Tag: Pernice Brothers

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Joe Pernice “A Song for You” (1986/2024)

Ashmont Records
Buy: Stream on Substack

Joe Pernice of Pernice Brothers/Scud Mountain Boys/The New Mendicants (to name a few) just published a rather sweet story about this song on his substack. Originally written and recorded in 1986 after finishing his first semester at college, Joe’s cassette copy of the song was lost and largely forgotten. Thankfully his cousin who had helped him demo the song had kept a copy for himself. When Joe’s cousin passed away, a box of cassettes brought it back from the abyss. The song was a gift to his family that he played for them that Christmas in 1986. The version that we hear now is not the original cassette demo, but Joe’s re-recording he just made, to not risk a brittle old cassette in an off-brand Walkman any more than he had to. Pretty cool that it made it back to him…

Bottom Line: It is a simple song, written from the heart as a present to his family… how much more Christmas-spirit do you need than that?

LISTEN

Head on over to Ashmont Records’ Substack. The song is embedded over there.

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The New Mendicants – A Very Sorry Christmas 7″ (2013)

Very Sorry Christmas Front Cover

XPT Records
Buy: Limited 7″ | iTunes | 7Digital MP3

Joe Pernice (Pernice Brothers/Scud Mountain Boys), Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub) and Mike Belitsky (The Sadies) have created an alt.country/power pop supergroup called The New Mendicants, and are looking to release their first full-length LP on January 28. This would be news in itself, but the fact that they also released a limited, white vinyl 7″ entitled A Very Sorry Christmas Eve is the reason why I write this post! Joe has a history of some Christmas-related songs in the past (see SMB’s “A Ride” and another that I can’t put my finger on), but nothing so explicitly so. Thank goodness it finally happened! “A Very Sorry Christmas” is a fantastic song, the perfect bummer for the humbug in your family (which would be me!). But as with any Joe Pernice project, its a bummer that sounds beautiful while sucking out your soul. As for the B-side, “A Very Sorry New Years,” is the exact same song, just adjusted for New Years Eve. Oddly hilarious to have done so.

Bottom Line: If shipping from Canada wasn’t SO EXPENSIVE, I would rate this higher. I honestly don’t know when I’ll be able to afford it. Why I am telling you about it before I have the chance to own it… I have no idea. Perhaps the world will have some cosmic justice and I’ll get a copy. 4/5

LISTEN