Are These The Greatest Christmas Songs Of All Time?

Melbourne indie supergroup The Ronson Hangup – Steve Pinkerton (The Anyones, Dallas Crane), Ashley Naylor (Even, Paul Kelly, The Church, The Stems, RocKwiz Orkestra), Luke Thomas (The Pictures), Dave Mudie (Courtney Barnett) and Erica Menting (The Golden Rail) – have had a busy year promoting their second album, Centaurus.

Pinkerton also joined forces with Andrew Pendlebury, the guitarist in legendary Melbourne band The Sports, to form Pinkerton Pendlebury and release a self-titled album.

Naylor – the hardest-working man in showbiz – somehow found time to release a new solo single, A Blue Sky, while Thomas issued Paint Over Paint, an album under the name of Central Rain.

They’re all looking forward to a well-earned break, but first, The Ronson Hangup are doing their annual Christmas show – A Very Ronson Christmas – at the Workers Club in Fitzroy on December 20.

Pinkerton and Naylor will be working almost as hard as Santa – their duo, Nayls & Pinko, will be the night’s opening act. Then Pinkerton Pendlebury will hit the stage, followed by The Ronson Hangup. 

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and here are the festive faves of The Ronson Hangup and Pinkerton Pendlebury:

Andrew Pendlebury (guitar, Pinkerton Pendlebury)

Favourite Christmas present: A red car that you could pedal.

Favourite Christmas song: The Mickey Mouse Club’s Christmas song – it was my first 45 rpm! I also love Bing Crosby’s White Christmas.

Ashley Naylor (guitar, The Ronson Hangup)

Favourite Christmas present: My brother Justin’s acoustic guitar in the mid ’70s.

Favourite Christmas song: Wizzard – I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day. Because it’s just an up-vibe song, not sappy like a lot of Christmas songs.

Dave Mudie (drums, The Ronson Hangup)

Favourite Christmas present: A Smurf cup, which I liked more than my first drum kit.

Favourite Christmas song: Iggy Pop – White Christmas. It sums up Iggy’s Christmas perfectly ;)

Erica Menting (backing vocals, acoustic guitar, The Ronson Hangup)

Favourite Christmas present: My former boyfriend’s sister-in-law absolutely bloody nailed the brief with a hummus-themed T-shirt and Tim Marshall’s book on flags last year.

Favourite Christmas song: Paul McCartney – Wonderful Christmastime. Like many people, I’d imagine, I had a pretty visceral reaction to this song when I first heard it. Now, it’s my favourite slightly demented Christmas earworm. Forget Wham! – it’s not Christmas until I’ve heard those sweet McCartney synths.

Jason Kain (guitar, Pinkerton Pendlebury)

Favourite Christmas present: A Malvern Star 3-speed Chopper.

Favourite Christmas Song: Elvis Presley – Santa Claus Is Back In Town.  Because it’s a rockin’ Christmas song with the King’s top-lip snarl!

Luke Thomas (bass, The Ronson Hangup)

Favourite Christmas present: I always remember being so surprised when I got a little guitar amp (for my electric) when I was 10. Best thing ever.

Favourite Christmas song: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Christmas All Over Again. I’ve always loved the ending: “Now let’s see, I want a new Rickenbacker Guitar, two Fender Bassmans, Chuck Berry songbook …”

Sherry Rich (backing vocals, Pinkerton Pendlebury)

Favourite Christmas present: Drinking/dunking bird when I was 6.

Favourite Christmas song: Elvis Presley – Blue Christmas. Because I love Elvis, and this is my signature tune at family Christmas jams at our place. Chuck Berry’s Run Rudolph Run is a close second.

Stephen Hadley (bass, Pinkerton Pendlebury)

Favourite Christmas present: A drum that I played at my first gig which was my kindergarten performance of Little Drummer Boy.

Favourite Christmas song: Paul Kelly – How To Make Gravy. Because I played on it.

Steve Pinkerton (vocals, The Ronson Hangup; drums, vocals, Pinkerton Pendlebury)

Favourite Christmas present: A “Big Jim” doll when I was in Grade 2. It was a G.I. Joe rip-off, but I loved it because his arm could do a karate chop!

Favourite Christmas song: Slade – Merry Xmas Everybody. Because Noddy Holder’s voice reminds me of Dallas Crane’s Dave Larkin.

A Very Ronson Christmas will take place at the Workers Club in Fitzroy on Friday, December 20. You can find tickets here.