Rock -- honed for the holidays
December People returns to World Theater Nov. 12 by popular demand
Christmas comes but once a year. Or, so it is said. But, if you were to stand outside of Robert Berry’s studio during the summer months, it might seem that Christmas was a year round celebration.
With the joyful sounds emanating from the December People’s rehearsal, it would seem that the winter holiday season should be observed on an ongoing basis. These songs rock.
The December People – Robert Berry, Gary Pihl, Dave Medd, Mike Vanderhule and Jack Foster – will make an encore appearance at California State University, Monterey Bay’s World Theater for two shows on Nov. 12 – at 2 p.m and 8 p.m. The group played to an enthusiastic, standing-room-only house last November. Concert-goers contributed 2,000 lbs. of canned food – for people and pets – that was donated to local food banks and animal shelters.
So, what exactly is December People? Something classic, something new, something familiar . . . but totally original.
The group is one part tribute band, one part radio sensation, one part traditional holiday music, and one part just plain fun with their hilariously sincere imagining of what familiar holiday songs might sound like if played by Santana, The Who, Led Zepplin, Sting, ZZ Top, Boston, U2, ELP, Queen and Peter Gabriel, to name a few. One critic called their first album, Sounds Like Christmas, “a Christian contemporary Spinal Tap.”
Each member brings a wealth of experience with well-known bands.
Berry, who came up with the idea for the group and is the lead vocalist and bass player, sang for the bands “3” and Ambrosia, played bass in the Sammy Hagar band was in the band GTR with Steve Howe of YES. He is the bass player for the Greg Kihn Band.
Pihl, guitar and vocals, has been a member of the band Boston since 1985, played in the Sammy Hagar Band and worked with Norman Greenbaum of Spirit and Sky.
Medd, vocals and keyboard, is keyboard player for the Tubes and has toured with Quicksilver Messenger Service and Alliance.
Vanderhule, drummer and percussionist, is the drummer for Y & T. Foster, guitar, is an accomplished singer/songwriter with three albums to his credit.
They’ve taken Christmas classics and made them accessible and enjoyable for listeners of all ages. Their contemporary take on each song sheds a whole new light on both the classic rock songs that influenced the music and timeless Christmas carol lyrics. Each song is familiar and yet brand new.
The World Theater is partnering with HIPPO FM 104.3 to help those in need again this holiday season. The performances will include a canned food drive to benefit the food banks of Monterey and San Benito counties and the Monterey County and Santa Cruz County SPCAs.
General admission seats are $29, discounts available for seniors, military, students and youth. A 30 percent discount will be given to those bringing five cans of people or pet food to the theater on the day of the performance. Tickets can be purchased by calling the World Theater box office at (831) 582-4580.
The World Theater is located on Sixth Avenue on the CSUMB campus. Driving directions and a campus map are available at csumb.edu/map.
Photo courtesy of Magna Carta Records.
Left to right: Jack Foster, Gary Pihl, Mike Vanderhule, Robert Berry, Dave Medd
100 Campus Center
