SOCKS: A Rock ‘N’ Roll Christmas at Thunderbird Cafe & Music Hall - Pittsburgh
JD McPherson & Melissa Carper — December 16, 2025
There’s something special about a Tuesday night in mid-December. The rush of the holidays hasn’t quite peaked yet, the weather has that sharp edge to it, and everyone’s looking for an excuse to step out of routine. On December 16th, that excuse came in the form of SOCKS: A Rock ‘N’ Roll Christmas Tour, rolling through Thunderbirds Music Hall—just days before Christmas and only four nights shy of the tour’s final stop tonight in Minneapolis, MN (12/20/25).
We arrived early, not just to grab a good spot, but because we’d arranged a brief interview and record signing with JD McPherson, in collaboration with our friends at New West Records. Before the doors fully opened and the amps warmed up, we found ourselves seated at a small table talking music, records, and the strange magic of Christmas albums.
During the interview, we talked about the tour, about music, and about Socks—the album that inspired this entire run of shows. As JD signed records and we chatted, a videographer who had been hired to film the night's show, approached the table and politely interrupted. He introduced himself, then asked JD a question that instantly shifted the mood of the room:
“How does it feel to have written the single best Christmas album of the last 50+ years?”
JD laughed—genuinely—and humbly thanked him for the kind words, clearly a little taken aback by the sentiment. He admitted it was hard to wrap his head around the idea that people regard Socks in such high terms.
For the record: I agree. I wouldn’t try to pin it down with an exact ranking, but Socks is absolutely one of my personal favorite Christmas records of all time.
Once the videographer headed off, we continued the interview, and I asked JD where the inspiration for what is apparently one of the best Christmas records of all time actually came from.
What followed was a series of puzzle pieces that painted a fascinating picture of how Socks came together.
At the time, JD still owed another record under contract, and his label had been encouraging him to make a Christmas album. He was hesitant—very hesitant. In fact, he didn’t want to do one at first. Like many artists, the idea of a Christmas album felt loaded with expectations and potential pitfalls. But the idea lingered, and he started asking himself an important question: What would my Christmas album actually sound like?
That question sent him down a deep dive into Christmas music. Along the way, he found himself listening to Nick Lowe’s 2013 album Quality Street: A Seasonal Selection for All the Family, and that record shifted his perspective. It showed him that a Christmas album didn’t have to be corny or obligatory—it could actually be fun.
From there, JD started thinking about the Christmas music he loved growing up and the writers behind it, especially Mike Leiber and Jerry Stoller—the legendary songwriting duo known for their work with Elvis Presley and The Drifters. Leiber and Stoller were instrumental in bridging R&B and pop, shaping production styles at Atlantic Records and their own Red Bird label, and laying groundwork that would later influence the Motown sound of the 1960s.
As JD reflected on those influences, the true genesis of Socks came into focus. He realized that while Leiber and Stoller had written Christmas songs for Elvis and The Drifters, they never wrote Christmas songs for The Coasters—the band for whom they arguably did some of their best, most playful work. That realization became the creative direction: What if this Christmas album lived in that universe instead?
That’s the spirit of Socks—rock ‘n’ roll first, holiday second, and fun always.
We wrapped up the signing, headed out for dinner, and returned shortly after—ready for what would become one of the most fun Christmas shows we’ve attended to date.
The opener, Melissa Carper, took the stage with her trio and performed songs from her newest album, A Very Carper Christmas (she was nice enough to sign 10 copies for us after the show). Her set was a charming blend of quirky holiday humor, warmth, and nostalgia, delivered through a folk-jazz lens that felt intimate and clever rather than kitschy. These were original Christmas songs with personality and heart.
There’s nothing cheesy about these songs—well, except for the track titled “Oh Cheeseball,” which has quickly become one of my new go-to holiday staples. Let's not forget that “Dumpster Divin’ on Christmas Eve” is an absolute banger, and it hits a little closer to home as we stare down the start of 2026.
After her set, Melissa and her band left the stage—but not for good. They’d return later to join JD’s band for several songs, adding to the communal, anything-can-happen feel of the night.
Then it was time for the main event.
JD McPherson and his band hit the stage and delivered a blistering set packed with rockabilly, rock ’n’ roll, and just the right amount of holiday cheer. Tight, loud, playful, and clearly having a blast, the band tore through a setlist that balanced Socks material with fan favorites and inspired covers.
Setlist:
Bad Kid
All the Gifts I Need
Every Single Christmas
Holly, Carol, Candy & Joy
Ugly Sweater Blues
What’s That Sound?
Red Bows (For a Blue Girl)
Hey Skinny Santa!
Claus vs. Claus
Socks
Fire Bug
Lust for Life (Iggy Pop cover)
Head Over Heels
Let the Good Times Roll
Encore:
Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
Run Rudolph Run (Chuck Berry cover)
All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth) (Spike Jones and His City Slickers cover)
Twinkle (Little Christmas Lights)
By the time the final notes rang out, the room felt less like a concert venue and more like some kind of holiday infused rockabilly review —one fueled by guitars, saxophones, percussion, and keys (including special appearances from sleighbells and glockenspiel).
After the show, we stuck around to chat with the band, talk records, and thank them for such a great night. A few minutes later, we found ourselves invited to join them at the Tiki Lounge in Pittsburgh. As it turns out, tiki bars are a favorite pit stop for the band when they’re out on tour.
Let’s just say that after that adventurous night (and early morning), Molly and I now have a brand-new appreciation for the title of JD McPherson’s most recent album: Night Owls.
