Alex Rawls

Just saw a beautifully, endearingly amateurish opening band. Not a song I can remember, never more than 5 strings in tune, and songs all moved in the same way from verse to chorus. And it was so sincere that I’m glad I saw it.

"Asalto Navideño" with Miguel Zenón, and the Ray Conniff Singers — Twelve Songs of Christmas Grammy winner Miguel Zenón drops by the Christmas music podcast to talk about the salsa Christmas classic "Asalto Navideñao," and music industry vets Jonathan McHugh and Tamara Conniff talk about thei...

Today Willie Colòn died. Glad I got a chance to have @miguelzenon.bsky.social pay tribute to him and help me appreciate "Asalte Navideño" in December for my "Twelve Songs of Christmas" podcast.

I loved them, but I don’t know if that love is memory-aided.

It was fun to go back & chew on NO's entry in the post-rock moment, Jai Alai and the reissue of their 2000 "Division" on @strangedaisy.bsky.social. It's more concise and measured than many of the post-rock bands whose reputations have endured.

Gotta eat fast food fast. It's not made for an hour later, much less the next day.

From the NYT: "Senator John Curtis, Republican of Utah, said in a statement that the ruling affirms 'despite all the noise of the moment, that the founders’ system of checks and balances remains strong nearly 250 years later.'”

Yes, after Congress abandoned its role in that system.

They’re playing Carrollton Station on Friday, Feb. 27.

The band from Simmons College in Kentucky’s tripping on Tucks throws. #WhyILoveMardiGras

For those concerned about waste during Mardi Gras, think about the fact that 3 parades collectively had more than 100 floats today. What could anyone throw in the last 50 that people hadn’t already caught 10 of?

Amy Rigby Remembers Personal, Musical Wilderness in "Girl to Country" — My Spilt Milk In her second memoir, singer/songwriter Amy Rigby remembers her Nashville years, trying to be a rock 'n' roll mom and Nashville songwriter. Things don't go as planned.

On Thurs, singer/songwriter @amyrigby.bsky.social will be at NOLA 'Nacular in New Orleans, singing & reading from her recent memoir, Girl to Country, which focuses on her Nashville years. Her storytelling and songwriting share impeccable balance. www.myspiltmilk.com/articles/amy...

On Saturday night, #LasCafeteras finished their set at #FolkAlliance by revving up and updating Dylan's "Blowing in the Wind" for 2026. Nervy, but I'm there for anyone who adds, "How many people do you have to deport / before you feel safe in your bed?"

Comic Artist Peter Bagge Goes from "Hate" to History at Fan Expo — My Spilt Milk Comic book artist Peter Bagge's work is very different from the others at Fan Expo New Orleans, as are the stories he tells. Instead of superheroes, Bagge focuses on distinctive individuals, whether s...

I’m a big fan of comic artist #PeterBagge & am glad I got a chance to talk to him about “Hate” & his historical comics before he appears this weekend at #FanExpoNewOrleans. www.myspiltmilk.com/articles/com...

Am I understanding Rubio correctly & Trump plans to passive/aggressively control Venezuela, not telling it what to do but blocking oil exports until it does the “right” thing?

excerpt from Bari Weiss' email to CBS news staff

This email from Bari Weiss couldn't sound more condescending. It's like she's never actually been in a newsroom, covered the news, or watched any TV shows or movies about newsrooms or people covering the news.

[hand sheepishly raised]

The Twelve Songs of Christmas' Christmas Mix 2025 Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from My Spilt Milk. Thanks for being a listener, a friend, or someone who helps make the show happen whether behind or on the mic. I'm proud of the podcast and to be...

Tired of Mariah, Wham!, Brenda Lee, etc.? Here's my #ChristmasMusic playlist - 100 percent listenable but definitely not overplayed. www.mixcloud.com/MySpiltMilk/... @knpknpknpknp.bsky.social @blackmarketdub.bsky.social @coleminerecords.bsky.social

The flip side: “I’m Gunna Need a Shower 4 Xmas”

My 2025 Xmas song: “Breaking a Sweat for Christmas”

Tis the season for my Twelve Songs of Christmas podcast, this week with comic artist #PeterBagge, indie pop artist #Hibou and singer/pilot/psychotherapist #JudyWhitmore, who flies the flag for old school Christmas music. #ChristmasMusic twelvesongsofchristmas.podbean.com/e/the-2025-c...

Sloan — Twelve Songs of Christmas Chris Murphy of the great Canadian indie rock band Sloan visited the Christmas music podcast to talk about their new album, "Based on a Best Seller," and their Christmas music. We learn how Perry Como...

Tis the season for conversations about #xmasmusic. Chris from #Sloan on how a band grows up, becoming a cult band, and their Christmas music. www.twelvesongsofchristmas.com/content/sloan

Steve Lukather's "Santamental" (an encore presentation) — Twelve Songs of Christmas In an encore presentation from 2021, guitarist Steve Lukather visits the Christmas music podcast to talk about his Christmas album, "Santamental," and his experiences with Ringo Starr, Alex Van Halen,...

Tis the season. Fans of #YachtRock will want to hear guitar hero #SteveLukather on Eddie Van Halen, Sammy Davis Jr, Ringo and #ChristmasMusic when we talk about his 2003 album "Santamental." Here or wherever your get yr podcasts. www.twelvesongsofchristmas.com/content/stev...

Roland Gift, Old Crow Medicine Show, and The Klezmatics — Twelve Songs of Christmas Fine Young Cannibals' Roland Gift, Old Crow Medicine Show's Ketch and Morgan, and The Klezmatics' Lorin Sklamberg visit the Christmas music podcast to talk about their new music for the holidays.

Tis the season for more talk about #ChristmasMusic. This week, Roland Gift, Americana lifers #OldCrowMedicineShow and Lorin from #TheKlezmatics visit the pod to talk about their new holiday music. www.twelvesongsofchristmas.com/content/rola...

"Do They Know it's Christmas" at 40 with Midge Ure — Twelve Songs of Christmas Midge Ure of The Rich Kids, Ultravox and Visage visits the Christmas music podcast to talk about his new "Live at the Royal Albert Hall 04.10.23," touring, the Blitz scene, and "Do They Know it's Chri...

Tis the season for more conversations about #ChristmasMusic. Last season I talked to #MidgeUre about "Do They Know it's Christmas" 40 years later. www.twelvesongsofchristmas.com/content/do-t...

William Shatner, Jane Monheit, and Kelly Finnigan — Twelve Songs of Christmas As the Christmas season sets in, jazz vocalist Jane Monheit, soul singer Kelly Finnigan, and actor William Shatner visit the Christmas music podcast, which also features new music by indie artists Sar...

Tis the season for conversations about #ChristmasMusic. This week on "Twelve Songs of Christmas," I talk to #WilliamShatner, #JaneMonheit and retro soul singer #KellyFinnigan. Three fun, very different conversations!
@janemonheit.bsky.social @janemonheitfans.bsky.social

I want “narco-terrorists” to wrap my Xmas gifts for shipping. They were so blown up that Hegseth thought there was nothing to see, but the “drugs” were so watertight, flame resistant and bombproof that Cotton saw the survivors gathering them up.

I love that the #DriveByTruckers & #JasonIsbell used their time on Colbert to play “Hell No I Ain’t Happy.” It needs to said every day of this presidency, ideally fueled by 3 electric guitars every time.

Kristian Noel Pedersen — Twelve Songs of Christmas Canada's Kristian Noel Pedersen has made a career of Christmas music. He stopped by the Christmas music podcast to talk about how it went from a joke to a productive career.

Tis the season for a conversation about #ChristmasMusic with Kristian Noel Pedersen, one of the OGs of Xmas indie rock. @knpknpknpknp.bsky.social www.twelvesongsofchristmas.com/content/kris...

Dub Reggae for Christmas with Black Market Dub — Twelve Songs of Christmas Nate and Brandon of Black Market Dub talk about their introduction to dub, their their dub remixes of classic rock, and their Christmas album "A Black Market Christmas."

Tis the season for my conversation w #BlackMarketDub on dub #ChristmasMusic on their “Black Market Christmas.” www.twelvesongsofchristmas.com/content/dub-...

This would have prompted the spittake of all spittakes.

A good start to the #ChristmasMusic season: the 1st 2 songs I hear in a Paris Baguette are Amanda Shires’ “Real Tree for Christmas” and Connie Francis’ “Baby’s First Christmas.”