Get Festive with Kacey and Friends

Modern Rock

By Kristi Kates | Dec. 21, 2019

Singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves is the latest musical celeb to get her own holiday special, and it’s streaming now on Amazon Prime. Narrated by Dan Levy, the show will feature performances of classic seasonal tunes by Musgraves and her friends, including late night talk show host-slash-singer James Corden on “Let it Snow,” actress Zooey Deschanel on “Mele Kalikimaka,” fellow singer Lana Del Rey on “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” and comedian/actor Fred Armisen on “Silent Night.” Leon Bridges will also guest to duet with Musgraves on her own original holiday song, “Present Without a Bow,” and you’ll see additional appearances from the Radio City Rockettes and Musgraves’ own grandmother …

Panic! at the Disco singer (and Taylor Swift duet partner) Brendon Urie has sung his way into Frozen II with a rock version of the tune “Into the Unknown,” performed in the movie by Elsa, and by Urie and crew on the (very different) reimagined soundtrack version. Also on the Frozen II soundtrack, you’ll find another updated tune from the aforementioned Kacey Musgraves, plus score from Christophe Beck. Cast members Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, and Evan Rachel Wood also appear on the album…

The latest release from ex-Detroiter Jack White’s Third Man Records is on the way, and it’s a special one for his band, The Raconteurs. Live in Tulsa captures highlights from The Raconteur’s three-night performance at the Cain Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma — reportedly White’s favorite venue to play. The release from Third Man, a special Vault 43 package, includes that show plus a disc of White and pal/bandmate Brendan Benson’s first performance together in Detroit in 1999, and an acoustic show at Third Man Records Cass Corridor, in which the men performed tunes from both The Raconteurs and The White Stripes …

The perfect song to download this week (or just play on loop from YouTube) has got to be The Jonas Brothers’ latest effort — an up-tempo holiday tune called “Like It’s Christmas,” the third Christmas song in their career to date. Singing about how the loved ones in their lives make it feel like Christmas every day, the track is perfect to add some new sounds into your 2019 holiday season. It can be purchased at all the usual music outlets or listened to/watched at https://youtu.be/2pPhuG_VJgA …

LINK OF THE WEEK
Check out singer Alessia Cara’s fun recent performance at the 2019 E! People’s Choice Awards. She sang her track “Rooting for You” alongside her live band and an energetic horn section (the tune is from Cara’s latest EP, which was just released this past September). https://youtu.be/Lo8ue9n7GG4
 
THE BUZZ
Gift someone a little brush with Blake Shelton this Christmas. The country singer (and Gwen Stefani paramour), who’s also a coach on The Voice, Shelton will perform at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on March 21, and tickets are on sale now …

Trans-Siberian Orchestra will bring back their bombastic brand of holiday music to Little Caesars Arena a little earlier — but slightly after Christmas —Dec. 28 …

Jimmy Fallon’s rollicking house band, The Roots, will be in concert at The Fillmore in Detroit on Dec. 27 …

And singer-songwriter Ellis Paul will perform at Ann Arbor’s The Ark on Jan. 10 … and that’s the buzz for this week’s Modern Rock. Happy Holidays!

Comments, questions, rants, raves, suggestions on this column? Send ’em to Kristi at modernrocker@gmail.com at modernrocker@gmail.com.