ANOTHER CHRISTMAS IN HELL
https://www.radioguitarone.com/post/judy-nazemetz-another-christmas-in-hell-review
Artist: Judy Nazemetz
Song: Another Christmas In Hell
Artist Website: https://www.judynazemetzmusic.com/
Released: 2026
Judy Nazemetz hails from Central Jersey. Anyone from NJ understands there are three clear states within a state, North, Central and South. They may as well be Texas, New York and Oregon. Being from Central Jersey she comes from the most civilized part of the state. I can say this freely as this writer is from North Jersey, the least civilized of the three! She is a “genre-non-specific song humorist, a singer-songwriter” to quote her website. She has released several albums, EPs and singles over the years. She has been in musicals, worked with Robin Williams and done over 100 comedy bits on The Tonight Show during Jay Leno’s time. To say the least she’s got some musical and comedy chops!
Her latest release Another Christmas In Hell is a straight up punk release. Like all punk it has more than a pinch of anger in it. Imagine Edith from All In The Family singing some classic 70’s punk. That’s what we have here, right down to the thick NY accent. Looking at the song through the eyes of comedy obviously it’s an act, but if you didn’t know Judy’s history in comedy and looked through the lens of a punk rocker it’s really quite authentic. It is this quality that makes it the most fun to listen to.
Even the production is punk in every way. The guitars are grindy and bombastic. The drums sound like they’re being hit by someone that is owed money and is trying to collect on that debt from the drums themselves. Judy delivers her vocal performance with such angst that it makes me wonder what happens in her world during the Christmas season that inspires this sort of soundtrack to Ham dinners and eggnog.
Like most punk music, the song is quite fun. There seems to be humor peppered into most punk, but it’s almost always unclear as to whether it is a joke or absolute disgust. I imagine it’s a combination of the two. I’ve never been in a punk band, but I did spend a fair amount of time at CBGB’s as a young man and saw some terrible musicians play punk incredibly well. I always thought you really had to practice to be that bad at an instrument. But if punk is looked at through the appropriate lens it becomes clear that the skill is not based on playing the instruments well. It is more about authentic youthful angst with a fair dose of humor. That would seem easy to accomplish on the surface, but the reality is anger and humor don’t often walk hand in hand. This is where Judy seems to shine. There are lots of comedians that walk that angry edge with a smirk on their face, but Judy screams it in a punk tune that has some great hip hop like rhymes that one would never hear in a Bon Jovi song. If it’s a joke it is quite funny. If it is legit angry punk, it is done very well. Either way it’s a good listen!
And, don’t forget Judy’s CHRISTMAS POLKA!
THE CHRISTMAS KNICKKNACK POLKA
The Christmas Knickknack Polka! Check out the video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8zyNYg4eaA&t=1s
Yes, polka is in my blood. I’ve been polkaing since I was a kid. My wedding band was a polka band from Pennsylvania and I danced every dance. I looked for a Christmas polka but couldn’t find one so I wrote my own. For all you who are counting your steps, there’s a dance break in the middle of the song. When you hear it, stop what you’re doing and DANCE around your kitchen, office, while crossing the street, wherever you are, POLKA! Get out yer Christmas knickknacks and POLKA!
Digital sites for THE CHRISTMAS KNICKKNACK POLKA are at https://judynazemetz.hearnow.com/the-christmas-knickknack…
You can also find the track on the THE CHRISTMAS KNICKKNACK POLKA Spotify playlist:
#NewMusicFriday#NewMusic#NovemberRelease#ChristmasMusic#JudyNazMusic#Christmas#KnickKnack#Polka#ChristmasPolka#ChristmasDance
Previously
Hey, Judy here, 2024, fresh off 2 bouts of Covid and my return to theatre as Fritzi in the Kander/Ebb musical 70, Girls 70. Who else would be cast as a New York City waitress singing “Coffee In A Cardboard Cup” but me, a former Howard Johnson waitress who wrote “Which Cup?” (coffee cup) that I included on my album Balancing Act. 70 Girls 70 is a gem that had the audiences standing, applauding and cheering for Fritzi and all the other assorted characters in the cast. I even got a terrific mention in the Broadway World review:
“Judy Nazemetz is a total treasure. She has the lovable quirk and comedic dazzle of Danny DeVito, and I utterly adored her coffeeshop waitress Fritzi and her great chemistry and heartwarming camaraderie with Regan Carrington.”
So, now I’m back to writing my songs and recording them. Genres so far? A 50s song you can stroll to (who remembers “the stroll” — my sister taught me.) A hard rock song. A tune with a hula vibe. A blues number about life with a broken wrist. A Christmas polka. And, more. But this gives you a little taste of what’s to come.
Speaking of taste, my coffee’s finished brewing so I’m going to go have a cup. Dare I drink it from a cardboard cup?
I look forward to releasing the new album mid-year. I hope 2024 is starting off well for everyone and I’ll update when I have more info.
Judy