The Storm Windows return with a festive twist in their new Christmas single “Santa Goes to Space,” accompanied by a charming YouTube video and a pair of release shows across Vermont. The Americana trio, brothers Rob and Don Mathews alongside drummer Erik Anderson, are known for their warm folk-rock spirit, their John Prine-inspired storytelling, and a live presence Spin Magazine recently dubbed “the Folk Ramones.” Hot off their 2025 summer EP More Lucky, the band dives into the holiday season with something both whimsical and heartfelt: a ballad about Santa and Rudolph blasting off on Christmas night to share the spirit of the season with the “Whole Wide Universe.” It’s classic Storm Windows—homespun, humorous, and unexpectedly moving—reminding listeners that Christmas, at its core, is universal, literally.
Once “Santa Goes to Space” kicks off, the song instantly pulls you into its folksy cheer. It opens with writhing fiddle lines, blended with jingling percussion that gives everything that unmistakable festive sparkle. Softly strummed guitars slide in underneath, laying down a warm, easygoing bed of sound. Then the raspy, gentle vocals come full of charm, delivered with that familiar Storm Windows storytelling style, like sitting by a fire while someone spins a tale just for you.
The melody is catchy without trying too hard, drifting along with a lighthearted sway that makes you smile almost involuntarily. As the lyrics paint Santa and Rudolph charting a cosmic path, the band infuses the narrative with a wink, yet the sentiment lands sincerely. The rhythm section keeps things playful and buoyant, giving the track an old-school folk ballad vibe wrapped in holiday sparkle.
By the time the chorus rolls through, you’re fully aboard the sleigh-turned-spaceship, carried by a tune that’s equal parts nostalgia, humor, and good-natured Americana warmth. “Santa Goes to Space” may be whimsical on the surface, but at heart, it shows that the spirit of Christmas shines far beyond any single place—maybe even across the stars.
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Review by: Naomi Joan