By Jennifer Russo

You’re driving to work on a Monday morning, half awake after a weekend that went by way too fast.  You flip through the pre-sets on your car radio and stop at 104.5 FM and you hear the bright, cheery and wonderfully caffeinated Jen and Steve giving you an update on Black Friday shopping and Hollywood buzz.  And then you hear it…Acoustic Christmas is returning to Worcester at exquisite Mechanics Hall and the only way to get into the sold out show is to win tickets from the station.

“Damn,” you think to yourself as you dial the station and get a busy signal 5 times in a row.  “I never win anything!”

…then a Christmas miracle happens.  You get through.  And you’re the right caller. And you’re going to see the show.

Five for Fighting started the night off with John Ondrasik’s angelic vocals leaving everyone in stunned silence with his beautiful, well-known ballad Superman.  Lee Dewyze, last year’s American Idol winner, takes the stage next and sounds (and looks!) even better live than he did on TV.  He performs a set of original songs from his newly released CD and closes with Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah ~  which filled Mechanics Hall with amazing sound and with emotion from performer and audience alike.

Steven Page (formerly of the Bare Naked Ladies) follows, donned in a rust colored suit, acoustic guitar strapped to his chest.  He sings some originals and some old BNL tunes and encourages audience participation with his quirky sense of humor.  Local band Guster, with new addition Luke Reynolds, comes out like a comedy routine – joking around in pure Guster fashion.  Their complete ease on stage makes their audience feel like they’re at a house party.

At intermission, WXLO encourages the audience to send texts to a special address.  With prizes like a meet & greet with Train and tickets to Bon Jovi on the line, the response was overwhelming. Suddenly, someone is called back and literally jumps out of her seat when her cell rings ~ and then squeals, “It’s me!”  WXLO made one girl’s Christmas start early this year.
Headlining band Train runs out onto the stage to a blaring applause.  They launch into an hour’s worth of hit songs and fans sing along and dance in their seats.  Lead singer Pat brings one lucky little birthday girl onto the stage (pic above) and asks her to sing with him.  For the last song, Train encourages all the kids to come up on stage and join him in singing their latest hit, Soul Sister.

WXLO’s Acoustic Christmas show was nothing short of phenomenal.  It was attended by every age group and had a little something for everyone.  Tune your car radio to 104.5 FM and be sure to get your tickets (think stocking stuffers!) next year as soon as they go on sale ~ it’s a show you don’t want to miss, and one that will thrill friends and family members of all ages.

To see show photos, hear backstage interviews and view some videos of the show, visit the station website at www.wxlo.com.

Don’t forget to pick up the latest CD releases from the Acoustic Christmas performers, including:
Train’s Save Me San Francisco
Guster’s Easy Wonderful
Lee Dewyze’s Live it Up
Five for Fighting’s Slice
Steven Page’s Page One

Photo by Jennifer Russo – Patrick Monahan, lead singer of Train, brings a young fan up on stage during the show.