For 20 years now, Bristol-born singer-songwriter Don McCloskey has ended the year with a big blowout concert that’s come to be known as the Holiday Office Party. Setting up shop in venues like The Tin Angel, Johnny Brenda’s, and most recently Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia, the show is a festive finale to the year, and for 2024, McCloskey joined forces with WXPN’s own December tradition: the Home For The Holidays concert.
Recorded live on Sunday, December 8th, and debuted on the radio on Tuesday, December 17th, McCloskey’s show mixed holiday favorites with originals from his albums The Chaos and The Beauty and Corporal Spirits, plus mashups like you wouldn’t believe. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” with David Bowie’s “Space Oddity”? Run D.M.C.’s “Chritsmas in Hollis” with The Beatles’ “I Am The Walrus”? And don’t get us started on the “Gloria” medley, or the delightfully unhinged “12 Days” singalong.
Joining McCloskey are The Band — Ross Bellenoit on lead guitar, Sarah Biemuller and Hannah Taylor on vocals, Adam Flicker on keys, Shawn Hennessey on percussion, Matt Scarano on drums, Tom Spiker on bass, Jon Thompson on sax, Joe Anderson on trumpet, and Randy Kapralick on trombone — along with crew members Sean Svadlenak on sound and Chuck Reece on lights, and special guest Paul “Jelloman” Vile.
Watch the full concert in the YouTube player above, check out a gallery of photos from the show down below. And listen for selections from Don McCloskey and The Band’s performance at WXPN Home For the Holidays on the airwaves as we make our way through the holiday season.