Photos: The New Standards put on stunning Holiday Show weekend
by Steven Cohen
December 09, 2024
The New Standards Holiday Show made seasonal music magic once again. The fun-loving trio of Chan Poling, Steve Roehm, and John Munson led an all-star revue at the State Theatre in Minneapolis on Friday, Dec. 6, and Saturday, Dec. 7.
Setlist (special guest Lucinda Williams Saturday only)
ACT I
HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
Featuring: Stephen Kung on Trumpet
Saxophone player Max Ray sits to consume a hard-boiled egg
GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN
BIG BAND, Tap dancers, KRAMPUS, RUPERT
YOU’RE A MEAN ONE, MR GRINCH (Dr. Suess/Albert Hague)
Vocals: Poling, Munson, Aby Wolf, Dave Salmela, Janey Winterbauer
AIR (The Owls)
The Owls (Maria May, Allison LaBonne, and Brian Tighe)
Featuring: Poling on piano; John Fields & Chris Koza on electric guitars
DANCE OF THE SUGAR PLUM FAIRY from The Nutcracker (Peter llyitch Tchaikovsky)
Harp duo: Phala & Larcom
Ballerina: Sophia Rasmussen
A BLESSING (Poem by James Wright)
Reader: TIM FRANTZICH
AMERICA (Simon & Garfunkel)
The New Standards with guest vocals: Janey Winterbauer & Chris Koza
Drummer Ken Chastain nailed the original Hal Blaine drums of the Simon & Garfunkel record!
TAINTED LOVE (Ed Cobb; Gloria Jones version)
Vocals: Ashley DuBose
The New Standards Big Band with three backup dancers
MALL OF AMERICA (Jeremy Messersmith)
Vocals: Jeremy Messersmith
Featuring Santa, dancing trees, mall walkers
WHITE ROOM BELLS (mash-up of Mykola Leontovych’s “Carol of the Bells” and Cream’s “White Room”)
Vocals: Dessa
The New Standards Big Band
WHERE THE SONG WILL FIND ME (Lucinda Williams/Tom Overby/Travis Stephens)
Vocals: Lucinda Williams (Saturday evening performance)
Guitar: Chris Koza
CAN'T LET GO (Randy Weeks)
Vocals: Lucinda Williams (Saturday evening performance)
Guitar: John Fields
ACT II
WHAT'S NEW, PUSSYCAT? (Burt Bacharach/Hal David; Tom Jones version)
Lead vocals: Munson
The New Standards Big Band
Bass: John Fields; accordion: Dave Salmela
LOVE (John Lennon)
Vocals: Brian Tighe
Featuring: Laurels String Quartet; piano: Poling
YES WE CAN CAN (Allen Toussaint; Pointer Sisters arrangement)
Vocals: Ashley DuBose, Aby Wolf
TOUCH OF GREY (Jerry Garcia/Robert Hunter/Grateful Dead)
Vocals: Chris Koza
SILENT NIGHT
Vocals: Aby Wolf, The New Standards Big Band
SNOW DAYS (Matt Wilson/Trip Shakespeare)
Vocals: Munson with The New Standards Big Band
Snow falls over the stage and winter begins
BEST OF MY LOVE (Maurice White/Al McKay; The Emotions version)
Disco ball drops down
Vocals: Ashley DuBose, Aby Wolf
The New Standards Big Band
Dancing Christmas trees, tap dancers
1999 (Prince)
Vocals: Aby Wolf, Poling, Munson
The New Standards Big Band with Bobby Z. on drums
Krampus intro of "Don't worry, I wont hurt u. I only want u 2 have some fun." from Prince 1999
ENCORE
CHRISTMAS TIME NEXT YEAR (Chan Poling)
The New Standards Big Band
Begins more subdued than usual, but then explodes into full showbiz finale.
