VIDEO: Wilkes-Barre’s Dustin Douglas & The Electric Santas believe ‘Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love You’
From a press release:
It looks like Dustin Douglas & The Electric Gentlemen may just make it onto Santa’s “nice list” after all.
The troublemaking blues rock band took time out of their busy schedule supporting their latest record, “Black Leather Blues,” to present fans with a rollicking rendition of one of their favorite holiday songs, “Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love You,” on all major streaming platforms, along with an accompanying music video featuring the group riding around their hometown of Wilkes-Barre partying while dressed in full Santa Claus outfits.
“‘Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love You’ by Billy Squier has always been one of my favorite Christmas tunes,” Douglas said.
“Something about the bluesy verses and Squier’s unmistakable voice makes me smile. I always knew someday I’d record this track.”
The lead guitarist/singer/songwriter did just that. However, in true fashion, the power trio, which is rounded out by drummer Tommy Smallcomb and bassist Matt “The Dane” Gabriel, didn’t simply cover the iconic holiday song – they reinvented it. Recorded at Eight Days a Week Studios in Northumberland by revered engineer/producer and The Badlees/Cellarbirds bassist Paul Smith (who also played the Mellotron on the track), DDEG’s version boldly boasts the band’s signature swagger, big guitars, infectious rhythms, and sexy grooves with Douglas’ distinct bluesy vocal delivery, honoring Squier’s original vibe while making it their own.
To celebrate the release of the holiday single on Nov. 24, they also filmed a music video at Diamond City Studios that Douglas described as “fun and lighthearted” and “meant to bring a smile to everyone this holiday season and for years to come.” Directed by award-winning cinematographer Jonathan Edwards, Douglas said the goal of the visuals was to and show a funny side of the band and have fun, including lots of indoor snow machines to create a whimsical winter wonderland.
“Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love You” follows their successful third album “Black Leather Blues,” which underlines their dynamic, swagger-injected, dirty, blues-influenced rock ‘n’ roll that brings a vintage sound and vibe to modern ears. Released on April 14 via Lancaster indie label MoMojo Records, the critically-acclaimed record received rave reviews from such outlets as Rock and Blues Muse, who hailed it as “a multifaceted, 10-song collection equally full of the soul of the past and the fury of the present,” and Glide Magazine who described it as “modern blues rock with plenty of attitude and drama.”
“All I’m trying to do is continue the tradition of The Stones, Zeppelin and The Faces,” Douglas emphasized. “Take the traditional blues spirit, mix it with some heavy rock ‘n’ roll, and play it for a new generation.
“But it ain’t your poppa’s blues,” he added. “I listen to Rage Against the Machine as much as I listen to Muddy Waters. That blend of influences is what makes it unique.”
With this collection of original songs, the trio puts the pedal to the floor, asking for no mercy with heavy riffs, huge hooks, and memorable, blues-inspired rock ‘n’ roll rhythms that take listeners on a familiar yet fresh musical journey that was also recorded at Eight Days a Week with Smith, who engineered and co-produced with Douglas. It was mixed by Brian Moncarz (Alice Cooper, Our Lady Peace, Phillip Sayce) and mastered by Brian Lucey (The Black Keys, Royal Blood, Arctic Monkeys, Buddy Guy, Doyle Bramhall II, Green Day, Liam Gallagher, Elvis Costello).
“Black Leather Blues” contains the group’s 2021 single “Broken,” described by Rock and Blues Muse as “a soul-cleansing shot of progressive blues/rock minimalism that’s as much about the space between the notes as the notes themselves. Dustin Douglas is a first-class guitar shaman, weaving together spellbinding riffs and solos that transport listeners directly into his world.” The publication added: “His vocals are strident and strong, expressing the hard blues inherent in 21st century life.”
The album’s second single is the rhythmically dynamic and lyrically pointed “Why Would You Say Such a Thing,” which dropped on Feb. 24 along with a music video filmed by Edwards at Diamond City Studios, a new photography and videography facility in Wilkes-Barre.
Douglas believes “Why Would You Say Such a Thing” is destined to be one of their best-received songs.
“From the moment I wrote it, I felt it would be a signature song for us,” he noted.
“It defines what we do as a band. It has a big riff, danceable rhythm, catchy chorus, and an old school broken-hearted, blues-inspired lyric.”
“Black Leather Blues” comes after 2018’s “Break It Down,” which made it onto the blues album charts, blues singles charts, and blues rock single charts and earned two Steamtown Music Awards for “Blues Artist of the Year” and “Album of the Year.”
In 2019, they again found themselves with three Steamtown nominations – “Guitarist of the Year,” “Video of the Year” for “Broken,” and “Live Performer of the Year” – as well as an Independent Blues Music Award nomination for “Blues/Rock Song of the Year” for “Out of My Mind.” On top of that, the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame nominated the trio for “Blues Rock Band of the Year” in 2021 and 2022.
In February, they officially signed a deal with MoMojo Records, a label imprint established by Nola Blue Inc. in 2022. MoMojo is a service for independent artists wanting the flexibility of DIY distribution combined with the personal attention and connection to a label family, serving a diverse segment of the independent American roots music community connected by the quality of artistry rather than confined by genre boundaries.
“Dustin is a spirited force with a clear vision of where he is going and how he will get there,” MoMojo Records Director Sallie Bengtson commented.
“That force permeates his rock-solid new album, overflowing with raw energy, rock ‘n’ roll attitude, and an infectious sound. There is nowhere but up on his path of success.”
“I’m beyond excited for this new journey with MoMojo Records,” Douglas enthused.
“This is a huge step in the trajectory of my career, and I knew from the start the team at MoMojo were the perfect fit for Dustin Douglas & The Electric Gentlemen and this new record. The sky’s the limit.”
To cap the year off, Douglas took home the Steamtown Music Award for “Guitarist of the Year” once again in 2023, and The Electric Gentlemen won the fan-voted People’s Choice Award for “Blues Artist of the Year” at the 10th annual Scranton ceremony.
Learn more about the band and “Black Leather Blues” in Episode 175 of the NEPA Scene Podcast:
Photo by Jonathan Edwards
