Dec 27, 2016 I believe in Santa Sabbath
There are plenty of reasons to be unhappy during these particular holidays. I have a few, too. But there are reasons to smile as well, and one of them is Santa Sabbath. There have been other cool takes on the songs of Ozzy, Tommy, Geezer, and Bill by the likes of The Dickies, Butthole Surfers, Melvins, and The Shrine, but these holiday-inspired veterans of the L.A. punk scene transform the famously dark and sludgy classic rock into Christmas music.
Last year I supported the band’s Kickstarter campaign and its debut EP was the only gift I gave out to friends and family. Sadly, I was at holiday parties each time they played then but last weekend after back-to-back Christmas gatherings with my family, I bolted to the tiny Cafe NELA in Glassell Park and arrived just in time for their third song–their killer “Frosty The Snowman” mutation of “Paranoid”! The lovingly heavy set (fueled by years of the members playing with Clawhammer, Angry Samoans, Backbiter, Brujeria, etc.) ended with a ripping version of FEAR’s infamous holiday single.
Afterward, I gave Christmas cards to my friends Pat and Jonathan (who played guitar and bass wearing elf hats) and bought a stack of the new EP for the same lucky recipients I gave the first one to. Too bad the band doesn’t play all-ages shows, though, because my eight-year-old knows all the words to both CDs after I’ve been cranking them in my car for the last week. The take on “Children of the Grave” is our favorite now. Maybe she’ll get to sing along next year.
Loud music played by old punkers in dive bars isn’t for everyone. A lot of folks dislike the holidays, too. But whatever it is that makes you happy–I hope you seek it out and push the crap out of it in the new year.
Look up Santa Sabbath at bandcamp, listen to music away from your computer or phone, and follow Imprint on this page as well as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, too!