Christmas for Kate

Click image for playlist ...

For many years now I've made an Xmas playlist and CD (it used to be a C90) for Kate — truth be told, it's as much for me. The idea is to remember the year that was, the places and events we've been to, and the memories we ought to squirrel away.

Kate still has a CD player in her car and we still play CD's in the house but, more often these days, we play music from iTunes over Bluetooth (in the car or to a sound bar in the house). These playlists are available off my YouTube channel and on my iTunes page. If you click on the image at left you'll get to the YouTube version. Not everyone has iTunes.

This year we did manage to travel to Austin for our winter escape and again there are quite a few tunes from that trip. We crossed into the US the day the Philanderer and Thief (aka Agent Kraznov) was crowned King DJT and every day since has been one WTF moment after another. So, some of the music on this playlist, is dominated by protest songs; I really wish there were more. Somehow that man has to be stopped!

There were some trips to other places as as well: we were to England, Germany and Scotland in May/June; Victoria, BC, in July; music in Toronto; a visit to Winnipeg; and a trip to Mexico. But only some of them have a music reference.

Again, as in recent years, several of our heros are no more — Todd Snider and Raul Malo (the voice of the Mavericks) are in the list; Joe Ely, I cannot say enough about how great he was, passed after the list was created. Anyways, as What Wave Dave would say, enough jabbering, here's the list.

1. If The Loneliness Don't Kill Me, Whitehorse. We saw this band with Gord and Leslie a few years ago (2022 on Prince Edward County). This song from 2022 is pretty classic country. It's a hard drinking story: "If the loneliness don't kill me, then the good times surely will".
2. Born in San Antone, Garret T. Capps. We saw GTC at the Red Bird Listening Room in New Braunfels. We had seen him years before in Austin opening for Sarah Shook (2019). There's a very funny song he does, "Remember the Alamo Dome", which hasn't been published (as yet). He's a character and loves San Antone.
3. Pinocchio in Vegas, James McMurtry. When in Austin we like to see James play solo at the Continental Club Gallery (2025 my birthday). A funny song from his most recent album. We also so him on tour with a full band at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto (September at the Horseshoe)
4. Just A Step, The Resentments. The Resentments have a long standing residency at the Saxon Pub in Austin. John Chipman, the drummer, also plays with the Purgatory Players on Sunday mornings at the El Mercado — this is John's song. It's from a long out of print CD: Switcheroo (2008); I managed to find a copy on EBay.
5. Already Gone, Slaid Cleaves. If anything, this is just a song about growing up and aging. It has a nice tune with well crafted lyrics. John Chipman is on drums, Scrappy Jud Newcomb on guitar — another gang of Austin regulars and the Purgatory Players. 
6. Sarah Gordon, Grievous Angels. From One Job Town (2008). We were in Glasgow this year for Kate's KBS 2025 conference and worked on this song with our friend Sam but didn't get a chance to sing it.
7. I Wish I Was In Glasgow, Billy Connolly. Another song for Glasgow that we rehearsed. We were introduced to a version of this song by Jim McGinley of London, Ontario and have it on CD. The McGinley version is polished. We're surprised how our Glasgow friends don't know this song!
8. Another War, Carsie Blanton. With the genocide in Gaza, the Russian invasion of Ukraine since 2014, and the sabre rattling by Don the Mucillini "I can't wait to see what we're fight for". This has only been published as a Facebook Short (it's too good and needs to be published in more places).
9. War Isn't Murder, Jesse Welles. This artist has been much on my mind. He's been lauded as the "New Dylan" and there definitely are parallels. Again this points to the genocide in Gaza and ends with a pointed remark about "have a nice trip" when visit after the Trump plan is implemented.
10. Join ICE, Jesse Welles. The internal war in the US against anyone of color who might be an immigrant w/o proper papers has me in tears. Jesse Welles does a great job of calling out those who would join in and "just follow orders". A continuing day to day WTF moment.
11. Good People (Thank Me), Hayes Carll. Well, in spite of all that, the world is full of nice people who do nice things. I saw Hayes Carll at the Horseshoe this year (September at Horseshoe),
12. We're Only Human, Hayes Carll. Hey, we're only human. We make mistakes, we hurt the ones we love, but get up, get over it, get on with life and be a nice person.
13. There Goes My Heart, The Mavericks. Raul Malo (1965-2025) was the voice of the Mavericks. We saw him a couple of times at Austin awards events. The music is an incredible blend of influences and fun!
14. Single Wide Dreamer, Aaron Raitiere. Aaron is a well received Nashville writer. We saw him open for Hayes Carll in September.
15. Nose On The Grindstone, Tyler Childers. We saw Tyler several years ago at the Cactus Cafe in Austin and have been following him ever since. His music is bluegrass tinged country. From Snipe Hunter (2024).
16. I Am Joan, Kate Howard. Kate is an Austin regular we've seen many times playing when she can around town. Often as a guest with the Purgatory Players on Sunday mornings at the El Mercado. We see that the El Mercado has changed hands and, for the moment, it's under renovation. Lets hope that the Back Stage reopens and continues to host the events we've loved so much over the years.
17. It's Christmastime (Let’s Just Survive), Kathleen Edwards. We saw her play at the 04 Center (on Lamar in Austin very near our long stay) this year. A bit of humor to match the Kate Howard tune. Kathleen is Canadian and has been playing for years (since at least Failer, 2003) with a hiatus.
18. Running with You, Rich Brotherton. Rich is one of the Purgatory Players, as well as Ulla (Sunday's at the Saxon). He's a guitar legend, toured with Robert Earl Keen for many yars and a producer of many great albums. He's been recently diagnosed with ALS. The song was written by Sarah Elizabeth Campbell. This video is from a recording of the Monday Night Social Club at the El Mercado. 
19. Moon Dawg's Tavern, Todd Snider. Todd (1996-2024) was cut from the same crazy cloth as Jerry Jeff. We never saw him perform; apparently he was a great story teller. This song tells the drinking story of a a guy who "got kicked out of so many bars, so he built one in his own backyard, only been kicked out once so far and his tab is always paid."

That was some of the music of 2025. There's another compilation CD for our 45th Wedding Anniversary. I'm working on writing something to explain the songs there.