Annual Christmas gigs have become as enshrined a Christmas tradition among some Melbourne musicians as decorating a tree, giving unsuitable gifts and drinking too much too often.
Here are a few of the best Christmas gigs around town.
Bagging it: Rocking out is a Christmas tradition.Credit:Mark Metcalfe
Xmas Even featuring Even
Even's might be the longest-running Christmas show in town. Frontman Ash Naylor says it's been happening since 1999, with only one year missed. This year it's an extra-special one – Even are relaunching their Less Is More album, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. If you think that doesn't sound particularly Christmassy, you're right. The band will play a selection of songs from their extensive back catalogue along with Less Is More in full. No Jingle Bells, then? "Hard to say – other people tend to do the carols so much better than us," says Naylor. "We like to leave it open to surprise." The support acts are alright too – Header, with whom Even toured in 1996, The Mike Noga Band and The Plastic Crowns.
Open to surprise: Even.
8.30pm, Friday December 23, The Corner Hotel, $25. even.com.au
Mick Thomas and the Roving Commission
Weddings Parties Anything used to put on Christmas concerts back in the '80s, according to their frontman Mick Thomas. He reckons he's only had a year off between the WPA Christmas gigs and his own festive shows, currently in the guise of Mick Thomas and the Roving Commission. If you're expecting Good King Wenceslas, however, you might be at the wrong party. "We'll probably sing something referential, but not carols," says Thomas. His support acts this year are Tracy McNeil and The Good Life and Rich Davies & the Low Road featuring Ayleen O'Hanlon, and Brian Nankervis will MC the night. "As a musician, it's a chance to get out and do a good tour," he says. "The path is pretty clear."
Clear path: Mick Thomas.
8pm, Friday December 23, The Croxton Bandroom (also Greendale Hotel, January 1), $39.80. mickthomas.com
The Blackeyed Susans Christmas Show
"This is our seventh Christmas show now," says Phil Kakulis of the Blackeyed Susans. "It's an opportunity to celebrate and commiserate another year passing." Kakulis promises a carol – an "ethereal, spooky, solemn" version of Silent Night – along with a bunch of songs with associations strong and loose to Christmas, including the Pogues' Fairytale of New York performed by Rob Snarski with Betty France from the Thin White Ukes and Angie Hart, The Cross by Prince, and Wham's Last Christmas.
Silent night: The Blackeyed Susans.
3pm, Sunday, December 18, The Spotted Mallard, $25. blackeyedsusans.com.au
Damian Cowell's Disco Machine (with Tony Martin) presents Disco Christmas
Damian Cowell wants his Disco Christmas (part of the NGV's Friday Nights program) to provide an escape from the heavy burden of reality. "I suppose we understand that people are being absolutely pooed upon at work by deadline schedule madness," says the former TISM frontman. "Here's an opportunity for you to have a non-threatening safe place where you can wiggle your buttocks." He'll be joined by writer and comedian Tony Martin and and "disco friends" and says there'll be a "slight Christmas theme" to his party tunes. "Carols would be adding a little too much gravitas to what I do, it's more like Christmas nonsense."
Damian Cowell's Disco Machine promise a "slight Christmas theme".
6pm, Friday, December 23, NGV International, $30 online. ngv.vic.gov.au
Darren Hanlon
Darren Hanlon started his 11th Christmas tour back on December 4 in Hobart. It wraps up on December 22 in Brisbane and consists of shows that he promises are "pretty devoid of the usual saccharine Christmas biz." His set list includes a "Christmas death ballad" and a song about a typically Australian, hot Christmas. I guess that means there'll be no Let It Snow. Or Santa hats. "Someone said to me last year, you could go to some effort. A bit of tinsel wouldn't hurt," says Hanlon. "Every now and again I'll have a barbershop quartet that will sing a few carols but generally it's not tied up in those kind of traditions."
Darren Hanlon: "Pretty devoid of the usual saccharine Christmas biz."
The third annual Phil Spector Christmas Album Tribute is free and features acts including Juliette Seizure and The Tremor-Dolls and Thee Cha Cha Chas performing songs from Phil Spector's A Christmas Gift for You. Friday, December 16, 9pm, The Retreat Hotel facebook.com/events/1103585913087291
The Milk! Records crew are throwing two end of year Christmas parties featuring all of your Milk! favourites – Courtney Barnett, Fraser A. Gorman, Loose Tooth and more. 2pm (all ages) $28.60 and 8pm (over 18s, sold out), Friday, December 23, Tote Hotel milk.milkrecords.com.au
The Bennies are playing a "Spliffmas Show" on Friday, December 23 at the John Curtin Hotel. 8pm, $25 johncurtinhotel.com
Annabel Ross is a Reporter for The Age.