tour.

Jillette Johnson and Matt Pynn

Johnson and Pin's 40-ish minute set consisted of about half of her 2013 debut album Water in a Whale (including "Cameron", "Basset Hound", and "True North") and the other half of newer songs that, as a "smart business woman" as she puts it, are not available to buy. One song, about reflection of herself in her loved one, was written just days before they went on tour, and the other was about a pair of red leather pants that she own, but no longer fits her.

I got the impression that Johnson compose and writes (and probably covers) a lot of songs in her spare time... and I would not be surprise if her next song is about Wal-Mart.

Mary Lambert Setlist

"Are you ready to cry?" starts Mary Lambert, who quickly added that it's okay to have emotions... we're humans, aren't we?

Lambert's show is about half songs and half spoken words/poetry/and random thoughts, it's not a typical concert. Her full band (bassist Maiah Manser, drummer Heather Thomas, and guitarist Tim Mendonsa) play softly around Lambert's vocals... but occasionally take over the song, when needed. These guys knew what they are doing, especially improvising and anticipating what and when to play.

You got the back story behind all the songs that Mary Lambert wrote, which are all very personal to her. She's proud to put the subject and theme out there in the world, like her album title, she wears her heart on her sleeve.

My favorite story was her Halloween misadventure, since the holiday just took the night before (and apparently the band had a break in their long tour), she decided to make a homemade lobster costume out of found clothing. She literally cried out loud "But I'm not a lobster! You didn't even know I'm not a lobster yet!" surrounded by passersby at the airport when she found her her girlfriend was dressed up as a lobster before she got a chance to make her costume. Anyway, she had a great time until some jerk used her claw to grab his penis in Edina.

Later on in the evening she went to a haunted house near the Gay 90s (a club in downtown Minneapolis), only to be greeted by a man with a waiver form. I don't think she ended up going in the haunted house, otherwise we would've gotten the story on that too... but Lambert quickly realized she was talking "because she likes the sound of her voice" too much that she started a song - which the band quickly jumped in.

Lambert had a lot to say about body image and the freedom to love who you choose and is a great role model for young outcasts, gays, lesbians, transgender. You can hear it in her speech, you can hear it in her highly emotional songs.

You can find Mary Lambert and Jillette Johnson on currently tour together. Mary Lambert's Heart On My Sleeve (Capitol Records) and Jillette Johnson's Water in a Whale (Wind-up Records), are both out in stores now.

Mary Lambert at Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis (01 Nov 2014)

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic