What do you want for Christmas? Personally, I’d like peace on Earth, for my student loans to be paid off, and a Whips reunion. But since those are kind of big asks, I’d settle for some gift cards, a pair of socks, and some more holiday songs from two former members of Whips. Well, in terms of that last thing, Christmas came early for me this year.
Last week, Tyler Chicorel—a musician you might know from this work in Call Me Lightning, Space Raft, and Whips—once again joined forces with Ashley Smith of Whips and Red Knife Lottery notoriety to give listeners the gift of more holiday originals. You might recall the pair partnered up in late 2021 to release a seasonal single called “Give It All Away,” which itself was the follow-up to Chicorel’s pandemic-era yuletide tune called “Christmas At Home.”
This year’s release—entitled T&A Stocking Stuffers Vol. 1—picks up right where the duo’s previous holiday earworm left off. The EP features three tracks, starting with the sweet and sing-alongable “Christmas Lites” and followed by the rousing Smith-led “Bad Habit.” Finally, a cover of “Christmas Vacation” (which isn’t available on Bandcamp, but can be heard on Spotify) puts a beautiful bow on this unexpected gift we’re happy to receive after a two-year absence.
The two originals on T&A Stocking Stuffers are currently available for digital download on Bandcamp for just $1. If you’re looking to add some local flare to your holiday playlist, you know what to do.