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Siblings David and Dustin MacFadden-Elliott, finding themselves on opposite coasts, nevertheless still managed to collaborate via internet while one was working on arrangements in a Berkeley, Calif. attic and the other was studying drums at Berklee School of Music in Boston, Mass. They brought frequent collaborator Brian Leavell into the fold for his excellent alto sax work, and couldn't complete the project without the vocal talents of actress, playwright, and vocal chameleon
The record begins with "Friends Rejoice," a boisterous take on the well-worn hymn. "What Child Is This" strips a couple motifs from the original and resets the time signature for head-bob-ability. "Three Ships" takes the source material very literally, and sets the song in a mysterious seaside village. "I Heard the Bells" and "Song in the Air" both remain fixed in rafters above a huge organ, but the arrangements, especially "Song in the Air," bring a bit more funk to the party. "Lo, How a Rose" takes this concept to the extreme, twisting an oddly-timed song into another oddly-timed song. "Good King Wenceslas" and "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen" remain two brooding winter melodies in the hands of these Wassailers, but "Wenceslas" is resuscitated at the last moment for a glimmer of hope. "The Holly and the Ivy" and "Auld Lang Syne" are two numbers that remind you to enjoy the party you're at and remember the parties you've been to in the past. As Scrooge might have once said to Jacob Marley, "My conscience is clean and I will enjoy a glass of egg nog. I have a taste for freshly-ground nutmeg and a craving for cracked cinnamon." Happy Wassailing,
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Jan. 6, 2010 -- Happy Epiphany. Since the Three Kings have arrived, it's time for the Wassailers to go into hibernation mode. But we spread a lot of exciting music and merriment this past holiday season, and you can expect some sort of live album, and maybe some more live shows, in late 2010. Peace&c, the Wassailers Dec. 11 -- Egg Nog Beats is now streaming in full, on the widget to the left. Dec. 9 -- Egg Nog Beats is now available at your favorite local retailers--if those retailers happen to be RECORD EXCHANGE in Boise, or AMOEBA RECORDS in Berkeley. Dec. 1 -- For the first day of advent, we are introducing a brand new, utterly hilarious Caroling-Name Generator, guaranteed to waste hours--or at least a few minutes--of your time. My caroling name is Wesley Skulldagger Bloodbrother. Nov. 25 -- We don't want to get lost in the Black Friday shuffle. Besides, you might need some dinner music tomorrow. Get all yer Egg Nog Beat necessities today. Nov. 20 -- CD copies are in hand and shipping out in recycled Berkeley Bowl grocery bags. Nov. 14 -- Boise: The Wassailers are gonna be in town with an extended band for the holidays. Joining us are longtime Shifty Osmond Brett McConnell on bass, and Alex Weinberg, whose guitar work is like a shower of sugarplums. We're hosting a release party on Dec. 22nd (contact for location); and Christmas Eve, at First United Methodist Church (717 N. 11th), we will play a mini-concert at 1:30pm and provide all music for the 2pm service. Nov. 9 -- Egg Nog Beats, the CD version, is at the factory being replicated--yes, replicated. This isn't a floppy ol' CDR. Oct. 29 -- Eggnogbeats.com launches. Oct. 28 -- The Wassailers are on myspace. Oct. 16 -- Egg Nog Beats is available at itunes, rhapsody, amazon.com, amazon.fr, amazon.co.uk, and iTunes Japan. Oct. 9 -- The Wassailers' Egg Nog Beats is officially released!
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The Wassailers' Egg Nog Beats is an album that was recorded with the yuletide party in mind. Rather than sing and interrrupt the party, these Wassailers are content to jam in the corner to underscore, not overwhelm, your egg nog break.