So here’s the second of our EP Series. A Groover’s Christmas is our take on Christmas Music, new and old. With these EPs, our plan is to go into new areas where we wouldn’t maybe go for a whole full-length album. As an Improv-based Jam Band, the New is always more interesting than the Thing You Just Did, and this is our next step in that direction.

With that in mind, we did a completely new thing (at least for most of us) when we threw the “Miracle on 47th Street” Party/Recording Session.  For those who are not familiar with this particular gambit, we invited hard-core fans into the Studio with us while we laid down the tracks that would eventually become this new EP.  As our resident control freak, I initially was spooked by the entire concept, but being thoroughly outvoted and reminded of my often rudely and loudly proclaimed statement that “there’s nothing to be afraid of…literally”, I accepted my defeat and went on as best I could…
It turned out to be a Blast! One of those things where you find yourself telling people “I was never so glad to be wrong” and tacky things like that. People brought donuts. And Liquor. And Sub Sandwiches. And Liquor.
Did I mention there was Booze? What’s Christmas without it when you really get down to brass tacks? I mean, it seems to help, and why do the tacks have to be brass anyway? It seems like a bit of overspending since it just keeps the carpet from sliding around. The Crew says that anything you can’t do with Duct Tape isn’t really worth doing in the first place, which casts a somewhat creepy and not-at-all-Christmassy light on their interpersonal pursuits, but I digress…
Along with the above-mentioned things, the Miracle on 47th crowd also brought a cool energy that I think got captured in the process. It was certainly a first for us and we’re looking forward to trying that again. Soon, hopefully…

We should mention that a huge part of why this EP exists is due to WXRT, and more specifically Richard Milne.
For the non-Chicagoans in this group, WXRT/93.1 FM is a total jem of a radio station where, for a long time, Richard hosted a Show called “Local Anesthetic”.  He would introduce WXRT’s listening audience to Local Bands that they might not be aware of, have them in the Studio for interviews, and would play their Music.  He had us on the Show a bunch of times and we were, and are, grateful for that. Those of you that have a copy of Just Did It #1 can hear Richard introducing us at the Vic Theater Show where it was recorded. It’s just another way helped support us and the Chicago Scene.
A highlight of the WXRT Holiday Season was the annual Local Anesthetic Christmas Special.  This Show would air on the Sundays before Christmas and would include local bands singing a short Christmas message (generally about 20 seconds or so). In our case, these messages began to grow quickly in length and complexity. We also began to set records with Richard for how close we cut the time between dropping off our message and when the Episode was set to run. Kind of like “Blotto Time” but on the Radio. To the Blotto Family, this is a common enough experience, but it’s kind of how things seem to operate in our Bubble and Milne always went out of his way to accommodate us. Or Indulge us. Or Tolerate us.  But it always worked, even though we had to race across town to drop off our 3 minute Epic on a Sunday morning when it was supposed to be only 20 seconds long and should have been turned in the previous Tuesday.

So, it wouldn’t be right to not include a bit of the Local Anesthetic Christmas Tomfoolery in this here thingamabob.
Thanks Richard, and to all a Good Night.

-Chief