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DRAG RACING UNDERGROUND

Big Stick

Sauced Up Santa

    Big Stick's recordings resonate among a wide cross section of so-called "alternative," rock, pop, punk and industrial music enthusiasts - their new Christmas release proves it's still difficult to pigeonhole or categorize Big Stick down to one particular genre of the various music scenes.

    Big Stick's John Gill says, "I honestly never thought I'd write a Christmas song, but I felt compelled to share the story of what happened to me at the age of five. There was even a photograph taken (featured on the record cover) to prove the slightly humorous, though somewhat heart warming childhood story, of the day when my folks took me to the local shopping mall and I wound up sitting on what was a visibly 'Sauced Up Santa's' lap." Hence, the title track "SAUCED UP SANTA" that's featured in both regular and extended versions on this, Big Stick's first ever Christmas themed EP release. Gill adds, "When the photo of me sitting on an extremely inebriated shopping mall Santa's lap surfaced in my family photo album many years later in my life, I simply had to write a song about it. I activated my memory banks to recall that distant December day of my childhood and put it into song."

    The song isn't a derogatory diss of the intoxicated Santa, rather, it's more of a song expressing grace, forgiveness and humility, highlighting the fact that despite Santa being “sauced up,” he was still as friendly and jovial as his alcohol-affected faculties would permit. Gill explains, "It's not meant to be a judgemental song, it's more of a heartfelt, sentimental Christmas song, telling of a time when I recall the innocent joy of that day, the warmth of my family, the loving congeniality and a feeling of harmony and peace.” Big Stick's Yanna Trance and John Gill agreed that since "SAUCED UP SANTA" is reminiscent of a childhood memory, it would only be fitting to add a touch of aural authenticity by assembling a choir of children to perform on the song's choruses. Yanna is credited with conducting and coaching the children's choir. 

    TRACK LISTING

    1. Sauced Up Santa
    2. Christmas Island
    3. The Boisterous Birds Of Christmas Eve
    4. Sauced Up Santa (Extended Version)
    5. Christmas Island (Tremolo Violinist Mix)
    6. Christmas Island (Enchanted Ethereal Mix)

    It's been fifteen years since Big Stick's last proper record release. That's an even longer period of time than some winged cicada bugs take to rise from the deep depths of earth and sing us their noisy repertoire of songs. Big Stick's dynamic duo of John Gill and Yanna Trance are pleased to finally have a new LP's worth of material to share. This new album is simply titled LP. It's a long playing collection of Big Stick selections cultivated over several years.

    This release is a joint effort between Big Stick's new Drag Racing Underground record label and Forte Music Distribution. Gill and Trance performed most of the vocals and instrumentation on the album's fifteen tracks. Some of Big Stick's musician friends appear on select songs. Much of the recording was done at their own studio, using a vintage Otari MX-70 16-track analog tape machine. Big Stick are self-produced. Gill plays guitar and keyboard. Trance performs percussion, bass, and keyboards. Both of the duo write and compose.

    Big Stick's new LP includes a retrospective collage of Big Stick photographs and images, along with photos of Gill's and Trance's artwork as well as liner notes describing curious facts and trivia related to the duo and the featured songs. This long playing release is available on 12" vinyl & CD. Both formats include a special bonus "SOME OF BEST OF BIG STICK" EP CD with ten 'classic' Big Stick tracks.

    Some appreciation of the guest musicians who've contributed to this new release...Fred Schneider of the B52s has long expressed a desire to record with Big Stick. John and Yanna have always admired Fred's unique vocal approach, so when they penned "HOT SAUCE" it seemed like an appropriate time to bring in Fred. Another admired vocalist is Groovie Mann from My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult. In the mid-90's Big Stick toured with the industrial pioneers. Big Stick wrote "VENOMOUS VOODOO PRINCESS" as a duet for Groovie and Yanna. The track also features longtime friend Tom Timko on bari sax. Timko also plays on "MARLIN IN A MAIDEN'S DRESS." Tom's credits include gigs with Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder, among others. John and Yanna have an endearing friendship with Jerry A of Poison Idea. Jerry contributes vocals on "DARLING RAVEN." Drummer Johnny Kelly of Type O Negative notoriety is a like-minded hot rodding friend who hangs out at the local drags with Big Stick. Kelly handles the drums on "HOOCHIE EXPRESS." Other musicians featured on selected tracks include “first lady of sass brass” Paula Henderson on bari sax, “the man of sensual trombone” Dave Smoota Smith, Satoru Ohashi and Alicia Rau on torrid trumpets, Jim Sorensen of El Muchacho on percussion, John Thompson on bass guitar - and last but certainly not least, Shawn Banks and Mark Lopez finessed their aesthetically accelerating fingers on bongos.

    STAFF COMMENTS

    Barry says: A brilliantly clashing, rawkous collection, rich with gritty distorted riffage and snapping, snarling vocals in classic Big Stick fashion. Walls of guitar noise and throbbing chug meet headfirst in a sweaty basement to great effect, AND it comes with a 'Best Of Big Stick' sampler CD! What's not to love?

    TRACK LISTING

    01. Burning Rubber
    02. Calamari Coco Butter
    03. Darling Raven
    04. Hoochie Express
    05. Hot Sauce
    06. Koochie Koochie Time
    07. Marlin In A Maiden's Dress
    08. Metaphysic Al Speaker
    09. Pleased To Meet You
    10. Potato Chip Dip
    11. Rascal
    12. Soul Shaker Town
    13. Stop The Ball Shit
    14. Venomous Voodoo Princess
    15. Whiplash

    Big Stick

    Much Of The Best Of Big Stick

      Big Stick are chuffed to announce that their new Drag Racing Underground record label, in conjunction with Forte Music Distribution, are releasing a special Much Of The Best Of Big Stick 12" record album. A long playing collection of 'classic' Big Stick selections, along with three tracks taken from Big Stick's soon to be released new album, LP.

      There's a total of 15 songs on Much Of The Best Of Big Stick release. The 'classics' include "Drag Racing" (of "John Peel's Box" fame) "I Look Like Shit", "Jesus Was Born On An Indian Reservation", "Billy Jack Paddy Wack", "Devil's Jukebox", "Hoochie Koo Time", "Bianca Blast", "California Dreamin'", "Hokey Pokey Girl", "Scum Rooky's Cafe", "I Live The Good Life", and "Black Cow". The three brand new Big Stick tracks picked from their upcoming album (Released in June !!!), which the duo believes worthy of including on the Best Of release are "Rascal", "Metaphysical Speaker" and "Calamari Co Co Butter".

      The mindful packaging of the Much Of The Best Of Big Stick album includes a retrospective collage of Big Stick photographs and images both past and present, along with photos of Gill's and Trance's art and sculpture work and detailed liner notes describing curious facts and trivia related to the duo and the 15 different featured songs.

      Aiming to serve in acquainting those not familiar with Gill's and Trance's somewhat off-the-beaten-path brand of musical undertakings, while also providing long overdue satisfaction for those who do know of Big Stick and have been waiting ever-so-patiently for something like this to finally spin on their turntables!

      TRACK LISTING

      SIDE A
      Drag Racing
      I Look Like Shit
      Jesus Was Born On An Indian Reservation
      Billy Jack Paddywack
      Metaphysical Speaker
      Devil?s Jukebox

      SIDE B
      Hoochie Koo Time
      Bianca Blast
      Scum Rooky's Caf'
      I Live The Good Life
      Rascal
      Calamari Co Co Butter 

      Big Stick

      Drag Racing

        Amazing! Reissue of the very first Big Stick 7" to announce the launch of their own label Drag Racing underground, Big Stick are reissuing their first single, as the 4 track 7" it came out as in 1985, remastered and recut..with repro sleeve..


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