Throwing Caution to the Wind

December 31, 2014 12:57 PM

In 2004, GrooveLily ("just your typical violin/piano/drums power-pop trio") debuted Striking 12, a musical set on New Year's Eve. The story weaves between the performers putting on the show; a modern-day grumpy guy who doesn't want to go out on New Year's Eve; and "The Little Match Girl," by Hans Christian Andersen. You can listen to the entire thing on Bandcamp.

The New York Times reviewed its 2006 off-Broadway debut positively:

“Striking 12” is by no means a traditional book musical. Written by Mr. Milburn and Ms. Vigoda in collaboration with Rachel Sheinkin, the author of the similarly smart and funny book for “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” it is accurately described by Ms. Vigoda, early on, as “a cross between a rock concert and a holiday show for people who don’t like holiday shows.”

There is not much of a set, just an expanse of white shag carpet symbolizing snow-covered streets and a backdrop giving glimpses of falling flakes. Mr. Lewin never leaves the drum stand, and Mr. Milburn is pretty much chained to his keyboard. Even the more mobile Ms. Vigoda, her arrow-shaped violin protruding like a third arm, performs more as a vocalist and a musician than as an actress in character. And yet this modest show is more artfully crafted and engaging than virtually all the standard-mold musicals coming our way these days.

posted by Shmuel510 (4 comments total)

Note: The show has been tinkered with over the years, and the album includes four bonus tracks from a 2008 performance. I don't recommend trying to interleave them with the original 2004 recording. With that said, here's where they fit:

• "Overture (2008 version)" replaces "Overture."
• "Green and Red (& I'm Feeling Blue)" is added between "Resolution" and "And So, The Man Resolves."
• "Wonderful" picks up with the final few words of "Her Little Hands Were Almost Frozen" and replaces "The Burning Match Gave Off a Warm, Bright Light" and "Visions in the Matchlight."
• "Picture This" is added after "The Girl, When We Left Her" and overlaps the start of "Caution to the Wind."

Finally, if you ever get the chance to see a live performance, I heartily recommend it.
posted by Shmuel510 at 12:57 PM on December 31, 2014

Saw them perform this in Philadelphia around the time it debuted. Good music and good humor. Plus, the lyrics compare the sex appeal of Hans Christian Andersen to that of The Fonz.
posted by The White Hat at 1:03 PM on December 31, 2014

Sounds like the perfect way to spend my grumpy New Year's Eve not going out!
posted by I-Write-Essays at 2:53 PM on December 31, 2014

Great show! Love them.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 3:02 PM on December 31, 2014