Ohio City Singers Holiday Cabaret/Roxxymoron

Local singer-songwriter Chris Allen started planning this year’s new Ohio City Singers album, A Town Called Christmas, back in January. He and fellow Ohio City Singer Austin “Walkin’ Cane” Charanghat would meet once a week to work on the songs. Once the songs were all written, the guys headed up to Suma Recording Studios in Painesville to cut the record. Produced by Don Dixon (R.E.M., Smithereens), the album commences with the call-and-response tune “Memories of Green and Red” and then delves into Springsteen-like territory with the roots rocking title track. Low-key tunes such as “I Got a Feeling about Christmas” and “Winter’s on the Run” offset rambunctious numbers like “Holiday” and “A Season for Believing.” This is one of only a handful of public shows the band is playing this year so get out and see 'em while you can. (Niesel)