For the Holidays: Los Straitjackets – new holiday album, ¡Viva Christmas! tour, with El Vez, in the works

For the Holidays: Los Straitjackets – new holiday album, ¡Viva Christmas! tour, with El Vez, in the works

September 17, 2009 Off By Billy Thieme
Photo: Jim Graham/Yep Roc

Photo: Jim Graham/Yep Roc

What better time than late summer, when the waves are making swells after the hurricane season, and there’s no one but locals willing to brave the onset of the autumn chill to ride them, to start thinking about what to get your wave riding buddies for the holidays this year? Especially those who have as deep a love for surf twang, and a hankerin’ for Mexico, all year ’round! And America’s favorite surfing luchadores, Los Straitjackets, are mere weeks away from releasing a brand new Christmas album, a follow up to their extremely popular “‘Tis the Season for Los Straitjackets,” released in 2002.

2002's "'Tis the Season for Los Straitjackets"

2002's "'Tis the Season for Los Straitjackets"

“Yuletide Beat,” from Yep Roc Records, is slated for a November limited vinyl and CD release and download, will feature 10 rockin’ new arrangements of traditional carols, to help give the season more swing and surf than ever before. Here’s an excerpt from the band’s release:

“The band has created 10 all new rock & roll arrangements of traditional Holiday carols,  that’ll have you rockin’ through December, and closing out 2009 with a romantic slowdance to “‘Sould’D Lang Syne.” The band rides a desert surf wave on “We Three Kings,” takes “Joy to the World” to Memphis, and takes “Jingle Bells” on a Bakersfield Sleigh Ride. Not to mention entering uncharted territory with a classic rock rendition of “Jolly Old Saint Nick” (retitled Groovy Old Saint Nick for 1971 ambience).  This limited edition, numbered pressing of 1000 CDs & 1000 Vinyl comes in a lovingly printed and letterpressed package by DC area poster artist El Jefe, and will also be available for download via all major download sites.”

El Vez, onstage with Santa & Frosty

El Vez, onstage with Santa & Frosty

On top of that, the legendary surf-luchadores are teaming up with El Vez for a Fall/Winter ¡Viva Christmas! tour of both coasts, with a short jaunt in the midwest. Sadly, there are no Denver dates scheduled just yet, but let’s hope they’ll make a stop our landlocked surf mecca before it’s all over – stay tuned!

Pre-Sale information to come!

Threader

  • Billy Thieme

    Aging punk rocker with a deep of all things musical and artistic, enough to remain constantly young and perpetually mystified. Billy has journalistic dreams, but of a decidedly pastoral, Scottish nature.