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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2018

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REVEREND HORTON HEAT presented by

DELIVERS OLD CLASSICS WITH A NEW TWIST

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Ed Condran for Triangle Today The Reverend Horton Heat is adept at multi-tasking. Heat, whose real name is Jim Heath, is on tour with his longtime band, also known as the Reverend Horton Heat. They’re showcasing tracks from the act’s aptly named new album, “Whole New Life,” delivering holiday songs and backing Big Sandy. The vocalist-guitarist, calling from Boston, explains what it’s like to play in a quartet for the first time in his 30-plus year career. Heath, 59, also talks about how his children are afraid of his psychobilly act and how his father kept the magic of Santa Claus alive. Q: What’s it like playing in a quartet after being part of a three-piece since Reverend Horton Heat formed in 1985? A: It’s working out well. It’s a lot of fun to play with a piano player. Matt (Jordan) is a heck of a keyboardist. Matt does a heck of an organ solo during “Psychobilly Freakout.” A lot of our songs were built for a piano. Some of them have been screaming out for a piano for 30 years. We have a new drummer (RJ Contreras), who plays with a lot of soul. We’ll hit you with some serious rock and roll. Q: Is it difficult not changing the old songs while performing with an additional player?

A: It’s definitely something we had to figure out. You want to make sure the old songs don’t change. They haven’t but there are times some sonic elements are added but it’s still the same song. Q: What led to the quartet?

A: It takes me back to the first incarnation of the band. Tim Alexander, not the guy from Primus, was with the band. He played a lot of keyboards on our early recordings. But he was done with touring

when we started out. We wanted to get back to that sound. We have a new sound and a new drummer. We’re good. Q: You’ve gone through some drummers like “Spinal Tap.”

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A: Just about every thing in “This Is Spinal Tap” is my everyday life. That’s the case for a lot of bands. Spinal Tap really nailed it with that movie. Q: What’s the most Spinal Tap about this tour?

A: This is kind of the opposite of “Spinal Tap” and the Stonehenge scene in the movie. We were close to getting crushed on this tour by a giant inflatable that’s 10 feet high. Something always goes wrong on the road. Q: Is the show half-Christmas songs?

A: It is about half Christmas songs. People really love coming out for the Christmas songs. We do a lot of those songs. We do six songs with Big Sandy and then of course, we have to play some of the new songs. Q: Years ago you mentioned that your dad would climb up on your neighbor’s roof to convince the kids that Santa was alive and well.

A: It’s all true. We’re playing the song my dad inspired: “Santa’s on the Roof.” My dad did that because our neighbor was in Vietnam. He climbed on the roof and jingled some bells and stomped around for the benefit of his kids. When my dad was climbing down the ladder, one of the kids said, “Mr. Heath, did you see Santa Claus while you were up there?” He said, “Oh yeah, David, he knows you’re awake. Get some sleep.” That night is forever etched in my memory. My dad was sonic proof that Santa is real.

The Reverend Horton Heat has a new album, “Whole New Life,” and is bringing its tour to the Cat’s Cradle Dec. 16. Thom Jackson Q: What do your kids think of your psychobilly act?

A: They were kind of scared when they were really young. I look like a psycho up there. I frightened them. But they’re cool with it now. Q: What’s one thing you would change in the music industry?

A: If it were up to me I would add a category to the Grammys called “Best Rock and Roll Album.” It seems obvious but it’s missing. Horton’s Holiday Hayride featuring Reverend Horton Heat and Junior Brown. The Blasters and Big Sandy will open. When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18 Where: Cat’s Cradle, 300 E. Main St., Carrboro Tickets: $25 in advance and $28 day of show Info: 919-967-9053 or catscradle.com

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2018

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL TV GUIDE TONIGHT The Sound of Music (7 p.m., ABC) This Julie Andrews movie has become a holiday tradition. Andrews plays a novitiate who leaves her convent to become a governess for Capt. Von Trapp’s seven children in Austria before World War II. Christopher Plummer also stars.

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The Beach Boys bring good vibrations to Christmas classics Ed Condran for Triangle Today Q: You went full-circle since your dad took the photo that appears on the back of the album.

A Gingerbread Romance (8 p.m., Hallmark) In this new Hallmark movie, an architect begins to find herself longing for a place to call her own as she works alongside a baker to win a gingerbread house contest. Hometown Christmas (8 p.m., Lifetime) In this new movie, a woman has big plans to resurrect her town’s live nativity, which her late mother previously organized. Things get complicated when she realizes he has to work with her former high school sweetheart. Meet Me in St. Louis (8 .m., TCM) This 1944 film, in which a St. Louis lawyer’s family (Judy Garland, Margaret O’Brien) stays in town for the 1904 World’s Fair, has one of the saddest Christmas songs ever (“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”). iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2018 (8 p.m., The CW) This annual concert features performances by Shawn Mendes, Cardi B and Camila Cabello. Elf (8:15, AMC) Will Ferrell plays a grown man raised as one of Santa’s elves, who leaves the workshop to search for his real father in New York. It also stars Bob Newhart, James Caan, Edward Asner, Zooey Deschanel and Mary Steenburgen. Small Town Christmas (9 p.m., Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) Another new movie -- in this one, Nell’s last stop on a nationwide book tour takes her to Springdale, the hometown of Emmett, a young man she met while both were junior copy editors at a New York publishing company. It stars Hallmark favorites Kristoffer Polaha and Ashley Newbrough. A Christmas in Royal Fashion (9 p.m., ION) In this new movie, a handsome prince hopes to convince an American fashion company to bring more business to his kingdom. He hosts a Christmas fashion show, where he meets an intriguing young assistant. Holiday Gingerbread Showdown (9 p.m., Food) Three finalists compete for the top prize in the season finale.

A: Yes. it’s a picture of me playing with a Lionel train when I was a kid. Q: What prompted “Reason for the Season”? A: I wanted to give people a gentle reminder that Christmas is a Christian holiday. It celebrates The Beach Boys, led by Mike Love and Bruce Johnston, are on a Christmas tour, supporting the birth of Jesus over 2,000 their latest album, “Reason for the Season” and will appear Dec. 17 at the Durham Perform- years ago. ing Arts Center. Courtesy of the Beach Boys Q: I caught your tour over the summer, and Brian isn’t your Mike Love has a cold. The veteran Beach Boy is worn only talented child. I was surprised to see your son, down by the rigors of the road. The Beach Boys play Christian, take over the lead vocal on “God Only just under 200 concerts a year, delivering shows that Knows.” Does it freak you out how much he sounds are more than two hours long. That’s a lot of mileage like your late cousin Carl Wilson? for the 77-year-old singer-songwriter. And now the Beach Boys are on a Christmas tour, supporting their latest album, “Reason for the Season” and will appear Dec. 17 at the Durham Performing Arts Center. Love called from Huntington, N.Y., to chat about what inspired the Beach Boys’ album and whether he’ll ever reunite with his cousin and former bandmate, Brian Wilson. The two last performed together in 2012 for a Beach Boys 50th anniversary reunion tour, according to Yahoo! News. Q: How do you get around, if you will, like you do, at this point? A: I practice transcendental meditation. I do it twice a day. Even though I’ve been feeling a little under the weather lately, it gives me so much energy. Q: The cover art for “Reason for the Season” is amazing. A: My son, Brian, who is a very talented photographer, took the photo of the Northern Lights, while he was off of an island in Norway.

A: Yes. His vocal is comparable to Carl’s. It’s eerie that there’s a family resemblance. He has a really great voice. He does a nice job with “It Must be Christmas,” and he’s been doing “Help me Rhonda” lately. Q: But it doesn’t get any better than singing “God Only Knows,” which is arguably the greatest Beach Boys song of all time. How did you feel when Paul McCartney called “God Only Knows” a perfect song? A: We couldn’t have been more honored. Sir Paul also said that “Pet Sounds” was required listening for his children. THE BEACH BOYS REASON FOR THE SEASON CHRISTMAS TOUR When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17 Where: Durham Performing Arts Center, 123 Vivian St., Durham Tickets: $34.50 and up Info: 919-680-2787 or dpacnc.com