the story of the new PUNCHLINE holiday classic compilation HOLIDAY EP Re-collecting Seasonal Selections (2003-2021)
Punchline have been sporadically sharing sonic stocking stuffers since about 2003-04. It all started with one of our personal favorite holiday tunes, "Icicles," from Immortal Records beloved 2003 Christmas comp. A Santa Cause: It's A Punk Rock Christmas. Punchline's track is a hidden gem on the back half of this sprawling 21-track compilation featuring the likes of Something Corporate, blink-182, Fall Out Boy, New Found Glory, and The Mighty Mighty BossToneS. Just a few years back, Punchline told The Story of "Icicles" within an exclusive behind-the-scenes/making-of music video uploaded by bass guitarist and founding member Christopher Fafalios during the 2019 holiday season. Through the years, Punchline have released yuletide Christmas offerings roughly every two to four years.
They've collectively been a bit hard to find, released on various hard-to-find comps. digital singles and EP's, or relatively rare depths of The Internet. For example, until very recently, "Punchline Christmas Rap" credited to Chris Rapfabulous, PJ Corrosive, DJ Hip-Hop Soboslai & Belan was only available as part of the Punchline: Holiday Greeting video uploaded to one-time label Fueled By Ramen's channel way back in 2006. Punchline's "All Hopped Up On Jingle Bells," which we learned a bit about last year, has appeared in a number of places, including Modern Short Stories' Redeye 2008 Holiday Sampler, the band's own 2011 Holiday Sampler, and a collection of B-sides and previously unreleased songs released in 2009 entitled Night Lights. 2012's "Our Favorite Night" was showcased on TDR Records' The Digital Record: Holiday EP alongside seasonal selections from both July & The Promise Hero.
Punchline's next would-be holiday classics "I Always See You In December," "It's a New Year (Don't Be So Hard On Yourself,)" and "Christmas (Baby, Please, Come Home)" appeared on InVogue Records' Happy Holidays, I Miss You, 2018 studio album, LION, and Cleopatra Records' 2019 comp. Punk Rock Christmas (Vol. 2,) respectively. Punchline have recenely re-collected all of the aforementioned tracks for the first time on one comprehensive compilation entitled Holiday EP this holiday season. Holiday EP includes one additional festive romp dubbed "I Won't Let You Down (This Christmas)" widely released for the first time this year. It boasts a rippin' guitar solo expertly employed by Brendan Brown of Wheatus fame and is prominently featured as the lead-off track on Punchline's Holiday EP.
"Thanks for the support. It's been a year of working on new music and not posting and promoting our band as much. Just because you don't see us out there on the road doesn't mean new things aren't happening. We're always working on the next chapter and preparing for the release of albums is like planning for war! However, War Is Over. Happy X-mas," Punchline shared as part of a seasonally-appropriate Facebook post. Let's hope we keep getting new Punchline holiday songs every couple years and, maybe, if we're lucky, they'll re-package these on vinyl one Christmas! Punchline's Holiday EP is now available exclusively on Bandcamp just in time for that last-minute gift for your special someone. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and a Festivus for the rest of us!