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Album Promo Trailer


"Christmas, Bring Us" Music Video

Under The Influence of Christmas

2023 JEM Records (CD/LP/Download)

Available in the Online Store
(Click on formats below to purchase)

Standard Edition CD / Vinyl / Download

Deluxe Edition Gift Stocking CD / Vinyl / Download

Just in time to usher in the Holidays! The Grip Weeds Under The Influence of Christmas is reissued by JEM Records and available on limited edition Icy Blue Vinyl, CD and digital formats. Turn on and get Under The Influence of Christmas with The Grip Weeds!

Featuring Special Guests:
Mark Lindsay (former lead singer of Paul Revere & The Raiders)
and members of The Smithereens
The Left Banke
The Anderson Council
and more

Online Store Exclusive! The Deluxe Edition Gift Stocking CD and LP includes the album plus a Download Card with high resolution 24bit/96kHz audio of album including five bonus tracks, Autographed & Personalized Holiday Card, Grip Weeds Logo Shot Glass, Grip Weeds Logo Can Cozy, juicy flavored colorful Rolling Paper, a Kaleidoscope and other toys. The download version of the Deluxe Edition Gift Stocking includes the album and five bonus tracks, along with a pdf booklet.

The reissue has 11 remastered tracks, plus a mixture of rock Christmas standards and originals that capture the mood of the season but can be enjoyed all year long. Producer Kurt Reil, who also is the band’s singer and drummer, remastered the album and remixed three of its tracks for this reissue.

“Good holiday music puts the listener in that warm happy holiday mood,” said Kurt. “With this album, we’ve managed to drag that joyful holiday feeling through the prisms of psychedelic and garage rock. You won’t know whether to stand under the mistletoe or stare at it for hours.”

Under The Influence of Christmas was originally released in 2011 to rave reviews and has since become a perennial Holiday classic. It garnered TWO “Coolest Songs in The World” on Little Steven’s Underground Garage (SiriusXM CH. 21): “Christmas, Bring Us” and “Christmas Dream” which are featured annually on the station, among many other outlets. Another favorite is an unforgettable spine-tingling rendition of The Pretenders' “2000 Miles” featuring vocals by the late great Pat DiNizio, of fellow New Jersey music veterans The Smithereens. Smithereens guitarist Jim Babjak adds muscle to the track with his inimitable power chords. Reil remixed this nugget to perfection.

The Grip Weeds own and operate The House of Vibes Studio in Highland Park, New Jersey, and have worked with many name acts such as the aforementioned The Smithereens, Paul Revere alum Mark Lindsay, Ladysmyth Black Mambazo and others. The studio is also host to many JEM Records artists like The Anderson Council, who also feature on Under The Influence of Christmas with a stomping rendition of “Welcome Christmas” from How The Grinch Stole Christmas.

“A perk of operating a professional recording studio is that we get to become friends with artists we admire,” Reil said. “We worked to make Under The Influence of Christmas special, and so we called on friends old and new to contribute.”

Along with the usual mix of swagger and perfection offered by The Grip Weeds, Under The Influence of Christmas features guest performances from Mark Lindsay (former lead singer of Paul Revere & The Raiders), and members of The Smithereens, The Left Banke, The Anderson Council, The Doughboys and more.

The Grip Weeds’ Under The Influence of Christmas is the anti-humbug for the discerning music fan who’s looking for a hit of lysergic eggnog this holiday season– drink up and spin!

SOME PRESS

"Your Mojo-reading Uncle's perfect gift, sorted." - The London Sunday Times

“Worth a punt if you're looking for an alternative to yet another novelty reading of Sleigh Bells." - The Guardian (UK)

(more press)

Track Listing (click for preview)
1. Christmas Dream
2. Santa Make Me Good
3. 2000 Miles
4. A Christmas Song
5. God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman
6. Merry Christmas All
7. I Believe in Father Christmas
8. For The Holidays
9. Christmas, Bring Us
10. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
11. Welcome Christmas

Deluxe Edition Gift Stocking Track Listing
1. Christmas, Bring Us (Live Acoustic)
2. 2000 Miles (Original Mix)
3. Hark The Herald Angels Sing (Acappella Mix)
4. Santa Make Me Good (Original Mix)
5. For The Holidays (Alternate Mix)