The Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun

Welcome December and your solstice driven traditions which serve to brighten the gloom of late afternoons. Celebrations like Saturnalia have not changed much through the ages. The fields are empty, the harvest is in, and it's time to convert those fermenting fruits into festive party drinks.

We are copying the Romans when we bring evergreen things in the house. The Vikings also admired the conifer and decorated them in order to encourage their spirits through the darkest days. Mistletoe was revered by the Druids and seen as a sign of life and peace in the bare branches of winter forests. It even grows here in DC so keep an eye out for it when walking through the woods.

Those were the days, my friend, when sun worship was not associated with Florida or Coppertone. People fought darkness and depression with parties, gift exchanges and Yule logs. And light-lots of light- which is a lot easier to produce since Mr Edison came along.

At one time or another Saturnalia, Sol Invictus and the sun god Mithras's birthday were all associated with December 25th until Christians misdirected the date to mark the birth of Christ. The tradition of gift giving was then assigned to the Magi, and eventually devolved into an excuse to buy pajamas for the cat.

May I suggest slightly saner, local alternatives ?

Farmers markets are full of ideas as is the DC Holiday market which has live music through December 23. If you prefer to shop from bed, don't forget local authors like Mark Opsasnick. His new book Rock the Potomac "provides a comprehensive history of popular music in the Washington, D.C. area..."  (And believe me, anything Mark writes is comprehensive with a capital "C.")

Another great choice comes from former WHFS deejay, Cerphe Colwell. His "musical memoir" Cerphe's Up includes interviews and stories of cosmic connections made with Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, Frank Zappa, Little Feat and many more.

Finally take your friends and family out and make sure those starving musicians get something to eat while we await the solstice which is December 21st at 11:19 pm in the District of Columbia.

DECEMBER

5

A Shrewdness of Apes/ Color School/ Noe  @ 7Drum City

Thrillbillys @ JV

6

Bob Band @ New Deal

Atomic Mosquitos/ Killers From Space @ Hill Country 

The Super Chargers @ Velvet Lounge

Eastern Standard Tine @ Union Stage

7


The Delarcos/ Apollo 66/etc @ Sliver Spring Legion

District Boat Parade @ The Wharf

Rock A Sonics @ Glen Echo

The Super Chargers/ One Way Out @ Velvet Lounge

8

The Nighthawks @ New Deal

11

 Swingin London Tribute @ Gypsy Sally's

12

RTT @ Takoma VFW

13

Valentine Slim @ Wheaton Legion

15

Bill Kirchen @ Birchmere

19

Thrillbillys @ JV

Flower Ave @ Takoma VFW

21

The Yachtsmen @ Dive Bar

Valentine Slim @ Takoma VFW

Solstice!!!

22

Daryl Davis w/ Patsy Stephens and the Hall Bros @ JV

23

EU and Sugar Bear @ Haydees

Caustic Casanova/Eat the Cake /Queen Wolf @ Pie Shop

25

Jimi Smooth @ JV

26

Dave Chappell Band @ JV

Thrillbillys @ Takoma VFW

27

Tommy Lepsom @ JV

28

Punk the Capital screening @ Black Cat

29

Nighthawks @ JV ( 4:30 pm)

31

Sugar Bear and EU @ Bethesda Blues

Oh He Dead @ Pearl Street

King Soul @ Clyde's Chevy Chase

First Night Alexandria w Grandsons and more...