If you’re from Texas, you most likely already know about legendary troubadour Robert Earl Keen.
What you may not know is that Keen and his backing band recently released an album as The Xmas-Men. Alongside the Xmas-Men (Rich Brotherton, Bill Whitbeck, Tom Van Schaik & Marty Muse), Robert Earl Keen invites his listeners to enjoy the holiday season with this twelve-track instrumental album, entitled Santa Is Real.
While the album’s title and artwork clearly parody the classic 1960 Louvin Brothers album Satan is Real, The Xmas-Men whip up a swinging instrumental trad-country take on more than a dozen holiday staples, including Keen’s twisted modern-day ode to dysfunction, “Merry Xmas From the Family.” Arrangements are consistently inspired, often surprising, and their performances are as buoyant as Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve.
You can catch The Xmas-Men on Friday, December 19th at the Moody Theater for ACL Live or you can stream them right here at KUTX!
– Jack Anderson
