THE PLAYLIST: DENTON TXMAS HOLIDAY EDITION

GLEN FARRIS AND SHAUN TREAT

TThe fine folks over at the Denton Record-Chronicle published a mighty fine “Denton Christmas Playlist” last weekend, which got our collective gears a’turning. To us, their 5 songs seemed like a good start to throwing together a longer selection of locally-sourced holiday cheer. So our gift to y’all this year is the following WDDI Denton TXmas Awesome Holiday Mixtape (vol. 7), our extended representative sampling in no particular order.

BOWLING FOR SOUP – “FATHER CHRISTMAS”

These Witchita Falls rockers honed their sound in Denton pubs, and this take is a fun way to kick things up a notch for your Holiday party.

NORAH JONES & WILLIE NELSON – “BABY ITS COLD OUTSIDE”

Both of these music legends have their roots in the Denton scene, and their take on a notoriously slightly creepy tune is actually a welcome breath of fresh air.

BAPTIST GENERALS – “ALCOHOL”

Okay, not a Christmas song proper, but definitely speaks to a major (some would say essential) ingredient in a lot of holiday celebrations. We stand by our selection.

ROY ORBISON – “PRETTY PAPER”

Few can belt out a soulfully lovelorn ballad like The O, an old-timey tune that deserves far more holiday play than it gets.

PAT BOONE – “WHITE CHRISTMAS”

It just doesn’t come any whiter or more Christmassy than this NTSU alum. Trust us, your momma will applaud this pick.

POLYPHONIC SPREE – “HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER)”

These choral dynamos deliver a pitch-perfect cover of the haunting John Lennon classic.

CENTRO-MATIC – “FUSELAGE (ITS STARTING TO LOOK LIKE CHRISTMAS ONCE AGAIN)”

This Denton indy legend mixes growling pop beats with abstracted instrumentals, a toe-tapping homage to the more angsty aspects of the holidays.

EAGLES – PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

A Christmas mix without Don Henley and The Eagles? Blasphemy.

FISHBOY – “A SURPRISE RETURN”

Who else but our own beloved Fishboy could deliver a song about a zombie Christmas Tree returning for a hangout? That’s right, no one. You’re welcome.

SNARKY PUPPY – “THING OF GOLD”

Familiar holiday beats filtered through an acid jazz jam session? Yes, please.

NEW SCIENCE PROJECTS – “XMAS CALL”

One of our favorite punk blues tributes to another less-discussed holiday tradition, the drunken phone call to an Ex.

SLOBBERBONE – “GIVE ME BACK MY DOG”

The opposite of gift giving is demanding your dang pooch back, which is why we are totally counting this track on our holiday mixtape. I mean, Stephen King name-dropped this as one of his picks for the greatest rock-and-roll song of all time, so you can argue with him in the comments.

SARAH JAFFE – “CLEMENTINE”

Little known fact, Clementine is actually the name of Mrs. Claus before she… Okay, nah, just kidding. Because Glen appears in the hauntingly beautiful video for this amazing tune, we here at WDDI will always include it on every songlist ever. Always. It’s a thing, just roll with it.
 

If you want to sample and savor these songs along with plenty more local selections, then click on over to this WDDI MT007 playlist, or this epic YouTube mixtape variation by Shaun Treat. We went ahead and included the video for Centro-matic's "Fuselage" below because how can anyone resist all those stills from A Christmas Vacation? 

As always, we love to hear your hot take in the comments in case we missed one of your favorites.

Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, and Happy Holidays from the gang here at We Denton Do It.

WHAT WE DID: DECEMBER 16TH

The ice cleared, the roads are safe, the tree got lit, we all got some Santa-selfies and the wassail is all gone. It's like the freeze and the holiday season just crammed everything all together into one weekend. Now, it's time for us to get our last-minute gifts from our gift guide and drink as many peppermint mochas and mulled wine as we can before the new year gets here and we have to get back to our "healthy routines."

Don't forget to tag your pics with #WDDI while you're hustling and bustling the rest of the holiday season to make sure your pics wind up right here in our weekend round up! 

We seriously over-wassailed on Friday. We're still feeling the come down. La Di Da, Recycled and The DIME Store had some of our favorite wassail. Who did you vote for? 

We seriously over-wassailed on Friday. We're still feeling the come down. La Di Da, Recycled and The DIME Store had some of our favorite wassail. Who did you vote for? 

Some of the wassail stops had code words for alcoholic wassail. Walking up to people and saying code words immediately become our new favorite thing. 

Some of the wassail stops had code words for alcoholic wassail. Walking up to people and saying code words immediately become our new favorite thing. 

We got in pretty close with Santa. Close enough to smell that his hot cocoa was definitely not 100% cocoa. 

We got in pretty close with Santa. Close enough to smell that his hot cocoa was definitely not 100% cocoa. 

By the looks of it, these ladies spiked their wassail. Photo by @TheFinderandtheFarmer. 

By the looks of it, these ladies spiked their wassail. Photo by @TheFinderandtheFarmer. 

The evening was still slightly wet and misty. There was even some ice on the ground still. We won't lie - we even slipped once in front of a crowd. Photo by Jazmine Lopez. 

The evening was still slightly wet and misty. There was even some ice on the ground still. We won't lie - we even slipped once in front of a crowd. Photo by Jazmine Lopez. 

Some wassail stops had other goods they were giving away, too. 

Some wassail stops had other goods they were giving away, too. 

Jeff Amano of Serendipity On the Square passed out some of our favorite "leaded" wassail Friday evening. 

Jeff Amano of Serendipity On the Square passed out some of our favorite "leaded" wassail Friday evening. 

Photo by Kristin Scott. 

Photo by Kristin Scott. 

We hit up the Spune Christmas Show at Dan's, and enjoyed the local tunes and tacos all night long. 

We hit up the Spune Christmas Show at Dan's, and enjoyed the local tunes and tacos all night long. 

We prepped for the event the best way we know how. 

We prepped for the event the best way we know how. 

Photo by Veronica_n_Denton. 

Photo by Veronica_n_Denton. 

Many businesses have put up some decorations for the holidays. Jupiter House has some of our favorite local holiday decor. Shain Sheaff agrees. 

Many businesses have put up some decorations for the holidays. Jupiter House has some of our favorite local holiday decor. Shain Sheaff agrees. 

Shift had their first art show this weekend. Can't wait for their next one. Here's barista Aaron, brewing four cups at once. Photo by Nick Stevens. 

Shift had their first art show this weekend. Can't wait for their next one. Here's barista Aaron, brewing four cups at once. Photo by Nick Stevens. 

Post ice storm, many schools were closed until Wednesday or Thursday, but that didn't keep Dentonites from getting out and about when the sun came out. Here's a lovely photo of the courthouse by Raechel Haley. 

Post ice storm, many schools were closed until Wednesday or Thursday, but that didn't keep Dentonites from getting out and about when the sun came out. Here's a lovely photo of the courthouse by Raechel Haley. 

When there was ice, we saw some very ingenuitive sleds. Photo by @cookiemomster. 

When there was ice, we saw some very ingenuitive sleds. Photo by @cookiemomster. 

Leaf art. Photo by @drcruz32. 

Leaf art. Photo by @drcruz32. 

Jade Wintersee and her friend holed up in a construction sight to watch the ice storm roll in. 

Jade Wintersee and her friend holed up in a construction sight to watch the ice storm roll in. 

The City of Denton even got to throwing #WDDI on their photos this weekend. Here's  alovely shot of the square before Friday's activities. 

The City of Denton even got to throwing #WDDI on their photos this weekend. Here's  alovely shot of the square before Friday's activities. 

Rabbit Hole Brewing celebrated their 561 brew at Oak St. Drafthouse. Reader Todd Spigener was there. 

Rabbit Hole Brewing celebrated their 561 brew at Oak St. Drafthouse. Reader Todd Spigener was there. 

Nathan Williams of Sunday Print Shop was giving away some cool printing goods this past Sunday. 

Nathan Williams of Sunday Print Shop was giving away some cool printing goods this past Sunday. 

Andrew W.K. ended up rocking Hailey's pretty hard on Tuesday after he had to reschedule due to last week's ice storm. Photo by Deborah Nepal. 

Andrew W.K. ended up rocking Hailey's pretty hard on Tuesday after he had to reschedule due to last week's ice storm. Photo by Deborah Nepal. 

Our haul of local goods was wrapped up nicely to share with friends and family. 

Our haul of local goods was wrapped up nicely to share with friends and family. 

BACK IN THE DAY: KRAMPUSTAG IN DENTON

The Old World origins of the “Good Cop, Bad Cop” routine, courtesy of the Klaus and Krampus Traveling Yuletide Horror Show.

The Old World origins of the “Good Cop, Bad Cop” routine, courtesy of the Klaus and Krampus Traveling Yuletide Horror Show.

Denton is well known as a unique hangout with more than it’s fair share of eccentric local characters, but we wonder how many folks know that once a year we have a bonafide yuletide monster mysteriously walking our downtown Square? Pull up a chair, kids, and I’ll explain why Krampus the Christmas Demon is the real reason you better watch out and better not cry this holiday season! 

Seeing these characters prowling the Denton Square may make you rethink Christmas.

Seeing these characters prowling the Denton Square may make you rethink Christmas.

We weren't sure whether to laugh out loud or run for cover last December 5th when we first encountered the Denton Krampus on the downtown square, as the towering monstrosity was handing out toys to kids in a bit of uncharacteristic generosity. Krampus in 17th century European folklore was the sinister doppelgänger to the kindly Saint Nicholas that we Americans have come to know as Santa Claus. In a dark twist straight out of a Brother’s Grimm tale, St. Nick rewarded the good children with gift-giving around the Winter Solstice, the naughtiness of ill-behaved youngsters was viciously punished by the Krampus, a cloven-hooved Devil in chains with a long lash-like tongue who beat brats with switches before stuffing them in a basket for a late-night snack after his rounds. Krampusnacht, or sometimes Krampustag, was the day of judgment that fell on the eve of December 6th Saint Nicholas Day and used to strike terror into every unruly street urchin. It’s not too surprising that our American version of a jolly old elf slow-sippin’ a Coke doesn’t include his nightmare-inducing Demon companion, but you gotta hand it to the Old World traditions for their sheer inventiveness in creating perfectly legit reasons for kids to wet the bed. Threats from parents that you’ll get a lump of coal from Santa in your stocking truly pales in comparison to the Krampus going medieval on you for bad behavior!   

“Greetings from Krampus!” We can guess what Child Protective Services today would make of old Germanic child-rearing techniques and the years of therapy caused by Krampustag. 

“Greetings from Krampus!” We can guess what Child Protective Services today would make of old Germanic child-rearing techniques and the years of therapy caused by Krampustag. 

But this whole Krampustag thing gets even nuttier because a visit from Krampus was no idle threat! A lot of Texans today take their kids to the mall for a picture postcard with some rummy dressed as ole Santa to hang on the fridge, but back in the day people straight-up rolled from house to house dressed as St. Nick and his Krampus cohort! While the Christmas Devil was largely exorcised from American holidays, the tradition of Krampusnacht has enjoyed a resurgence in parts of Europe and the Netherlands where drunken mobs of costumed Krampus (Krampii??) roam the nighttime streets during Winter festivals. Just take a look at some of the mid-1800s European postcards, which range from the bizarrely surreal to the suggestively lascivious, and you may have an entirely new perspective on the reason for the season. There’s a lot about the Krampus that reminds me of our Denton Goatman’s Bridge legend, so maybe he ain’t so foreign after all. You also gotta wonder how much of this mythos was lifted by Christian Protestantism for use in the Sunday morning pulpit, since The Devil has clearly taken a few fashion cues from Krampus but, instead of facing eventual judgment in the afterlife from Old Scratch Lucifer, your reckoning came as a horrifying annual evaluation every December 5th.

The Denton Square Krampus is a decidedly fun mix of the old and the new, handing out toys and candy to the kiddies rather than beatings and night-terrors. We gotta admit, it was a giggle-inducing hoot to watch smiling parents trying to coax rightfully-skeptical little ones into approaching this towering monster for free goodies. Yet another reason to not trust adults, kiddos, Henry Rollins ain’t wrong. We were never able to ascertain the identity of the mysterious benefactors behind last year’s Krampustag mystery performance (be sure to drop us a line if you have an inside scoop), but we sure do hope this bit of Old World tradition from back in the day continues.  So keep up the frighteningly awesome work Denton Krampus, whoever you are, and we’ll remind the youngsters why they better watch out and best not cry… ‘Cuz Santa Claus ain’t the only one who’s comin’ to town. 

Shaun Treat is a former professor at the University of North Texas and founder of the Denton Haunts historical ghost tour. Doc has written about numerous local places and personalities at his Denton Haunts blog, and is forever indebted to the great work of our local keepers of history like Mike Cochran and Laura Douglas at the Emily Fowler Library for their tireless work in helping preserve Denton’s intriguing past. Be sure to check out our local museums curated by the fine folks at the Denton County Office of History & Culture, and follow @Dentonaut on Twitter for local happenings.

More info on Denton's Krampus can be found here.