SPREADS CHRISTMAS CHEER
Since Ron Dante reprised his role as the lead vocalist of his legendary vocal group to produce the Archies’ acclaimed The Archies’ Christmas Album in 2008, a healthy proliferation of new rock and roll oriented Christmas releases have followed in its wake.
Alongside the new Little Girls (as the Hollyberries) single, Tony Bennett’s Grammy nominated Christmas extravaganza and Bob Dylan’s pleasantly surprising Christmas album, one of the most interesting Christmas releases of 2009 to date stems from the pen of Doughboys guitarist Gar Francis.
Born Gary Venittelli in Plainfield, New Jersey, Francis was recruited by the veteran garage band, Doughboys in 2005 to assume guitar responsibilities from founding member Willy Kirchofer, who sadly had passed away that year. Francis’ earlier work with CBGBs staples, the Rockids had stood him in good stead with the Doughboys’ rhythm and blues-inspired brand of garage rock and made him a very logical choice to help carry the band’s legacy into the new millennium.
Francis’ expertise in that respect also provided the aesthetic impetus for his new solo single, Let’s Have A Rockin’ Christmas. As was the case with the Little Girls and their new Christmas single (released as the Hollyberries), Francis issued his new track under a pseudonym, Jackie Kringle And The Elves.
Although the two releases emphasize slightly different sub-genres of rock and roll, Let’s Have A Rockin’ Christmas celebrates the occasion with as much exuberance and a healthy dose of Love/Chocolate Watchband-inspired, no-nonsense garage sensibility. Francis wrote the track and produced the sessions, with Danny Caruso overseeing engineering and mixing responsibilities.
While the Doughboys’ just released Act Your Rage album for RAM Records remains the band’s (and Francis’) primary focus, Let’s Have A Rockin’ Christmas provides a more than worthy interlude. The single is also available on the RAM label. CD review by Editor/Publisher Michael McDowell Blitz Magazine http://blitzmag.blogspot.com/
CD available for sale at http://www.garfrancis.com secure through paypal.
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