Jingle Keys, Jingle Keys, Jingle all the Way

Saturday night was the annual Midwestern Christmas Concert held at the Thrasher Opera House in Green Lake, WI. The Thrasher Opera House is a beautiful building, built by one Charlie Thrasher back in 1910. Edifice it is not, rather a practical structure, with a good sized stage on one end and a modest balcony on the other end. On the floor between the two are plush red cushioned chairs, which have come a long way from the original wooden kitchen chairs that were part of Charlie’s decor. Above these chairs, spans a delightful tin ceiling that curves on the sides, giving the ceiling a modest arch effect. This arch helps the acoustics in the building quite a bit and it is easy to stride from the microphone and deliver a song from the edge of the stage. Cheery and intimate, it is the perfect place for us to have a Midwestern Christmas.

So what makes a Midwestern Christmas show? First it needs to have good winter weather. Last night was brisk, about 15 degrees outside, and the snow was pretty thick on the ground. One doesn’t wish to have a raging blizzard or a snow melting, grass revealing rain. It just needs to have enough cold and snow that it sets the scene for what is to happen inside. Last night also had a bright, three-quarters full moon, which was a bonus.

Next, you need good Christmas decor. In the Midwest, that means something not too over the top. Leave the shaking, singing Santas and blinking pink and purple lights for another part of the country. The Thrasher nailed it, with a Christmas tree on stage, some wreaths either side, some simple pine bunting and little candles in the window. It brings back a nostalgic air of yesterday, when things were a bit simpler and less commercial. Of course, that is today, because Midwesterners pride themselves on keeping things good and simple.

The delivery of the show has to be laid back Midwestern. Brian and I came out on stage and immediately launched into some nice Irish jigs. The first thing I heard was the soft thumping of feet on the floor, keeping perfect rhythm to the music. “Veterans”, I noted to myself. Other folks were looking around, sort of amazed at this display of impromptu audience participation. So, when we finished, I asked how many folks were seeing us for the first time. About half of the theater raised their hands. Now, one must tell Midwesterners that it is OK to relax. Especially Minnesotans as the Norwegians are the toughest ones to crack. Or else it could be a quiet, polite evening. So we told them to clap their hands when they want, make a comment when they wish, hoot, whistle, stomp feet and cheer, as after all, this is their show. And thus freed, they did. You don’t get this behavior every day. So it makes a Switchback Christmas show uniquely special.

One tradition that started in Green Lake is the famous Christmas Key Choir. Sort of like a handbell choir for those who prefer driving cars to playing handbells. We started in on Silver Bells and immediately the choir took its place, bringing out Fords, Chevy’s, Toyotas, home and business keys and shaking them in a nice soft jingle that sounded like a far away horse drawn sleigh coming through snowy woods. The Christmas Key Choir was in wonderful form that night, with a rousing solo on Santa Claus is Coming to Town and a frenetic paced Jingle Bells. Some of the folks who had fancy cars were a bit hampered by the plastic encased keys that have electric door gizmos on them. One newcomer, a young lady, mentioned that she was caught unprepared for the Christmas Key Choir. “I just had a few keys, they didn’t jingle so well,” she said, holding up a Lexus key gizmo thing. “But, I will be bringing more keys next year!” I smiled. Now, that’s a Midwesterner, getting the right number of keys so the choir isn’t let down.

Another important item is the selection of songs. In the Midwest you have to pick some good old Christmas carols as everyone knows these by heart. Young and old have no problem singing Christmas carols in the Midwest. You might have someone who is too shy to sing on any other night of the year, but start in with Away in the Manger and the inner alto or tenor comes into blossom, and strangely on key, too. And even harmony! The best Christmas Carol is Silent Night. I bet even the most ardent atheist would have felt a bit verklempt as we all sang together without any accompaniment, just the voices swelling in a reverent, beautifully balanced version:

Round young Virgin,
Mother and Child,
Holy Infant,
So tender and mild

Our folks were such great singers that Brian and I asked them to join in a Switchback Carol called The Little Stranger in the Manger. A call and answer type of song, they did fantastically well, and soon we had the place rocking like an old fashioned tent meeting. Several times during the evening, Brian and I stopped singing altogether, letting the audience sing away.

They were also wonderful with special effects. Brian introduced Hockey Games and suggested that we need appropriate ambience for the introduction. Immediately some whistling wind and lonely wolf howls filled the hall. All Brian would do was mention, “Ambience!” during the song and everyone joined right in. You can view the video by clicking here.

Speaking of animals, the other must-have for a Midwestern Christmas is the presence of one at the show, preferably a dog. Midwesterners, even the city dwelling type, are truly only a step or two from the farm. They know how vegetables are raised and that the ground beef was walking a week ago. And with this rural mind-set, a traditional winter evening gathering of hearth and fire, with a faithful friend at one’s feet, is hot-wired into the psyche; a return to the pioneering days perhaps, or at least to watching Little House on the Prairie. We were blessed by a beautiful golden retriever that accompanied his master to the show. A Seeing Eye dog, it was quiet and well behaved and laid down at the foot of the stage, napping during our numbers. It was a perfect addition to a family-style evening.

Finally, the true Midwestern tradition had to be present: A door prize. Before the show, we asked Martha from the Thrasher Opera House to pick a chair for us to tape a copy of the Turf Fire DVD under. I memorized the location...row three, seat three. Or so I thought. I was flummoxed to see that during the show that seat was empty, being used for a coat rack. So before our last number, I called out, “We have a door prize!” An excited buzz filled the Thrasher. Since I thought it was the empty chair, I told folks to look under the empty chairs. Nothing. I told them a big hint, the only empty chair in row three. Nothing. Now I was really confused. Brian then mentioned to me sotto voce that he thought it was row four, seat three. “OK,” I said, “Everyone look under your chairs!” And with that folks went diving under their seats and one happy lady came up with the prize. We autographed it for her after the show.

We shook everyone’s hands and bade everyone a Merry Christmas as they headed out into the cold night. People were already talking about next year. And some folks mentioned they had traveled from over three hours away to be part of this night, which was a real honor. The pedal steel player from the band, the Yellowhammers came all the way up with his wife from Chicago. Their friend went home with a Switchback jacket. We told them how excited we are to have the Yellowhammers play at the Haybarn Rendezvous this coming August.

Within minutes, the Opera House was deserted; the stage cleared of the guitars and packed up into the idling van. We shook Reilly the soundman’s hand, thanked Roby for letting play at the Thrasher and gave Martha and all the lady volunteers a kiss. And with that, we were off, driving down snow banked country roads with the moonlight gleaming on fields. We passed a silo that had a big Christmas star gleaming on its top. I watched it get smaller as we headed south toward home; another Christmas celebration in the heart of the heartland.

And to all, a good night.

~ Marty