An Embers Christmas
By From staff reports
Published in News on December 15, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Lead singer Craig Woolard of the Embers belts out a tune during the Empty Stocking Fund show at Goldsboro High School on Monday night.
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
News-Argus publisher Hal Tanner III, left, presents Bobby Braswell with a plaque recognizing his 50 years of volunteering with the Empty Stocking Fund.
Band members said they looked forward to the show, which drew hundreds of beach music lovers.
"It's great fun. We get to change what we do daily, which can be kind of a grind," said keyboardist and singer Andy Swindell. "And it helps put us in the Christmas mood."
"Oh God, I love it," said guitarist and saxophone player Jeff Grimes, who is a native of Wayne County. "I look forward to this job every year. All my friends are here. All my history is right here."
"Goldsboro has always been good to us," said horn player Stephen Pachuta. "It's good people, a fun time and a good show."
Lead singer Craig Woolard said he knows the show is special to Grimes and drummer Bobby Tomlinson, who founded the band and who grew up in Goldsboro.
"It's got to be a great feeling for them," Woolard said. "I love Christmas music anyway. It's one of my favorite times of the year.
The band started off with a holiday favorite, "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," and followed up with "Home for the Holidays," and "Please Come Home for Christmas."
That was followed by a rollicking version of "Holly Jolly Christmas" and "A Merry Little Christmas" as well as another upbeat tune, "Jingle Bell Rock."
Other tunes in the nearly two-hour non-stop show included "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree," "Shagging in Winter Wonderland," and a be-bop version of "White Christmas."
The band incorporated a number of religious songs into their performance, reminding the audience of the real reason for the season. They played "Silent Night," "Away in a Manger," "O Come All Ye Faithful," "O Holy Night," and "Mary Did You Know?"
Band members dressed in costume and entertained the crowd during "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" and "Frosty the Snowman."
The band turned a little country with "Christmas in Dixie" and returned to their rocking roots with "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," "Let it Snow" and "Jingle Bells."
As part of the evening's introductions, News-Argus publisher Hal Tanner III presented volunteer Bobby Braswell with a plaque honoring him for 50 consecutive years of helping with the Empty Stocking Fund.