Kurt Vile and his daughters cover Bob Dylan in festive ‘Must Be Santa’ video
The video is a Vile family affair, with no shortage of offbeat seasonal charm.
Kurt Vile has released a new video for his Christmas song, “Must Be Santa,” ahead of two benefit shows in January for a Germantown learning center.
The Philly rock star, known for his long hair and laid-back style, covered the song in 2022, drawing inspiration from Bob Dylan’s polka-infused version on his 2009 holiday album Christmas in the Heart. Dylan’s rendition itself took cues from Brave Combo, a polka fusion band, while the song dates back to its first recording by Mitch Miller in 1960.
The new video, directed by Vile and his brother, Sam Vile — who plays Santa Claus in the clip — was filmed in Mount Airy, Manayunk, and Delaware County.
“We put this video out last year at, like, 5 p.m. on Christmas evening (only on my Insta G),” Vile announced in a statement.
“This vid was made by my brother Sam and me (but mostly Sam) in 2023 … and rescued later that year by Josh Walker (who shot the additional Philly footage of us a few days before Christmas … and then he final edited the video on Christmas Eve and a lil on Christmas Day, too, haha) ‘Must be Santa’ is available on last year’s Back to Moon Beach EP (thanks, Bob Dylan!)”
“Must Be Santa” is a Vile family affair, with no shortage of adorably offbeat seasonal charm. Reindeers Dancer and Dasher are played by Kurt Vile’s daughter Awilda and his brother, Paul “Jelloman” Vile, respectively. Kurt’s daughter Delphine plays the Christmas Elf, and Awilda and Delphine handle backup vocals in the call-and-response song with their father.
Along the way, Vile and Santa stop at a halal cart for lunch and go shopping at Main Street Music in Manayunk. There they buy records — including the Back To Moon Beach EP — and toss them toward people’s doorsteps like newspaper delivery boys.
On Jan. 18, Vile will play two shows at Johnny Brenda’s, performing along with guitarist Mike Polizze of Philly band Purling Hiss.
The shows benefit the Natural Creativity Center, a self-described “alternative, self-directed learning center” that “empowers young people to think outside the box and to solve problems using creativity, compassion, and collaboration.” More info at naturalcreativity.org and johnnybrendas.com.