There’s a glorious town at the end of the earth…  It’s a wonderful place, but, unfortunately, they won’t let you in.

Here’s the start of it, with its doleful three-part harmonies.

“The Fussbudgets’ Ball” is a sprightly tune for viola, baritone horn, tuba, and guitar (ad lib). At its first performance, I played the baritone part an octave higher, on an alto melodica. That seemed to work too.

Every year, I do a show around the time of my birthday, January 7.  This year it took place at Jalopy Theater on January 3.  Joining me were David Gold (viola), Ralph Hamperian (tuba), and Doug Roesch (guitar).  Despite snow, unusually low temperatures, and speeches from the mayor urging all New Yorkers to stay at home, there was a nice crowd.

We played my songs and instrumental music, with a few covers:

The Star-Spangled Banner (as rewritten by Hoagy Carmichael)
Oh Dear, Oh Dear
The Fussbudgets’ Ball
Insects Have Taken Santa’s Place
Gravity
To the Lions with Them
Your Parents
In Memoriam
Don’t Talk to Me
We All Work So Hard
The Glorious Town
Laughter
My Face Is in the Sand
Viola
Mindin’ My Business (Gus Kahn & Walter Donaldson)
Volare (Domenico Modugno)
It’s Your Loss, Boss
People Like You
No More

Encores:
Buenas Noches, Little Roaches
You Better Go Now (Bickley Reichner & Robert Graham)

Videos of me reading from my translation of Alphonse Allais’s book, Captain Cap: His Adventures, His Ideas, His Drinks, have been posted here and here.  Thanks to Farewell Debut for shooting them; and to Derek Pell for posting them.  And thanks to Anthony Matt for the photo.

I wrote this for the Holiday Recording Party, which Meg Reichardt organizes every year in Brooklyn.  You can hear it over here; joining me are Doug Roesch on guitar and Ralph Hamperian on tuba.

Poor little Jim and May!  I hope your holidays are better than theirs.

Another round for the holidays.

Aleister Crowley used to great carolers by flinging open the door and roaring, “To the lions with them!” This charming holiday tradition inspired the following round.