S’AINTS ROCK AGAINST HUNGER
Album, concert a Christmas tradition
Once again, Christmas will rock for a good cause with the sound of The S’Aints.
For a seventh consecutive year, the band of Windsor-Essex musical pros Jody Raffoul (vocals), Jeff Burrows (drums), Kelly Authier (vocals and keyboards), Kelly Hoppe (saxophone and harmonica), Wes Buckley (guitar) and David Cyrenne (bass) have recorded an album of holiday-themed songs and will perform a charity concert at Caesars Windsor.
This time, they’re joined by backup singers Liz Robinson and Stephanie Baker, plus Marty Bak handling programming and additional percussion.
All proceeds from album and ticket sales go to a variety of community service organizations.
We sat down with Jody Raffoul, Jeff Burrows and Liz Robinson of The S’Aints for a chat about the new album:
Q Let’s discuss some of this year’s song selections. The fourth track is one of my favourite Rolling Stones songs, Gimme Shelter. But given the dark lyrical content about rape and murder, what’s your reasoning for including it on a Christmas album?
Jeff: One of the recipients this year — as in previous years — is a women’s shelter. We chose the song to bring some awareness to mind. I mean, a lot of the songs we choose are outside the Christmas theme, but are songs of hope, inspiration and passion.
Jody: “If I don’t get shelter, I’m gonna fade away.” The rape and murder line is kind of a toughie. Live, I’ll probably change it to “rage.” The song is really a lesson. “It’s just a shot away.”
Q You chose the Wham! song Last Christmas as the fifth track. Isn’t that a song about a breakup?
Liz: Nothing says loving like a breakup at Christmas. We all have our own stories that we bring to the table and associate emotions with at this time of year. You know what? If you can sing about it, it helps.
Jeff: It gives you the inspiration to get over those bad times.
For the seventh track, you covered Stevie Wonder’s Living for the City. Again, a great song. But one with pretty grim lyrics about urban life.
Jody: That’s a fact. Jeff: Again, it’s related to the food programs and shelters we’re trying to raise money for.
Liz: Things going on right now in our own community. Q The eighth track — Jackie DeShannon’s classic Put A Little Love in Your Heart. Were you inspired by the 1988 Bill Murray movie Scrooged, where he urges the audience to sing along to it? Liz: One of my faves!
Jody: I did pick that song, but I never thought about that movie. It’s just a great song. Gets everybody on board.
Liz: We just might have to take a page from Bill Murray.
Q For the final track, you tried something you’ve never done before: Classical music, in the form of a tribute to the Erik Satie composition Gymnopedie No. 1. Whose idea was that? Jody: (points to Jeff ) Go! Jeff: That was my idea. It’s one of my top three favourite songs ever. For me, it always came across as a holiday song — or a funeral song. It’s also a way to showcase our local talent (harpist Janice Richardson).
Q Everybody has their favourite
holiday tunes. What are some of your least favourite?
Jody: Actually, it really was that Wham! song we just did (laughs). But now I love it because of Kelly Authier’s vocal performance. She just kills it.
Jeff: For me, it’ll always be Paul McCartney’s Wonderful Christmastime. That cheesy ’80s (makes electronic womp noise). Drives me crazy.
Liz: (Makes womp noise) It breaks my heart to say it, because I’m an avid Beatles fan from birth. That Paul McCartney tune — He’s, uh, done better.
The S’Aints perform on Dec. 22 at The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor (377 Riverside Dr. East). Concert begins 8 p.m., all ages welcome. Ticket prices start at $20, available via caesarswindsor. com, www.ticketmaster.ca, or the casino’s box office.
To purchase this year’s album — Hope for Hunger — visit www. sleighinghunger.com.
Proceeds benefit the Unemployed Help Centre, Windsor Homes Coalition, Goodfellows Windsor, Welcome Centre Shelter for Women, Outreach for Hunger (Chatham), and St. Clair College.