Peter Lamb and the Wolves know a great deal about community love and support. Their last two albums have been completely crowd-funded through Kickstarter. And although Peter Lamb says it doesn't alter the way they make music, he'll tell you it definitely turns up the heat.
“It changes the way I view our fans. Our level of appreciation is way higher," Peter Lamb told The State of Things Host Frank Stasio. “If you don’t make the money, you don’t get any of it. We made it thank goodness, and then you have to produce something. And that is the stressful part: what if stinks? What if you do a bad job?"
But their fans are looking pretty satisfied. Peter Lamb and the Wolves make sophisticated arrangements of jazz, swing and blues from the roaring twenties to today.
Their holiday album recommendations are as varied and diverse as their own musical range:
"Have you ever heard this?" Bandmember Mark Wells asks. "Did you know he even had a Christmas album? It's: wow."
The album is a collection of songs from other musicians and it came out several years ago. John Waters currently is touring with a one-man Christmas show. Here's an excerpt of the Boston Globe review:
You might think the auteur behind “Hairspray” and “Pink Flamingos” has some bizarre reason behind his Christmas fetish. He doesn’t. “I had a pretty functional upbringing,” he said. “But ever since the Christmas tree fell over on my grandmother I’ve loved Christmas. It happens a lot, trees falling over, and there are dire consequences. I think at the height of opening presents everyone should pick a number and the Christmas tree should fall on someone. Cut the wire and let it fall, it would avoid a lot of unexpected problems to get that out of the way.” (Full review here.)
2. Harry The Hipster Digs Christmas
Harry 'The Hipster' Gibson was a jazz pianist in the 20's and 30's. He was known for his way with the keyboard, and his vigorous singing style. The 1976 album featured two contrasting tracks: 'Twas The Night Before Christmas Boogie" and "Twas The Night After Christmas Boogie."
3. Merry Christmas, The Supremes
Mark Wells says: "I listened to this two or three times yesterday. Everybody sounds amazing on this record. Motown just did it to the max."
Bandleader Peter Lamb did not hesitate when asked for his recommendation. Christmas and Ray Charles just go together. "I listened to Ray Charles Christmas like 4 times yesterday," Lamb says.
Peter Lamb ant the Wolves are a Raleigh-based band and they will be performing New Year's Eve party at the Casbah in Durham.
