Neil Nathan Stars in SANTA CLAUS IN COMING TO TOWN
By: Nicole Rosky
Neil Nathan likes to get into the spirit of Christmas, with a twist. His sweet, folky version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" is accompanied by a darkly comic video, written and directed by Zev Deans (The Yes Men Survivaball video),featuring a scary David Lynch style Santa Claus, who does not take kindly to little boys opening their presents early. It's all in good fun and for a good cause. Nathan is using the video to spread the word about The Fred Gabler Helping Hand Camp Fund, which sends underprivileged youth to summer camp. The video can be found at http://www.neilnathan.com/santa
In this kitschy video for Neil Nathan's folky lullaby version of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", Nathan plays a little boy in footed pajamas that opens his Christmas presents early and is busted and whisked away by a very scary Santa and his Elves, who show up in vehicle ominously marked with the letters, E.L.F. Nathan is using the video to raise money for The Fred Gabler Helping Hand Camp Fund, a charity started by the family of his lifelong friend who passed away in the World Trade Center on 9/11. The charity helps send underprivileged youth to summer camp. Nathan wrote a song in honor of Gabler, "Freddy's Song" as well as put on a benefit for his friend at the Living Room which was featured on the New York Post's Page Six. Visit FredGabler.org for donation info.Neil Nathan is no stranger to making music videos. Next up is "Highways" featuring an animated version of himself driving a flying '67 Corvette convertible. It was directed by Postage, Inc.. His cover of ELO's "Do Ya," which was also featured on the Californication soundtrack, has been viewed 20,000 times on YouTube. "Highways," along with "California Run" and "Do Ya" can be found on Nathan's latest full-length, The Distance Calls which was released in August.
The Distance Calls was produced by The Go's Bobby Harlow and combines the talents of Dean Fertita (The Dead Weather, QOTSA), Kenny Tudrick and Joey Mazzola (Detroit Cobras), John Krautner (The Go), and Ross Westerbur (Deadstring Brothers). The album effortlessly merges jangly pop rock with Nathan's mellower singer/songwriter side. With a dash of NYC glitter and some good old Detroit fuzz and stomp, it showcases a musician clearly influenced by the '70s (without being cliché).
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