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trwesterman.bsky.social
@trwesterman.bsky.social
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Writer. Movies. Rock & Roll aficionado. Horror fan. Political genius.
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trwesterman.bsky.social
Day21

Don’t Believe In Christmas
by #thesonics.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7XJ...
& Bonus:
December is for Cynics
By #thematches
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgFa...

#music #musicsky
#musicchallenge #musicadventcalendar #adventcalendar #tuccac #xmas #nowplaying #carols #christmas #garagerock
Day 21 of the Underplayed Advent Christmas Carol Calendar 2025. A bow tied around a wrapped present with polka dots divides the paper into 4 quadrants, with two one panel comics on the bottom, and a four panel divided into squares read from left to right on the top. Top: A surprise run in between St Nick and Jesus turns to a hug until both say (jinx) that they’re the other’s favorite imaginary character. Bottom left: reporters surround a man holding a sign that says “may reason prevail,” hounding him about his next tactic on the war on Xmas. Bottom right: a man with a stack of presents shouts at a diverse quintet of Santa’s putting up a billboard that says “Peace on earth, Goodwill towards Men and Women,” berating the “atheists” for not respecting the Xmas’ spirit. The Sonics were one of the earliest American rock bands from Washington. Jack White shouted them out during his rock and roll hall induction as worthy of the award. After Bill Haley & the Comets and Minnesotan Eddie Cochran, the Sonics helped start garage rock, the northern strain of early rock and roll. The Sonics sound much more like the final form, as Cochran and Haley retained a bit more of the wildcat sound, as they were called then, albeit now we call that Rockabilly. The Matches hail from Oakland, California, most active from 1997 to 2009 albeit they play reunion shows to celebrate album milestones. Formed as the Locals, the group changed their name after five years to avoid conflict with a Chicago band of the same name. Rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist Shawn Harris, bassist Justin San Souci, and drummer Matt Whalen anchored the band for its entire tenure, with Matt Esposito and Jonathan Devoto each serving stints as lead guitarists. They had some independent album chart success and even charted on billboard.
December 21, 2025 at 8:31 PM
trwesterman.bsky.social
Trump addresses Jeff like Harley addresses Joker—hey, “Mister J,” hey.
a cartoon of the joker and harley quinn saying how ya doin ' slugger
ALT: a cartoon of the joker and harley quinn saying how ya doin ' slugger
media.tenor.com
December 21, 2025 at 10:06 AM
trwesterman.bsky.social
Day 20

Main pick:
The Island of Misfit Toys, covered fittingly by the Misfits.
youtu.be/Q7gn47Qccvo
Bonus:
The Snow Miser song by 45 Grave
youtu.be/zz7KTvkcFlA

#music #musicsky
#musicchallenge #musicadventcalendar #adventcalendar #tuccac #xmas #nowplaying #carols #christmas #misfits #45grave
Day 20 of the Underplayed Christmas Carol Advent Calendar 2025. We see a pic from the Island of misfits toys from the Rankin/Bass claymation holiday special “Santa Clause is Coming to town” with Misfit band action figures added, and a Misfits skull logo on the Jack in the Box misfit toy. There’s also the controversial Penguin happy meal toy from Batman Returns added by the Jack-in-the-Box. There’s also a Lego Shiva the chawennie, and a Lego depiction of 45 Grave next to a Snow Miser and Heat Miser figurine toy, as they provide a bonus cover of another Rankin/Bass track from The Year Without a Santa Clause. The Misfits, an American punk rock band, have some of the most iconic iconography since the Grateful Dead; rock and roll aficionados recognized the Misfits as pioneers of the horror punk subgenre, blending punk and other musical influences with horror film themes and imagery. The group was formed in 1977 in Lodi, New Jersey, by vocalist, songwriter, and keyboardist Glenn Danzig. 45 Grave had a lesser-known career than the Misfits, acolytes and first followers of the horror punk genre, forming in 1979 and disbanding in 1985 until reformed by lead singer Dinah Cancer, operating continually again since 2005. A seminal LA Punk band, regardless of subgenre, they also have more California in their sound, making them also proto-Beach Goth, just preceded by the Doors. Jim Morrison’s associated hippie imagery may not seem Beach Goth, save the black leather holding in his lizard king, but they provided the blueprint with songs like the Ghost Song, their cover of Bertolt Brecht’s “Alabama Song” (3 Penny Opera), “the Unknown Soldier,” “Ship of Fools,” and “Light my Fire.” Jim Morrison evoke fatalism and his early death providing Paris with its most visited attraction for some years, make them important prior-art. 45 Grave perhaps greatest cultural impact came from the use of “(It’s) Party Time” on the soundtrack for my Letterbox top 4 film “The Return of the Living Dead.”
December 20, 2025 at 4:32 PM
trwesterman.bsky.social
Day 19 1st day, last (& hardest) theme.

Christmas Solo by #HollyGolightly
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C25B...
& Bonus: Christmas Duel, #Hives feat. #CyndiLauper
youtu.be/My5Bzf0PQhc?...

#music #musicsky
#musicchallenge #musicadventcalendar #adventcalendar #tuccac #xmas #nowplaying #carols #christmas
Day 19 of the Underplayed Christmas Carol Advent Calendar 2025. Holly Golightly throws chicken wings at a tied up Lawyer Dave in long-red full body underwear, a Santa Claus hat over his eyes like a blindfold. Holly’s song Christmas solo where she sings “go take these frozen chicken wings and have your Christmas solo.” Christmas solo fits the 4th quarter theme, and pairs well with this bonus that also involves a feuding couple, their thematic connection, but not how it connects to the overall theme of the next quarter of 6 days (each has a theme to guess come Xmas). Holly and Dave’s fight takes place in front of a Xmas decorated room with a tree and blazing fire. I included a shouting Hive and Lauper who sing the Christmas Duel bonus, one of the filthiest Xmas songs outside of “Christmas for my Penis” that evokes a most unusual girl going down on a granny hive. I’ve also included the album cover and vinyl puck from Holly’s Xmas single. Day 1 of this playlist was the A-side. Christmas solo is the b-side. Enjoy! 😉
December 19, 2025 at 5:30 PM
trwesterman.bsky.social
I’m surprised Randy can expel himself from his bed in the morning.
December 19, 2025 at 2:49 AM
trwesterman.bsky.social
Day 18: I lied. Today’s the real last day of theme 3. See alt-text for more.

Wizzard: youtu.be/IJPc7esgvsA?...
Bonus cover: Frank Sidebottom:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxmq...

#music #musicsky
#musicchallenge #musicadventcalendar #adventcalendar #tuccac #franksidebottom #wizzard #xmas #nowplaying
Day 18 of the Underplayed Christmas Carol Advent Calendar; A colored pencil imagine of Wizzard performing with a choir of kids, surrounded by a frame. Frank Sidebottom joins them in the side bottom. The Wizzard song I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday isn’t underplayed in the UK, and has made inroads worldwide, but the Frank Sidebottom bonus version isn’t as well-known in either county. Due to holiday madness, I skipped day 14’s planned selection, this, moving all my planned picks down a day, and used what I planned for posting a Western Wed on a Tumbleweed Tues, as I will re-dub it. 🤦 So 1 more day on this 3rd 6-day quarter theme, kids. Sorry I lied and said we were done. But tomorrow we start the 4th and final quarter of 6 days. Thanks for your understanding but the content remains the same, but no wonder Willie failed to get likes! People were like WTF you moron! Mea culpa, gang. Wizzard is a UK famous band led by ELO member Roy Wood. This perennial staple of the UK went top 5 and returns yearly. Frank Sidebottom you might know from the movie Frank. He performed with his puppet son little Frank in a paper machete head novelty songs, as depicted in the movie Frank. Sadly, Longbottom died of cancer but Wizzard plays on, especially on BBC Christmas episodes such as the Great British Baking thingy.
December 18, 2025 at 8:13 PM
trwesterman.bsky.social
Like James Brown, nothing but Gawd, nothing but gawd!
a man wearing headphones and sunglasses is smiling in a picture frame .
ALT: a man wearing headphones and sunglasses is smiling in a picture frame .
media.tenor.com
December 18, 2025 at 5:09 AM
trwesterman.bsky.social
Day 17: 3rd quarter theme finale.

Daddy Looked a Lot Like 🎅 by Rev Horton Heat.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=txx5...
plus: Vandals return!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNlf...

#music #musicsky #musicchallenge #adventcalendar #tuccac #nowplaying #musicadventcalendar #vinyl #xmas #psychbilly #revhortonheat
Day 17 of the Underplayed Christmas Advent Calendar celebrating Jim Heath better known as the Rev Horton Heat. The song is “Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy,” a Buck Owens & the Buckaroos cover—a country rewrite of “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa” but supercharged by the Rev’s psychobilly shredding. You might remember his “Psychobilly Freakout” from Guitar Hero II. The image has a cartoon depiction of Heat with Rudolph and a classic car in the left corner, and a stylish 50s sophisticat opening her book so Rev Heat and his band (bassist J-I-M-B-O) pop out like Jack in the Box toys for Christmas. Jim in a Santa hat in his Xmas stage setup centers the image, his name projected on a red curtain behind, flanked by silver tinsely fake Christmas trees that also evoke 50s vintage. I included a Vandals song that paired well that has less to do with the last day of the 3rd quarter theme, but relates nicely to the main selection. The white vinyl copy of We Three Kings: Christmas Favorites.
December 17, 2025 at 6:48 PM
trwesterman.bsky.social
No, hepcat. It says Canton, not Cat on.
December 17, 2025 at 3:38 AM
trwesterman.bsky.social
Day16

Willie & Colbert’s “The Little Dealer Boy;” Nelson voices a fuzzily recalled 4th magi mon giving Our Lil’ Bud his 💐, & gifted back a Grammy. I’d rather receive Willie’s reserve on Holidaze.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fb1q...

#music #musicsky #adventcalendar #nowplaying #tuccac #westernwednesday
Day 16 for the Underplayed Christmas Carol Advent Calendar 2025. From 2008’s A Colbert Xmas, the greatest gift of all!—Willie Nelson and Stephen’s “The Little Dealer Boy;” a claymation Willie wears a “smoke weed everyday Christmas sweater. A Pixar Willie sets in the left corner blowing smoke in front of a tree composed of recognizable 5-point leaves that has Willie ornaments on it. An advent square labeled 16 has a cartoon Willie in a Santa hat says “have a Willie dope holiday.” Colbert smokes a pipe seated before a blazing fireplace with two stockings, one embroidered with his first and the other his surname, holding the physical copy of the special on the cover of the special. A Willie as Pigpen from Peanuts stands on the name of the special. A framed picture of a cowboy singing Colbert hangs over the fireplaces. The name of the track and artist has a near identical image of the smoke bellowing Willie but in DC comics style. There’s also a cowboy sticker and cowboy hat sticker that identify this track as belonging to Western Wednesday, the penultimate edition. It also fits the third theme a mini game will ask participants to decipher at the end. The song came about from Portlandia writer Allison Silverman and Fountains of Wayne’s Adam Schlesinger for Colbert’s special that spoofs the “who’s at Judy Garland’s door? XmaSpecial trope that Colbert is trapped in a New England cabin albeit special guests have no problem rotating in despite the snowbound premise. The special aired near Thanksgiving and also functioned as a goodbye to the Colbert Report persona of the arrogant ignorant rightwing commentator that seems predictive of Jessie Waters. Happy Holidaze!
December 16, 2025 at 3:03 PM
trwesterman.bsky.social
He will be remembered as a little cheddar goblin.
December 16, 2025 at 1:36 AM
trwesterman.bsky.social
Day 15

Candy Cane Children
by the White Stripes.
youtu.be/_xkh6b53Z2M?...
Live bonus:
youtu.be/5WtJJ8jiwBY?...

#music #musicsky #musicchallenge #adventcalendar #tuccac #nowplaying #musicadventcalendar #vinyl #xmas #whitestripes #jackwhite #megwhite #rockhall2025
Day 15 of the Underplayed Christmas Carol Advent Calendar 2025, the White Stripes Candy Cane Children. Jack paints a drumhead with Meg’s favorite candy, a peppermint swirl, that gives the band their name. Meg in pigtails sits on the drum head, on a peppermint cushion while holding a have eaten peppermint lolly in her toes, tempting Tarantino. Lego White Stripes set on the drumhead. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame logo comes from Jack’s brush as well, labeled 2025 inductees (2nd ballot, 2nd year eligible). 15 is written over Jack and Meg sitting on peppermint drums. Also seen: the white vinyl 2002 Xmas single, today’s Song Selection. I included a live version to show what a raw and great live cabaret act the Stripes were. The B-Side has Jack reading the story of the Magi followed by Meg singing Silent Night. It’s a thoughtful, sincere and raw single so please seek out the B-side too. Jack married Meg to take her name, annulment being cheaper than legally paying to change Jack Gillis to Jack Stripes, both wanting a namesake stake in the band; their romantic relationship ended before the White Stripes recording career began. Both belonging to close knit Detroit families, they avoided “Will they, won’t they?” dynamics by taking the stage persona of siblings. The White Stripes lyrical themes often deal with childhood, reinforced by the band’s dress, use of toy / learners instruments, and aesthetic of doing the simple exceptionally well, following the rock rules in rock club colors. Meg White’s primitive, untrained approach to drumming unlocked Jack’s songwriting on guitar, finding her grooves infectious and akin to Robert Johnson keeping time tapping his foot on the wooden board (never got to worry about locking the door). This approach overlayed with Jack filling the rest of the sound out left plenty of room for his lyric storytelling, focused on growing up. Candy Cane Children also became the White Stripes’ fandom’s collective name. I’ve seen Jack live 30x A polar bear and penguin tour poster for the White Stripes London show. A Christmas goose in a Christmas hat in red, white and black—rock club colors—for the White Stripes Paris tour poster.
December 15, 2025 at 5:06 PM
trwesterman.bsky.social
Dire Hard is. This is great.
December 15, 2025 at 4:27 AM
trwesterman.bsky.social
a woman in a wig is asking how about a kiss santie claus
ALT: a woman in a wig is asking how about a kiss santie claus
media.tenor.com
December 15, 2025 at 4:05 AM
trwesterman.bsky.social
Baba Yaga goes country.
December 15, 2025 at 3:16 AM
trwesterman.bsky.social
If we get out of this authoritarian moment without dark days turning darker still, I’ll wager firearms won’t be what saved us. I’m still waiting for the thing I’ve been told all my life would stop authoritarianism to kick in its 2nd amend. magic. The Weimar republic was an armed populace. 🤷
December 14, 2025 at 4:39 PM
trwesterman.bsky.social
Day 14

Dónde Esta🎅 (where is 🎅?) by Augie Rios.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGoj...

& a chromesthesic Bonus: Walking in the Air, sung by adult and child Aled Jones.
youtu.be/engSQve1CKU

#music #musicsky #musicchallenge #adventcalendar #tuccac #nowplaying #musicadventcalendar #Snowman #xmas #Santa
Day 14 of the Underplayed Advent Xmas Carol Advent Calensar, a snow Christmas scene lies outside the decoratively decorated window a young cartoon Augie Rios looks out, as Santa happens to be walking by. There’s also two merry little Easter eggs walking in the air. Another track used recently in Merry Little Batman, Dónde está Santa Claus (Where is Santa Claus?) aka Mamacita. It’s been covered by the amazing Los Lobos, and even made its way into Cheech and Chong’s holiday hit “Santa Claus and his Old Lady.” 12 year old Augie Rios had sang in Broadway musicals including Jamaica when asked to record this 1958 Christmas Novelty song penned by George Scheck, Rod Parker, and Al Grenier backed by the Mark Jeffrey Orchestra. I love this song for its early rock and roll incorporation of Latin rhythms, and how excellent the phrasing gets across the intention behind the lines. I learned Augie Rios had coaching on his phrasing that facilitated the final result. If the kid could phrase like that, he’d likely have gone on to an even bigger career albeit he had a good run. The b-side “Ol’ Fatso,” also has a lot more fun and snark than most novelty 50s songs boast. Bonus: Walking in the Air by Aled Jones, the 2 Voices version. Aled had a surprise hit covering the song from the original Snowman 🇬🇧 animated film in 1985, but didn’t really embrace the success for most of his life. He had to leave if it played in public and still won’t play it at home. However, when he revisited the song with more polished phrasing that smoothed out his Welsh accent, the voices still pair so well coming from different sizes of the same instrument, that the song evokes a lot of colors in the mind. This version is underplayed everywhere albeit the UK knows the song well.
December 14, 2025 at 4:04 PM
trwesterman.bsky.social
Day 13: 3rd Quarter theme.

Bad Kid, by JD McPherson, my favorite newish Xmas song.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=voyZ...

&

Oi,To the World! by the Vandalls. Many no doubt know No Doubt’s cover…
youtu.be/oo4gEPiKm3w?...

#music #musicsky #musicchallenge #adventcalendar #tuccac #nowplaying #vinyl #xmas
Day 13 of the Underplayed Christmas Carol Advent Calendar, snowing a naught list yearbook page full of bad kids. Can you identify them all? I spotted you the cartoonish JD McPherson; his 2nd and final appearance on the calendar, with his hit Socks single “Bad Kid” being today’s selection… “Kris Kringle got a tingle running up his spine / he saw me and he run and hid / he’d heard his own name had ended up on a list / it was written by a bad, bad kid.” Def poet. The bonus song comes from the best Christmas Punk album of all time, the title track, by the Vandals, “Oi! To the World.” Many know the No Doubt cover, but fewer know the original (yet they should!) “Haji was a punk just like any other boy…” Today begins the 3rd 6 day quarter with a new theme… Vinyl of Socks by Jd McPherson. It’s an evergreeen green vinyl. The Vandalls greenish tinted album for Oi to the World! The best punk Christmas album ever recorded. Check it out!
December 13, 2025 at 7:35 PM
trwesterman.bsky.social
Day 12: theme finale!

Stuff the 🦃 by 👽 Sex Fiend
www.youtube.com/watch?v=67eP...

Bonus (not under-spun but 😮): Away in a Manger, by Cattle Carol, a true “farm aid” BabyJ Bday anthem!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5fo...

#music #musicsky #musicchallenge #adventcalendar #tuccac #nowplaying #vinyl #xmas
Day 12 placard from the Underplayed Christmas Carol Advent Calendar 2025. A chaotic scene of English punk revelry and a priest getting a snowball in the face at a row house—buggers flung, beer guzzled, legs and 🎁 wrapped presents sticking out of metal garbage bins, with a poster for Stuff the Turkey by Alien Sex Fiend nailed to the fence. Three punks hold up a banner reading: bonus, away in a manger by Carol Cattle. This is the last day of the second quarter theme. Can you guess it? English rock band Alien Sex Fiend formed in London in 1982. The current lineup of the band consists of Nik Fiend and Mrs Fiend. Five of the group's albums and 12 of their singles reached top 20 positions in the UK indie charts in the period up to 1987. And giving new meaning to “farm aid,” Carol Cattle, an auto-tuned tune for BabyJ on his natal Bday, that makes an almost recognizable version of barnyard sounds in a carol that might have an inspirational relationship to all 4 themes of the Underplayed Xmas Song Advent Calendar 2025. Unwrap the mystery of the mini-game in this music challenge this Xmas! 🎧 🎵 🎄 The beautiful jade green vinyl for Alien Sex Fiend’s album that includes today’s choice track, Stuff the Turkey!
December 12, 2025 at 4:52 PM