What are you most thankful for this year?

Gratitude all around.  Seeing as I’ve found myself booking several events leading into 2023, I’m thankful that I’m once again able to provide for my family by doing what I love.  I’m most grateful that my Mom is still with us.  She’s had quite a few health scares over the past few years, and her resiliency is quite something to behold & be grateful for.

Do you enjoy decorating? 

I enjoy ‘getting’ the tree.  We head out to Gogo’s tree farm where we’re from, and march ourselves into the woods & cut it down ourselves. It’s an annual event.  But once it’s home, my wife Cathleen makes the house beautiful.  We just had a family friend over recently, and they remarked that our house ‘is Christmas,’ so Cathleen must be doing it right!

Let’s settle the debate: does the Christmas tree go up after Halloween or after Thanksgiving?

Seeing as I’m Canadian and we celebrate our Thanksgiving in October, I would have to say after Halloween most definitely!

 How long did you believe in Santa?

My cousin Jason crushed Santa for me when I was 10.  We’re cool now, but I remember not wanting to believe the words he was saying.  

Do you do your Christmas shopping early, or are you a last second shopper?

Generally we are all wrapped up by now, but all these ’23 tour plans & new album preparations have us leaving it a little later this year.  We’re also gonna try to stay away from the malls this year and shop hyper-locally in our small town.  Our kids are getting older, so they’re not needing half a dozen different presents under the tree this year.  A solid stocking and one or two other things and everybody is happy!

What does Christmas mean to you?

I find I’m getting a little more sappy every year.  I see Christmas as a time of reflection and nostalgia, and during this season, I  do find myself missing those that aren’t with us any longer, even more than usual.  It’s a ‘big picture’ time of year, and it’s a good time to love each other a little more, and that includes ourselves.  

Do you have to have snow to really make it feel like Christmas or could you live without it?

We’ve had our share of snow already here on Vancouver Island, and I’m a bit of a Dudley Do-right around the ‘hood, so I end up doing quite a bit of shovelling around here.  So snow-wise, I don’t really like it, I don’t need it but I will concede that a gentle ‘dusting’ on Christmas Eve is kinda sweet.  

Are there any Christmas tunes you like to put on to set the Christmas mood?

More of a Burl Ives vibe than Mariah Carey… I love the old school crooners so much.  I’ll take Elvis’ ‘Blue Christmas’.  But actually my very favourite Christmas song is ‘Christmas in LA’ by the Killers & Dawes.  They released it a few years back, and I seem to cover it every year since.  It’s got the perfect chorus.  

Do you have any memorable Christmas memories from your childhood or recent that make Christmas a memorable time of year?

My Grandparents would decorate their house & yard all-out.  It was like Disneyland.  I remember walking up their curvey sidewalk to their front door on Christmas Eve, knowing that I’d get to open a pretty sweet gift – just one! – the night before.  They absolutely spoiled me.  Their house smelled great – rife with Christmas Eve dinner & appetizers and smells of all-day baking – and the interior was all decorated in red year-round.  Music was playing or a Christmas flick would be on the TV, and we’d laugh for hours.  

We’d wrap up over there, head home and on Christmas morning, Bob & Phyllis would drive the block and a half over to my parents’ house and bring another boxload of presents with them to open with us all.  It was always over the top; any kid’s’dream.  

From The Grinch, Santa Claus, Home Alone, there’s tons of Christmas movies to get into the Christmas spirit, Rank your top 5 Christmas movies. 

Top 5 is tough but I’ll try:  

1) The Family Stone

2) National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 

3) Home Alone

4) A Christmas Story

5) It’s a Wonderful Life / Meet Me in St. Louis

We want to thank Ryan for stopping by and chatting with us on this special edition Christmas themed interview. To keep up with all news and tour information check out http://www.ryanmcmahon.com/. Ryan McMahon’s latest release “One More Fire” is still running hot as he stays busy touring and promoting his new single and working on his upcoming album. Check out his Official Music Video below!