Here we go as we continue on with another batch of musicians sharing their responses to our Holiday Q & A! In Part 7 we are pleased to feature the following:
- London Mckuffey – Guitarist, Youtube Artist
- Starling Glow
- Stevie Mayhem – Vocalist, Faith & Bullets
- Rikk Alexander – Lead Guitarist, Faith & Bullets
- Christine Connolly – Vocalist, Knee High Fox
- Bret Von Dehl – Vocalist, The Relapse Symphony
- Matt Stewart – Bassist, The Devil In California
London Mckuffey
https://twitter.com/LondonMckuffey
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
Hollister Clothing, when that’s clearly not my style!
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
My dad’s homemade cheesecake he learned how to make from his grandmother
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
Dinner on Christmas night together.
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
Jingle All The Way with Arnold Schwarzenegger is by far my favorite holiday movie!
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
When I was very young, I got two nutcracker ornaments with moving arms and legs that are still my favorite to this day
Starling Glow
https://twitter.com/StarlingGlow
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
My parents have a laser engraving machine at their business, so as a kid, it wasn’t unheard of to receive a trophy or a medal of some sort.
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
My aunt Kathy makes the best cookies of the entire planet… Quite possibly the greater universe. If you think I’m exaggerating, you are mistaken, my friend. I truly believe that sugar cookies could bring forth world peace… Too bad she keeps the recipe secret.
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
My immediate family always has breakfast together on Christmas morning, just the four of us. With the chaotic and bustling nature of the season, we deliberately make sure breakfast is relaxed and mellow- it’s our time to connect and enjoy one another’s company.
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
No contest, “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Oh Holy Night”… Although I just saw Reba, Trisha Yearwood, and Kelly Clarkson’s version of “Silent Night” on YouTube and it choked me up. I definitely recommend looking it up.
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
I was 8 years old. I remember waking up on Christmas morning and seeing 2 HUGE wrapped up presents under the tree. I was like: WOW. What is that?!!!! BTW I had been bugging my parents – ok stop for a second. What I meant by bugging is: I had this voice recorder with me saying non stop: “I want a drumkit, I want a drumkit, I want a drumkit, I want a drumkit, I want a drumkit…..” I had that recorded for about an hour straight and I would follow my parents around the house playing that full volume. I did that for about 6 months. BTW my dad got so mad at me once that he got it off my hands and smashed the damn voice recorder into pieces. But anyway, I still had my hopes up. I opened up the presents and there they were: 2 brand new guitars. One for me and one for my sister. Even though it wasn’t what I wanted, I loved it. Then I started learning how to play (my sister quit after 2 weeks) then I immediately got a band together. We used to play The Ramones, Pistols, punk rock in general. And that’s how I started playing rock ‘n’ roll.
Stevie Mayhem
Vocalist, Faith & Bullets
https://www.facebook.com/FaithandBullets
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
I once received a rap album that was all in french from a grand parent. It was so weird i had no idea what it was saying the whole time except when it said fuck because that was in English haha.
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
Pumpkin Pie. You cannot beat pumpkin pie with cool whip on it.
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
We have always had the whole family go to my grandparents house for the day. Its always has been a lot of fun and something i look forward to every year.
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
Favorite movie is ELF love that movie and song would have to be The Chanukah Song by Adam Sandler. Its too funny.
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
Our Christmas Tree is a New York Yankee colored tree so they all hold memories of the greatest sports team of all time haha.
Rikk Alexander
Lead Guitarist, Faith & Bullets
https://www.facebook.com/FaithandBullets
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
- for the oddest gift is clothes lol never been a huge of getting clothes for Christmas but I still appreciate the thought
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
- I love tamales. They’re the best holiday food.
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
-Every year we will usually get tamales from la perla in San Francisco.
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
- my favorite holiday movie is “How the grinch stole Christmas”. The human one not the cartoon.
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
- every year we always put up our grinch doll and mr. &mrs. Claus dolls. We’ve been doing that for as long as I can remember.
Christine Connolly
Vocalist, Knee High Fox
https://twitter.com/KneeHighFox
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
The oddest and one of the most awesome gifts I’ve ever received was a real mounted fox head (he of course died of old age) he lives in my studio and I named him Francis.
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
My favorite holiday food item is eggnog, I think it makes me 5 pounds heavier over Christmas haha.
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
My favorite holiday tradition actually began with my group of friends. Were all unnaturally close and like family, and one year a long time ago we decided to throw a Christmas craft thrasher which basically consists of getting drunk and making obnoxious and inappropriate Christmas crafts to put on the tree. At this point I have quite a collection… Haha
We also have a tradition I’ve had forever with my family and friends called ‘The Game’ where there’s a stack of wrapped presents in the middle of the room and we go in a circle rolling dice to try to get a 7 or 11 so you can pick a present or steal someone else’s. It goes on quite a while and it’s really funny and can get pretty loud and crazy.
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
My favorite holiday movie is definitely the original Grinch who Stole Christmas and I love the song from it too! I’m a complete and total nerd around Christmas. It’s my favorite!
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
I collect ornaments from so many cool cities I’ve visited or played in, and I also really love the Christmas decorations that were made at the craft thrasher. The sparkly ‘Fuck’ ball is always a fan favorite! 😉
Bret Von Dehl
The Relapse Symphony
https://twitter.com/BretVonDehl
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
My grandmother once gave me a stocking overflowing with mini’s of whiskey. This was a couple years back. A rad gift, don’t get me wrong but, damn mom-mom! haha.
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
I’m such a NON-picky eater that I love all kinds of food! The only thing I really DO NOT like is pumpkin-pie.
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
I don’t really have much of a family life. Never really did. I always hang with my dad and visit my grandmother who both co-raised me. Don’t really give a damn about anything else.
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
National Lampoon’s X-mas Vacation is hands-down the best holiday movie ever! I always jam “Merry X-mas (I Don’t Wanna Fight Tonight)” by The Ramones because, ya gotta. Or you suck.
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
Not really other than the big nativity scenes that were set up in front of every church on every damn corner of the town I grew up in. Used to have a blast running by and knocking them all over.
Matt Stewart
Bassist, The Devil In California
https://www.facebook.com/thedevilincalifornia
What is the oddest gift you have ever received?
The oddest gift I ever received was a book of music arranged for saxophone. You should be specific when telling someone you’re a musician.
What is your favorite Holiday Food Item?
My favorite holiday food item is pumpkin pie, hands down.
What is your favorite Holiday family tradition that you still do today?
No family traditions have survived the years, my wife and I are working on creating new ones. Like staying home all day playing xbox on Christmas Day. Coming up soon, can’t wait!
Do you have a favorite holiday movie or song?
Movie? Gotta be A Christmas Story. I hope that isn’t too cliche, I love that movie. That might actually be a tradition, too.
Do you have a specific memory of a certain ornament or holiday decoration?
My dad used to always pull out a box with a bunch of different bird ornaments. They were the only ornaments he would put up, and their placement on the tree was of the utmost importance. HAHA. He would spend so much time putting those fuckin things on the tree. It drove me nuts, but you had to love the guy. He never told me why they were so special. Maybe he will some day
That is it for Part 7 of our Holiday Q & A, we will bring you a whole new batch of artists and musicians soon. Stay tuned~
~ Marisol, Rockin’ Ryan, Rachel, Steve, Larry, and Music Junkie Press!
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