Arts & Culture

Who: Andy Kim’s Christmas Show
Where: Massey Hall, Victoria St.
When: Wed., Dec. 4
Vibe: Cosy family holiday dinner with quirky guests and loveable visitors
Highlight: Barenaked Ladies’ Black Sabbath-inspired take on Deck the Halls
Rating: NNNN (out of 5)

YOU’D HAVE TO be Scrooge to say anything bad about the 20th annual “Andy Kim’s Christmas” at Massey Hall, a fundraiser for CAMH that is a joyful, occasionally sloppy tinsel-tinged love in that feels like an unruly and delightful holiday dinner as the epically tanned popmeister Kim and edgy comic Sean Cullen bring cordial control to the occasional chaos.

Like the perfect holiday host, Kim comes in hot, opening the show singing one of his mega-hits, Sugar Sugar, before swinging into another chart-topper, Baby I Love You. Kim brings out everybody’s favourite “uncle” and holiday guest at the top of the show, Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson, a regular at Kim’s charity gigs and a clear fan favourite, drawing hoots and applause all night as he sits in with many of the evening’s acts.

Cullen is the wise-ass cousin who you have to remember to pay close attention to as he slips out hilarious asides along with his planned comments. Seems no topic is off limits, including Kim’s legendary pigment prowess. Throughout the night, Cullen is the glue, keeping things moving and expertly adlibbing during band changeovers that seem brief because of the comic’s commentary. Kim periodically wanders out, sometimes alone, sometimes while Cullen is speaking, the loveable, befuddled and super-affectionate grandparent. Kim loves everybody he brings on stage, in the room and probably on the planet and he shares his enthusiasm throughout the night. Delivering kisses and hugs to all who will receive. He shifts between sounding like a Bar Mitzvah MC and a classic Vegas showman between songs.

After appearances from onetime David Bowie backup singer Ehm Gryner and Acadian “dreamboat” Roch Voisin, Kim brings out another man he loves “when we met, he had a huge international hit and I had a huge international hit” Kim fondly explains before presenting sensitive, soft-spoken “cousin” Dan Hill, who delivers a killer version of said hit, Sometimes When We Touch, ably assisted by the stellar band and backup singers who do a great job all night.

Molly Johnson plays the stern Aunt, reminding people that the fight to support people with AIDs hasn’t ended since she launched the Kumbaya fundraiser for people with AIDS in the ’90s before launching into a jazzy take on Christmas in Capetown with her long-time backup trio.

Ivan from Men Without Hats is the exotic cousin, “from away,” who brings his cool sophistication to the event with a blistering version of Pop Goes the World, which will be followed later by a showstopping take on The Safety Dance.

The unruly Broken Social Scene flood onto the stage after the Hats, as if having made a break from the Kids’ Table to grab a spot on the main event, their set a cooldown after the Hats heated track with Stars’ singer and NEXT contributor Amy Millan taking a sultry turn centerstage.

After a brief intermission, Billy Talent turns things up to 11 with a searing set that includes Bowie’s Modern Love and BT’s Red Flag. Shouts for the band’s return would echo through the rest of the evening. Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band member Jake Clemons does his bit as the surprise guest — doesn’t every family dinner have one? — a stint on lead vocals showing why he is better known for his sax work with The Boss, some of which he supplies here.

William Prince is that big lovable, somewhat self-effacing teddy bear of a man, kind of quiet and welcome at any holiday table. He delivers two beautifully sung, self-penned Christmas tracks, with his Don’t Go Leaving Me ready to join the tear-stained list of sad seasonal tracks

After The Hats’ roaring Safety Dance return, Barenaked Ladies take the stage with workman-like precision, their years doing their own holiday shows serving them well in this merriment marathon. The Ladies are in Christmas command with an expert, satisfying set that includes a Black Sabbath take on Deck the Halls that is both hilarious and powerful. “Fa la la” has never sounded more menacing than when barked out by BNL’s Tyler Stewart.

After a mega-finale that includes Kim’s Rock Me Gently, we are sent back out into the cold; no holiday dinner leftovers for the next day but plenty of good feelings to sustain us through the season.