Big Stick Sauced Up Santa

Big Stick's recordings resonate among a wide cross section of so-called "alternative," rock, pop, punk and industrial music enthusiasts—their new Christmas release proves it's still difficult to pigeonhole or categorize Big Stick down to one particular genre of the various music scenes.


Big Stick's John Gill says, "I honestly never thought I'd write a Christmas song, but I felt compelled to share the story of what happened to me at the age of five. There was even a photograph taken (featured on the record cover) to prove the slightly humorous, though somewhat heart warming childhood story, of the day when my folks took me to the local shopping mall and I wound up sitting on what was a visibly 'Sauced Up Santa's' lap." Hence, the title track "Sauced Up Santa" that's featured in both regular and extended versions on this, Big Stick's first ever Christmas-themed EP release. Gill adds, "When the photo of me sitting on an extremely inebriated shopping mall Santa's lap surfaced in my family photo album many years later in my life, I simply had to write a song about it. I activated my memory banks to recall that distant December day of my childhood and put it into song." The song isn't a derogatory diss of the intoxicated Santa, rather, it's more of a song expressing grace, forgiveness and humility, highlighting the fact that despite Santa being “sauced up,” he was still as friendly and jovial as his alcohol-affected faculties would permit. Gill explains, "It's not meant to be a judgmental song, it's more of a heartfelt, sentimental Christmas song, telling of a time when I recall the innocent joy of that day, the warmth of my family, the loving congeniality and a feeling of harmony and peace.” Big Stick's Yanna Trance and John Gill agreed that since the song is reminiscent of a childhood memory, it would only be fitting to add a touch of aural authenticity by assembling a choir of children to perform on the song's choruses. Yanna is credited with conducting and coaching the children's choir.