Ellen Angelico is one of Nashville’s MVPs. A competent touring guitarist, they’ve backed artists like Adeem the Artist (in the studio), Cam and Brandy Clark (and you can see them on many of those artists’ recent TV appearances.) It’s these unsung heroes who make country music work, but on occasion Ellen will let the limelight shine on them and share some music of their own.
Christmas at the Firehouse is a spiritual successor to the Charlie Brown Christmas album — with a hint more twang. These instrumental versions of favorites like “Jingle Bells” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain” have a clear reverence for the originals while incorporating Angelico’s trademark goofiness. Angelico’s superlatively confident picking is supported by Simon Maartensson’s pump organ and T Minton’s grounded percussion (though I swear I heard some uncredited slide whistle in there.)
These lighthearted renditions, coupled with samples of outtakes as the trio laugh together, gives the EP a loose feel, like we’re hanging out in Uncle Ellen’s living room while their friends jam.