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The halls of the Nightclub 9:30 were decked accordingly for the Fowl Records Very Mary Christmas. Fake blankets of glittering snow covered the speakers around the stage. Big faux gift boxes surrounded a Christmas tree with a blinking angel on top. And out came Mary Prankster, Maryland’s princess of psychobilly, with a pan of freshly baked Christmas cookies for the audience.

On December 22, it was indeed beginning to look a lot like Christmas-- Mary Prankster style. You could call her look festive: a red sequined tube top, leopard print hotpants with a leopard guitar strap to match, torn fishnet stockings, tattoos, and a Santa hat. And the dirty little ditties she played were hardly Christmas carols.

Luckily, all the children were snug in their beds as Ms. Prankster-- a futuristic-folk femme fatale known for her excessive use of four-letter words-- redefined the phrase "explicit lyrics," performing favorites like "Tits and Whiskey." Backed by drummer Phil Tang and bassist Jon E. Cakes, Mary Prankster sassed her way through a repertoire of feisty rants and thoughtful middle-class feminist anthems, including "Valentine" and "Mac and Cheese" off her first CD, and "Mata Hari" off her new release Roulette Girl. She performed a version of "Blue Skies Over Dundalk," the song off her 1998 debut of the same name that put her-- and Dundalk, Maryland-- on the map.

If a woman could have balls, Mary Prankster would have boulders. This small-framed, trash-talking brunette had men and women alike shouting their proclamations of love for her through every scorching song.

Fowl Records boasted more than their foxy, foul-mouthed Prankster, also showcasing some of their budding talent earlier in the evening. Colouring Lesson opened the event with their crossbreed of reggae, ska, and rock, concluding their set with their most commanding song, "My Spot." CL guitarist Rennie Grant made a guest appearance on stage with Mary Prankster (as he does on her latest CD). Smart Bomb, took the stage next, and, despite their unassuming appearance, they were as musically explosive as their name would suggest. The last act before Mary Prankster was Laughing Colors, an energetic rock act that had the audience bouncing.

And no Christmas is complete, of course, without a gift. In the middle of her set, Mary raffled off her fire engine red Fender Telecaster to a lucky audience member. A merry Mary Christmas to all.

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