''Twas the weekend of Christmas, when all through the town

The clubs were near silent. From bands? Little sound.

The bar rags were hung from the faucets with care,

In hopes that on New Year''s the crowds would be there.

Doc''s Nightclub was open for Saturday''s show:

Women of Blues headlines, with singer Gail Muldrow.

With Janelle Burdelle on percussion, and Mona Gnader on bass,

Sarah Baker plays keyboards, and Muldrow intonates.

Band members have worked with stars, big and small:

Micky Hart, Etta James and the great Taj Mahal.

(Speaking of.don''t forget, at the Embassy Suites,

Taj is playing next week for la fˆte New Year''s Eve.)

The music''s eclectic, blues-based--yet it''s more;

Multi-cultural, diverse, energetic to the core.

The gig is on Saturday at 9 in the night;

Call 649-4241, for more info, that''s right.

It''s

With Terry Hiatt at Sly''s for another go ''round.

There is music on Christmas with Unpluggable Race

At Viva! downtown, Vince LaRocca''s place.

The Filth rocks the blues on Saturday night

At Whitey''s in P.G., the club of Jeff White.

It''s also a time to think of next year,

So I''ve made a list for what we''d like to hear.

Now, Morgan! Now, Jeffie! Now, Barbara and Nina!

On Alan! On Anthony! On Matt and LaRocca!

To telephones and calendars and datebooks and such,

Schedule the music that we love so much.

Bring us rock, bring us country, bring us techno and house

Americana and blues. Hip-hop? We won''t grouse.

Offer us bluegrass, folk music, jazz and pop stars

To dance to some contra we''ll drive in our cars.

But music or not, this week doesn''t matter

It''s a time that''s intended for family chatter.

There are places you go, and faces you know

Your family, home, ipso and de facto.

Drive safely this weekend, but share cups of good cheer

Toast family, toast friends with coffee or beer.

And that''s why I say, as I sit here and write,

Happy holidays to all, and to all a good night.