Hey all – we’re back on the road again!
We used to wait… but now, trouble’s coming.
It’s a confusing world… but we come back to life!
Alright – enough terrible puns. Let’s kick this off properly: the Customs Holiday Bash officially begins today!
From today and all the way through New Year’s Eve, the community will be releasing two major drops of customs per day. That’s a lot of music coming your way to help celebrate the holidays in style.
Before we begin, I want to once again thank everyone who jumped in on short notice and helped make this event happen. It’s been genuinely heartwarming to see so many people step in, be flexible, and make sure we could still pull together something special. Thanks again.
And also, if you haven’t noticed – RGW is back! And hopefully it can stay in good shape and be used in releases through this event! So many thanks to Hive for working hard on fixing it!
As per tradition, we’re kicking things off with a community-wide singles release, and we have 20 awesome singles waiting for you. So let’s get into the songs! Click any visualizer to download the songs!
Opening the release is SpinDoctor, bringing two major rock cuts to start the event in a big way! The perfectly fitting first choice is REO Speedwagon’s “Back on the Road Again”, setting the tone with big hooks and forward momentum. Following it up is Toto’s “Rockmaker”, keeping the energy high and the groove rolling – a classic-rock one-two punch to get the bash moving.
Now it’s my turn! Time for a few prime singles from AIRHeads royalty artists. Starting with Arcade Fire’s “We Used to Wait” – a defining track from The Suburbs that perfectly captures restless momentum and emotional release. Royal Blood’s “Trouble’s Coming” flips the mood with sharp urgency and tons of hooks – and if you played FIFA or NHL 21, you probably know it by heart. From there, the brilliant Andrew Bird’s “Roma Fade” brings restless elegance, while Mac DeMarco delivers his unique style and sound with the laid-back classic “Salad Days”. Suede continue their great post-reunion run on the shamelessly epic “The Sadness In You, The Sadness In Me”, while power-pop greats Teenage Fanclub bring the hooky and melodic “Metal Baby”. Finally, the all-time great indie band Pixies close the run with “Velouria” – driving energy, huge hooks, and a slightly confusing time signature.
Next up is MrPrez, who delivers a run of loud, gritty tracks that hit from multiple angles.
Kadavar – “Come Back Life”
A “lost biker anthem”, “Come Back Life” became one of Kadavar’s staple live tracks immediately after its release in 2012. The band often opened with the song at festivals, where it has been seen as their breakthrough anthem – a blend of ZZ Top swagger and Black Sabbath weight.
Mike Watt – “Against the ’70s”
Ball-hog or tugboat? Solo project or supergroup?
A forgotten gem featuring Mike Watt (Firehose) alongside Dave Grohl (Nirvana), Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam), Nels Cline (Wilco), and J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.).
Clutch – “10001110101”
Clutch singer Neil Fallon mentioned that the song’s sci-fi vibe was inspired by old Twilight Zone and Battlestar Galactica reruns, combined with his well-known fascination with religion and technology. Instead of a traditional lyrical narrative, this track was written as a collage of pulp sci-fi imagery, reflected in the title as shorthand for “digital mythmaking”. The band has claimed that this song clicked with fans instantly because of its slamming riff and anthemic chorus, despite Neil frequently introducing it as “the dumbest song title we’ve ever come up with”.
The Company Band – “It’s a Confusing World”
If a stoner rock supergroup exists, it’s possibly The Company Band. Across two albums and one EP, the band featured Neil Fallon (Clutch), Jess Margera and Chad Ginsburg (CKY), James Rota (Fireball), and Brad Davis (Fu Manchu). Their sound was heavily influenced by Thin Lizzy, Bad Company, and Black Sabbath, while Neil’s lyrics satirized modern corporate life – deals, mergers, sell-outs – filtered through his patented sci-fi shift.
Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats – “I’ll Cut You Down”
The finest in 1970s proto-doom metal. Due to a psychic time glitch, the album was released in the past future of 2011. This is a level nine threat.
The Oreo takes a quick left turn into two specific moods. Portugal. The Man’s “So Young” is a little representation of summery, lounge-about slinky indie rock for the Christmas heat in the southern hemisphere. While Babaru’s “Eren Jaeger” is a moody but uptempo post-punk track about everyone’s favourite anime sadboy to commiserate the holidays with.
FujiSkunk now! When talking about famous singer/songwriters of the early 1970s, Jonathan Edwards is one of those names that never seems to come up, and yet when his most popular song starts playing, inevitably everyone agrees, “Oh yeah, he’s a good one!” “Sunshine” is a breezy, two-minute tribute to those who could do with a little less sunshine, at least until something happens that actually warrants sunshine! Originally authored by Nunchuck & Sygenysis, this new release boasts additional chart polish and 2-part harmony vocals.
Andrew etg continues the singles with Insite’s “Caricias”. He says:
This is one of the songs I listen to most often, and I’m happy to be able to share it with you this way, hoping that during these hollydays of gatherings with friends and family you’ll come across this custom, this song, and enjoy it.
Finally, Professor Bass delivers two crowd-driven moments that lean fully into participation and atmosphere. Chuck Berry’s “My Ding-A-Ling (Live)” is chaotic, communal fun where the audience is immediately part of the experience, while Carrie Underwood’s “Stretchy Pants” adds a modern holiday anthem – cozy, self-aware, and extremely relatable after a big meal. Rounding things out is Fountains of Wayne’s “Valley Winter Song,” bringing a warm, wintry sense of nostalgia that fits perfectly with the season and ties the set together with a gentle, heartfelt close.
There we go.
So that’s it for now – but it’s only the beginning! With two major releases per day all the way through New Year’s Eve, the Holiday Bash is officially underway.
Thanks again everyone! Enjoy the songs, spread the word, and stay tuned for the next release.
