Installment number eight in the 12 Boots of Christmas series comes from a place that warms the heart, as well as the considerable body, of our beloved Santa Claus.

Hosting no less than ten cities within its borders that pay homage to our beloved captain of Christmas, California is Santa’s home away from home.

From the snowless streets of Santa Cruz on December 8, 1991, it’s a rockin’ Sunday night out at the Catalyst Club live with the Smithereens.

On the road behind its fifth full-length release Blow Up, the band plows through an 86 minute set that is filled with surprises.

Opening with “Behind the Wall of Sleep,” the band moves right into the spotlight song for drummer Dennis Diken, “Room Without a View” and then on to one of Blow Up’s hidden treasures, “Indigo Blues” complete with a false ending.

There are five new songs, including the monster single that never was called “Tell Me When Did Things Go So Wrong,” and the song that could have been its B-side or follow up, “Now & Then.”

Reinforcing their reputation as one of the greatest bar bands ever to hit it big, the guys throw in several cover songs of various forms and length to keep things grounded including “Venus,” a great song by Shocking Blue from 1970.

As an extra-added special bonus from both the band and the big man in red, this show also features one of the ATV CEO’s favorite Smithereens tunes, “Evening Dress.”

Wrap this one up and place it under the tree for one of your favorite rock and rollers but only after you save a Christmas copy for yourself.

Fun and sun from 1991, the stuff holiday memories are made of.

SMITHEREENS SETLIST

disc one
disc two

Behind a Wall of Sleep

Room Without a View

Indigo Blues

Only a Memory

Tell Me When Did Things Go So Wrong

Time & Time Again

Lola

Venus

Cigarette

Evening Dress

Yesterday Girl

Blues Before & After

Now & Then

Blood & Roses

House We Used to Live In

A Girl Like You

Yellow Submarine

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