Brian Henneman

'Tis not only the season for giving and receiving, but also for upholding traditions. It's the time of year when Aunt Fern puts too much nutmeg in the quince pudding, and the whole family shares in a splendorous vision of the Holy Virgin in immaculate labor. Or mayhap it's your December custom to drink no less than seventeen whiskeys at the office party, then crawl out onto a high ledge to sing a Gaelic lament to the world (with a verse for each dram of whiskey)? Every year it takes the warmth and love of the entire accounting department to talk you down. Good times.

One of our favorite holiday traditions is Brian Henneman's Christmas show. The beloved country rocker from Festus who's given us timeless classics like "Radar Gun" is a timeless classic himself, and his annual Christmas night performance never fails to surprise and delight.

"My Christmas show is always an unknown thing," says Henneman. "I go in alone, with just an acoustic guitar, with the intention of just playing songs -- songs I wrote, songs other people wrote, whatever. I never know who may be at the show. In the past there've been many guest stars -- some famous, some semi-famous, and some not famous at all. If the opening band leaves their equipment onstage, it's been known to turn into a 'band' of random musicians by the end of the show. Anything can happen. It's pretty much just like playing music at a family get-together. It's always a good time."

Mmm...good times.