Forget the pipers piping and drummers drumming. During the 2009 holiday season, music’s top sellers are artists who might make you believe it’s the 1960s all over again, courtesy new technology.
Still, in a tough economy, local musicians hope they don’t get lost in the mix.

“On the first play of Christmas, try to buy locally…”
In the era of iTunes, local record stores are an endangered breed. Revolutions on Wabash Avenue closed this year, reducing the number of shops specializing in music and CDs to three. Now, F.Y.E. in Honey Creek Mall, Headstone Friends at 1142 Poplar St., and Disc Replay, 4664 S. U.S. 41, which specializes solely in used DVDs, games and discs, are the sole record shops left. Headstone Friends has long maintained its own holiday tradition, setting out plates of cookies and snacks every Christmas Eve for customers in a de facto party. “Every Christmas Eve we’re open noon to 5 p.m.,” said Harold Foster. “We usually play the Beatles Christmas music (fan club releases) which aren’t really available anymore, and lots of holiday music.”

“On the second play of Christmas, re-released on CD, four Moptops singing…”
Still, everything else by the Beatles seems to be for sale — again — with a back catalog re-released Sept. 9 (09-09-09, a in-joke nod to “Revolution #9”)  with improved sound quality and better packaging. Demand far exceeded supply, said Justin Long of F.Y.E. Single CDs remain strong sellers, but two pricey box sets (around $300) containing all 14 discs, sold out in stereo and mono formats. “EMI (the Beatles’ record label) had distribution issues,” Long says. F.Y.E. was only able to meet its reserve orders on the box sets, and was forced to wait on further rounds of the sets to fill demand. Oddly, nostalgia now exists for 1980s-era CDs at Headstone, just as the original discs made some long for their dusty vinyl LPS. One shopper even sought a copy of the first “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” CD absent all the badges and bonuses that come with the re-issue. “I didn’t have any copies of the old release in stock, so he wound up getting the new one.” Foster shrugs. “Some people just want the originals. A lot of them want to hear the CDs just the way they were.”

“On the third play of Christmas, they were playing on XBox and the Wii, ‘Meet the Beatles’ to ‘Let It Be’…”
The reintroduction of the Beatles and other classic rockers to a new generation may not come through the stereo, but via video games. The release of “The Beatles: Rock Band”  is $59.99 for the game, but up to $449 plus with special instrument packages. Still, it’s selling strong, though remaining in stock. Given the cycle of prior “Rock Band” and “Guitar Hero” games, it could even hit used shops by Christmas. “We have plenty of the other (versions),” notes Disc Replay employee Travis Weir. “We might get it…it probably depends on how popular it gets to be.”
The game’s met mixed reviews from Beatle buffs. “I think it’s great,” Long enthuses, noting the game can get kids into classic rock music. However, the skills taught by the game don’t translate to the stage.
“It’s hard if you’re a musician, especially when you’re drumming,” notes Mike Norris, a multi-instrumentalist and veteran of several regional bands.  “You have to drum on the off-beats sometimes. It’s not how it really is in the song.”  He’s been playing since his teens, but the 40-year-old enjoys seeing his two young sons develop their love of music through the game.

“On the fourth play of Christmas, came holiday music from Bobby Z., better known as Dylan…”
The times, they are a changing – or at least the seasons are. One of the record industry’s longest-lasting holdouts delivers his first Christmas disc Oct. 13, when Bob Dylan’s “Christmas In the Heart” hits the streets. “They’ve been trying to get him to do one for a long, long while,” Foster observes.
The disc won’t just fill turntables. It also aims to fill dinner tables this season, and for years to come. Dylan plans to donate his American royalties to Feeding America, a relief charity, with his record label promising more than four million meals to 1.4 million needy this holiday season.

“On the fifth play of Christmas, there were occasional profane parodies, which Santa deemed naughty…”
Some of the most popular songs around the holidays turn the air blue, and could turn faces redder than Rudolph’s nose, said Daniel Mauk. His Udder Guys DJ service spins music throughout the season, including at an annual Poker Run aimed at benefiting “Toys for Tots.” However, it might be best to clear the kids from the room if you’re requesting what Mauk says has become one of the most popular Yuletide selections, a tune by comedian Rodney Carrington that asks who added an appendage to a snowman, making Frosty a bit too anatomically correct for comfort. “That, by far, is what we always get asked to play,” Mauk laughs. “That and ‘Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer’.”

“On the sixth play of Christmas, DJs had vacancies, caused by a bad economy…”
The turning of the year has brought a downturn to turntablists, Mauk observes sadly. “We’ve got a lot of openings. Due to the downfall of the economy, not many people are spending money on a DJ these days.” Steve Harvey of Apollo Productions shares the same belief. “I’m not too optimistic. A lot of companies are no longer having holiday parties” because of the tight times. Both DJs have MySpace and Facebook sites.

“On the seventh play of Christmas, musicians join the revelry; still, book them early…”
Like most, musicians take some time off during the holidays, though certain nights such as New Year’s Eve remain busy.  Cade Puckett, a solo guitarist featured in area clubs, was still booking dates in late September.  Mike Cullison of Wikker Elefant, booking its first year of dates as a band, says his group’s calendar remains fairly open.  Thomas Ready, a musician and DJ who organizes free concerts in the area, concurs.  “The holidays are when things slow down. You start writing music and thinking about getting back in the studio.”

“On the eighth play of Christmas, Yuletide records are released constantly…”
From Prince to R.E.M., Insane Clown Posse to the Beach Boys, and Sinatra to Sting, Christmas records have been released by almost every popular artist.  Progressive-rock releases by the Moody Blues, Jethro Tull and Mannheim Steamroller are perennials on Headstone’s playlist. “Most people already have their Christmas records,” Foster said. “But we still sell a few of those every year.”

“On the ninth play of Christmas, attend the Terre Haute Symphony…”
The symphony continues a holiday tradition of classics and carols with a Saturday, Dec. 5 performance featuring soprano Coleen Davis that will run the gamut from Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” to solos from Handel’s “Messiah.”

“On the 10th play of Christmas, explore your own musicality – rock someone else’s Christmas tree.”
Instrument sales boom during the holidays as musicians aim to create their own family traditions, teaching what they know. “It’s always been our biggest thing,” said Nick Pell, sales manager for the Conservatory of Music, “It’s almost always a family member that does play or has played and wants to share it with the younger generation. … It’s kind of the big holiday joke, music is the gift that keeps on giving. It’s cheesy, it’s hokey, but it’s true.”

“On the 11th play of Christmas, somewhat predictably, there’s Christmas Carols or Bing Crosby…”
As omnipresent as they can become in the malls, some of the best Christmas music still comes from choirs in church and carolers singing in the streets. “You can’t beat ‘Away in a Manger.’ Kids know it. Parents know it. It’s kind of that great, universal song,” West Terre Haute’s Christina Gross says, smiling as she’s wistfully recalling past Christmas services.

“On the 12th play of Christmas, a dozen Hoosier bands worth knowing…”
• Tim Grimm, a singer and actor who traded Hollywood for hay-farming, frequently plays around the area, and has five Americana discs available at www.cdbaby.com and on www.timgrimm.com.
•  Up-and-coming Dugger jam band Philpot, a familiar face around the city’s clubs, plans a Dec. 10 Verve show to promote “Hate Writes Better Than Love.”
• The Barnard Sisters, folk-singing siblings Kara and Pam, “proudly lay claim to being descended from a host of bizarre vaudevillian relatives” and have several CDs available at www.myspace.com/barnardsisters.
• Brazil’s Henry Lee Summer, faced a rough 2009 with a May arrest for methamphetamine. However, the “Wish I Had a Girl” hitmaker still offers painted guitars and merchandise at www.henryleesummer.com.
• Bloomington-based songwriter Carrie Newcomer completes a fall tour of India by returning to Indiana for a spate of area holiday shows behind her new album “The Geography of Light” available at www.carrienewcomer.com.
• Terre Haute’s 675, which mixes funk, rhythm and blues, offers a Christmas CD for sale at their shows.
• Indianapolis native John Hiatt, who penned hits by Bonnie Raitt and Eric Clapton, has no new record, but is booking “Cayamo,” a February 2010 tropical cruise with Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle and Lyle Lovett, through his site www.johnhiatt.com.
• Young Sha, a Terre Haute rapper, is readying a free mix tape for the holiday season and releasing “Break It Down” via www.myspace.com/youngshamusic.
• Indianapolis DJs Bob and Tom, syndicated worldwide and heard locally on WWVR-FM 105.5 “The River,” are readying their traditional holiday release for charity. Details were pending at presstime.
• John Mellencamp, Indiana’s best-known rocker, is readying “No Better Than This” for a spring release. Fans can tide themselves over with his first live record, “Life, Death, Love and Freedom.”
• Bloomington’s Jason Wilber, the guitarist for rocker John Prine, is offering his records, along with a limited-edition free CD sampler of his CDs, plus a duet with Prine, at www.jasonwilber.com.
• The Crossroads Brass, Terre Haute musicians who are presently the artists in residence at St. Mary of the Woods, perform local recitals, events and weddings, and can be reached at www.crossroadsbrass.com.

Other articles by Mark Stalcup

• Smoke n' Peace - March 1st, 2010
• Pop life - March 1st, 2010
• Cuba Libre - March 1st, 2010
• Blustery Sound - January 1st, 2010
• You and What Army? - January 1st, 2010