Christmas is coming, and the Queens of Christmas are returning to Northampton for their annual Sing-Along Spectacular.
The Queens of Christmas – that’s Emily Miller and Zara Bode – are known at other times of year as The Sweetback Sisters.
“Technically speaking, The Sweetback Sisters come from Brooklyn,” the duo’s website reads. “But philosophically, they hail from a parallel universe, one where country music history zigged instead of zagged.”
The Sweetback Sisters modernize classic country music and blend golden age harmonies with instrumental support from guitarist Ryan Hommel, fiddler Ben Sanders, bassist Jason Sypher, and drummer Stefan Amidon. Under the Signature Sounds label, The Sweetback Sisters released their first EP, “Bang!” in 2007 and their most recent album, “King of Killing Time,” in 2017.
The Country Christmas Sing-Along Spectacular will be held at the Academy of Music on Dec. 21 at 7 p.m.; doors open at 6:30. Tickets, which range in price from $25 to $30, can be purchased on the Academy of Music website.
Zara Bode sat down with The Republican for a phone interview prior to the Academy of Music concert.
Q. To start off, this is the 15th annual Country Christmas Singalong Spectacular, wow! Can you talk about what the past 15 years have been like, and do you do anything to “shake things up” each year?
A. Not only are there so many songs to choose from in the American Songbook of Christmas songs. (laughs) But people give us requests, and then we also do our own research and find our own weird little B-side Christmas songs and try and throw some of those in, just to expose people to Christmas songs they’ve never heard before.
Q. The concert must be special to you both to do it year after year. What makes the concert so special for you?
A. Well, I will say that originally, we did it kind of for ourselves. Emily and I really wanted an opportunity to perform Christmas songs and we noticed that a lot of people weren’t doing holiday-oriented shows. Also, she and I (as well as the band and others) have grown up in these folk singing communities. Caroling is such a huge part of singing culture and to be able to share that and sing along with people is really, really fun, and actually it’s where The Sweetback Sisters got their start, just harmony singing together in an informal kind of way.
Q. Since it is a singalong, are there classic songs that audiences can expect? Can you share a little bit about what the show will include?
A. The only way you’re going to get through a whole concert of Christmas music is some ones that people recognize. I can’t say what’s in our repertoire this year, but in the past there’s always been “Silent Night” or “Jingle Bells” or “Sleigh Ride.” There’s definitely plenty of songs that people will recognize (and) it might be your first opportunity to sing all of the words to “Sleigh Ride” or something like that.
Q. Is there original music mixed in with this concert as well?
A. We usually throw in a few originals, but for the most part, they’re already well-known covers.
Q. What is your favorite Christmas song?
A. Whoaaa. (laughs)
Q. I know, it’s a loaded question for sure!
A. Yeah, it really depends on the day or the hour. “Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire” – that’s actually called “The Christmas Song” – but I’m also a fan of cheesy ones like “Dominick the Donkey,” that’s a good one. Everything from the Johnny Mathis “Winter Wonderland” album is definitely on my top 10, for sure.
Q. I know it’s a very generic question, but do you have any special Christmas memories? What does Christmas mean to you?
A. I will say being able to close the tour every year at the Academy (of Music) continues to be the highlight of my year. Musical highlights of my year are being able to sing in a hometown big theater hall and it just brings me so much joy.
Q. How do you and Emily mix The Sweetback Sisters’ country sound with Christmas music?
A. The fact that we are a country band is always surprising to people, because we tend to break out all of these other influences of jazz and rock ‘n’ roll and old-time music and traditional music. The truth is, it might just be instrumentation – the fact that you’re going to see an upright base and fiddles and harmony singing. A lot of the music that we listen to is inspired by country music. All of those folks – the Golden Era songwriters – were writing for Hank Williams, for Patsy Cline, for Judy Garland. All of these people were the stars of the time, and they were all getting songs that were written by the same folks. And so, it’s surprising how much blend there is to all these classic songs. For me, it personally doesn’t matter if it’s a country song or jazz song, I’m still gonna’ sing it and people are hopefully still going to like it.
Q. Who, or what, are some of your musical influences?
A. Because I was a theater kid, I definitely go for the more big band and showy pieces. The ones I mentioned – like “Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire” or “Sleigh Ride” – the ones that have all of these big orchestrations have always been an inspiration to me from doing theater, but also now getting to continue onto big band music and creating big arrangements. People don’t realize how hard Christmas songs are – they’re actually very ornate, so many chords, super complex stuff and not always the most straight-forward choruses and verses. It’s actually a really fun challenge to me.
Q. Can you tell me about how you and Emily work together and what that creative process is like?
A. It’s always been so wonderful to lead a band together. I will say, I started the band because I didn’t always want to be the leading lady. It’s nice to share the spotlight, so-to-speak, and also to just have a fantastic (partner) for harmony and creating and all of that. From the business perspective, it’s amazing to have someone to share big decisions with, or you just get to play to each other’s strengths. Right now, I’m doing this interview because Emily is busy moving before we go on tour so – (laughs) We cover each other’s butts when it’s needed, year after year.
Q. You mentioned how closing the tour at the Academy of Music is a source of joy. Can you talk more about your connection to the Academy and Northampton?
A. Sure. I moved to Northampton around 9 or 10 and I grew up going to the Academy as a kid and seeing performances there throughout my schooling. When I finally got the opportunity to have my name on the marquee, I was just like, hell yeah. Also because my grandma’s name is on one of the chairs in the hall (at the Academy). Back in the day, Mirage Studios that did things with the Ninja Turtles helped support the Academy through one of their fundraisers, and so we got to put my grandma’s name on one of the chairs way back when. It always makes me happy to go visit her chair.
To stay up to date with The Sweetback Sisters, visit their website at thesweetbacksisters.com.
