Genre-bending indie band The High Plains Drifters have released the animated lyric video for their upbeat holiday single “Santa! Bring My Girlfriend Back!” Produced by Greg Cohen (Robin Thicke, Nile Rodgers), the track tells the story of a distraught man who seeks solace in drink after having his girlfriend stolen by Santa Claus.
Inspired by a boozy and drama-filled Christmas dinner, the track features an array of instrumentation marrying traditional and contemporary sounds including upbeat marimbas, acoustic guitar chords, and horns reminiscent of everyone’s favorite holiday classics. After waking up the next morning and trying to remember the prior night’s holiday debacle, Larry Studnicky (HPD’s front man) was inspired to put pen to paper and craft the holiday tune after the melodies kept ringing in his head like a hangover. “Santa! Bring My Girlfriend Back!” is a precursor to The High Plains Drifters’ forthcoming second album to be released in 2021.
“Releasing ‘Santa! Bring My Girlfriend Back!’ this year has meant that The High Plains Drifters can bring some much-needed Christmas cheer to a world that has been beaten down by crazy events,” Larry Studnicky shared with Popwrapped. “We figured that, especially this Holiday Season, people could use some upbeat, happy, light-hearted music that would lift their spirits and put smiles on their faces. So, we pushed ourselves to get this fun Xmas tune out to a weary world. And it means also that we’re back! We are recording again and will have our 2nd album released sometime in 2021.”
The forthcoming collection is the follow up to the band’s debut self-titled album The High Plains Drifters. Their first offering conceptualizes a listening experience of a sonic road trip across the country, where your radio station of choice automatically tunes into different musical genres as you travel. As they propel the listener through various genres (pop-punk, mainstream rock, ballads and more), one thing is certain: The High Plain Drifters offer a cohesive body of “feel good” rock-n-roll.
The High Plains Drifters’ founder, lyricist and front man is Larry Studnicky (songwriter, lead & backup vocals), who sings lead and backup vocals on “Santa! Bring My Girlfriend Back!”. The band also features Charles Czarnecki (producer/songwriter, keyboards, lead & backup vocals), John Macom (rhythm & electric guitars, lead & backup vocals), Mike DoCampo (rhythm & electric guitars, backup vocals), Kyle Cassel (drums, backup vocals), and Dave Richards (bass, backup vocals), most of whom are lifelong friends.
Before coming together as The High Plains Drifters, the group’s members worked alongside an array of legendary acts and artists including Pete Townsend, Brian May & Roger Taylor of Queen, Suge Knight of Death Row Records, Fred Schneider of the B-52’s, and Mickey Dolenz of The Monkees. John Macom’s music has been showcased in indie movies and TV shows, including Dawson’s Creek, Party of Five, and Felicity.