Listen to the New Standards' 10th annual Holiday Show
by Ibad Jafri
December 24, 2016
Twin Cities mainstays the New Standards rolled out the red carpet for the 10th annual installment of winter's hottest holiday party, at the State Theatre on Dec. 2 and 3.
The trio of Twin Cities music veterans — pianist and vocalist Chan Poling (the Suburbs), bassist and vocalist John Munson (Semisonic), and vibraphonist Steve Roehm — jumped into a set that was musically inspired but also, often, comical.
As always, a star-studded roster of guest performers brought an eclectic mix of styles. Cameron Kinghorn turned back the clock with a cover of Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas," and Chastity Brown followed suit with her version of Van Morrison's "The Way Young Lovers Do."
Following an intermission, Dessa appeared to perform "Sound the Bells" and was followed shortly thereafter by Matt Wilson (Trip Shakespeare, the Twilight Hours). St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman also made a cameo as part of a bagpipe quintet on a cover of the Pogues' "Fairytale of New York."
From there, it was off to the races with a series of tributes. Jeremy Messersmith showed off newly-acquired tap-dancing skills as he paid homage to Gene Wilder with a cover of "Pure Imagination" from 1971's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Jayhawks frontman Gary Louris followed him with David Bowie's "Starman," and everyone went crazy for "Funkytown."
Among the show's biggest highlights were old favorites. Trip Shakespeare's "Snow Days" made its annual appearance — replete with an army of backing vocalists and a flurry of confetti snow into the audience. As always, the trio brought the night to a close with their original "Christmas Time Next Year," with the audience already looking forward to the next one.
Above, listen to the full audio of our New Standards broadcast — which you can also hear on The Current at 8 p.m. Christmas Eve, and again at 8 a.m. on Christmas Day. Click here for more holiday programming from The Current.
Setlist
As edited for broadcast, with lead vocalists in parentheses
White Winter Hymnal
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Chan Poling and John Munson)
L'Etoile du Nord (Adam Levy and Aby Wolf)
Vermillion (Alexei Casselle)
The Way Young Lovers Do (Chastity Brown)
This Christmas (Cameron Kinghorn)
Sound the Bells (Dessa, Aby Wolf, Chris Koza, Janey Winterbauer)
When I Was A Writer (Matt Wilson)
Fairy Tale of New York (Chan Poling and Janey Winterbauer)
Pure Imagination (Jeremy Messersmith)
Starman (Gary Louris)
Funkytown (Aby Wolf, Janey Winterbauer, and John Munson)
Snow Days (John Munson)
Christmas Time Next Year (John Munson)
Ibad Jafri studies International Relations and Cinema & Media Studies at Carleton College. He made a guest appearance at the Holiday Show as an audience member.
