Aimee Mann books guests for holiday variety shows
The singer/songwriter, whose Christmas pageant played to sold-out crowds on both coasts last year, will welcome Nellie McKay, Ben Lee, Ben Gibbard, Patrick Park, Sean Hayes, Chuck Prophet, Josh Ritter, Joe Henry, Grant-Lee Phillips, Morgan Murphy and members of The Decemberists onstage during the 13-city trek, which kicks off Nov. 29 in Solana Beach, CA.
Comedian Paul F. Tompkins will host the holiday shows, which conclude Dec. 17-18 with a pair of shows in Alexandria, VA. All dates are shown below, along with guest performers for each stop.
Mann's most recent studio release is last year's holiday collection "One More Drifter in the Snow." The set features originals and seasonal classics, including a version of Dr. Seuss' "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" narrated by singer/songwriter Grant-Lee Phillips, who joined Mann on her first Christmas tour last December.
"I wanted to do a Christmas record that reflected the whole range of emotions that people have around Christmas." Mann said in a press statement, "I thought a lot about the feeling I had about Christmas as a kid, the almost spooky beauty and mystery that the holiday has, and wanted to do something that echoed that musically."
"The CD definitely harkens back to the classic albums of the '40s & '50s but it's not retro at all, it's a soulful album influenced by the bar-setting albums of Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis and Peggy Lee," said the album's producer, Paul Bryan. "We aimed for an album that would be just as beautiful and thoughtful as those still are."
The singer's most recent non-holiday effort was 2005's "The Forgotten Arm," her fifth solo album since splitting with '80s pop outfit 'Til Tuesday.
Aimee Mann Holiday Tour (Paul F. Tompkins hosts, w/ Morgan Murphy on all dates):
November 2007
29 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up (w/ Joe Henry, Grant Lee Phillips)
30 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre (w/ Ben Gibbard, Grant Lee Phillips)
December 2007
2, 3 - San Francisco, CA - Bimbo's 365 Club (w/ Sean Hayes, Chuck Prophet)
5 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater - (w/ members of The Decemberists, Nellie McKay)
7 - Aspen, CO - Wheeler Opera House (w/ Nellie McKay, Patrick Park)
8 - Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater (w/ Nellie McKay, Patrick Park)
10 - Minneapolis, MN - Guthrie Theater (w/ Nellie McKay, Adam Levy)
11 - Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre (w/ Nellie McKay)
12 - Ann Arbor, MI - Michigan Theater (w/ Nellie McKay)
14 - New York, NY - Grand Ballroom (w/ Fred Armisen, Josh Ritter)
15 - Tarrytown, NY - Tarrytown Music Hall (w/ Ben Lee)
16 - Boston, MA - Berklee Performance Center (w/ Ben Lee, Nellie McKay)
17, 18 - Alexandria, VA - The Birchmere (w/ Ben Lee, Nellie McKay)
Aimee Mann beefs up 'Smilers' jaunt [May 2008]
Aimee Mann takes 'Smilers' out for a spin [April 2008]
Aimee Mann back on the holiday trail [October 2007]
Aimee Mann to tackle Beatles tunes during summer shows [May 2007]


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