With a name like Michael Christmas your mind may wander at first to a land of tinsel and snow, but for these boys it’s a never ending summer. Legends like the Beach Boys would smile upon this lo-fi garage rock band whose sound will make you wish fall wasn’t just around the corner. The St. Petersburg based group will been dishin’ out the nostalgia once again September 19 when they play at Ramblin’ Rose in Downtown St. Petersburg.

Only a month old, the group is fairly new to the St. Pete music scene but has already played shows at Fubar, Ramblin’ Rose, Crowbar and the New World Brewery in Ybor City.

Ben Saylor, 19, and guitarist Peter Kokkinakos, 18, had already been jammin’ together and with influences like The Drums, Nirvana and 13th Floor Elevators.  A grungy, surf rock sound seemed “only natural” to them. Soon to follow was bassist Vaughn, 23, dubbed “grandpa” for being the oldest and Cody Williams, 20, to add to the magic.

At shows, the boys prefer the floor to the stage where they can feed off the crowd and join in on the almost inevitable dancing and crowd surfing.

“ We feel like we have been very lucky in St. Pete,” Williams said. “The energy we have been receiving is just incredible.”

Solid drums and a heavy bass line make up their chant-like song “Meethead,”  where a rain dance around a massive blazing fire should be requisite.  Michael Christmas knows how to slow it down though, the sounds of “Sandcastle Heart,” will have you pining to cuddle up with your sweetie or leave you lonely for a summer lover.

Of the 15 tunes they've written, only five have been recorded but the hopes of a cassette tape are on the way. Yes. A cassette tape. You don’t need Doc’s DeLorean because these boys are taking you all the way back to the Walkman days.

“It’s definitely more outdated but it’s more suitable to our sound,” Kokkinakos said.

The release date is set for sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, a great stocking stuffer for the friends who just can’t seem to leave their boom boxes behind.

“We wanted something more tangible, it just somehow feels more special,” Williams said.

The cassette will come with a downloadable EP for those complacent living in the present ( or who can’t find their dad’s tape player).

To learn more about Michael Christmas or hear some of their work, visit their Bandcamp page here.