On My Playlist: Top 5 December Streets songs

South Africa is known for its warm sunny days, beaches and summer vibes and December Streets typifies this feel good vibe with their indie/new wave rock music.
The band from Pretoria first burst onto the scene in 2011 with their hit songs, ‘My Name’ and ‘Fire Through The Window’ and followed that up with their first full-length album, This Is, which has a variety of brilliant tracks. The band consists of Tristan Coetzee – vocals and guitar, Corneil Clasen – drums, Waldo Boshoff – trumpet and synth and Dane Steinhobel – vocals and synth.
The band is unique in its happy-go-lucky sound with guitar, drums, trumpets and bass each bringing their own element to the joyful musical party. African-inspired melodies are also prevalent and add to the overall identity of this local band.
5. Stay by Me
This is one of December Streets’ newer tracks and, compared to their older material, this stands completely on its own as an excellent track with a catchy chorus. This song mainly utilises new-wave elements and a lot more synth than on their previous effort, but this works perfectly with lead singer, Tristan’s up-tempo voice. The chorus is truly the star of this song and will stick in your head for a few days, guaranteed. The song’s lyrics also have universal appeal as they focus on relationships and sticking with someone through good and bad. The music video is also brilliantly executed with band members walking and running on opposite escalators.

4. So Fine
Next on the list is a song that gives the listener the same feeling as opening a present. The wrapping is the intricate bass solo followed by Tristan Coetzee’s sweet vocals before a short hint of guitar and drums enter the fray. The gift is in the chorus that is mainly driven by the ‘oh-oh-ohs’ and ‘eh-eh-ehs’ as well as the great trumpet melody. The song, just like its title, truly makes one feel fine. The feeling of being happy with someone else is perfectly explained in this fun song. Jumping along in the chorus is mandatory.
3. Thief
The unique intro of this song is what catches the listener from the outset with palm-muted guitar, breakneck-paced drumming and the use of snare as well as a riveting trumpet melody. The lyrics that focus on love and its trials and tribulations are also fantastic. The sad nature of the lyrics is directly juxtapositioned with the upbeat musical quality. The lyrics, ‘You tried to steal my heart, I couldn’t believe I didn’t see it from the start,’ are a perfect example of this.
The bridge is also another fantastic element of this song with the drums and trumpet working together in perfect sync as the song builds up to the chorus one more time. This is also one of Tristan Coetzee’s strongest songs, both in terms of guitar work and vocal quality.

2. Fire Through the Window
‘Fire Through The Window’ probably has the catchiest indie-like guitar riff with its high notes and intricate melody that will keep your head bobbing. Waldo Boshoff also adds his own spin on things with his trumpet skills that are most present in the chorus with a sweet and recognisable melody.
Coetzee also adds some reggae- influenced guitar strumming to the song in the bridge, together with a little guitar solo to add further instrumental gloss to the song. The chorus, ‘She comes like a fire through the window to burn me out,’ are definitely stand-out lyrics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5daqw8iQ_gM&list=PLwyd7bsDZwITtFDldXKNMO6ZdKlh_8XDS&index=6
1. My Name
This is what set December Streets on the road to musical success and it’s easy to understand why. The upbeat and quick tempo of the intro, complete with a small guitar solo, starts this song off right.
The speedy drums from Corneil Clasen in the verses and chorus, combined with Coetzee shouting, ‘she wants to know my name’, are the perfect combination and show the complexity of this song. The song also has numerous layers and patterns that are pulled off flawlessly to enhance the song even further.