So, yeah, I know I'm on the Peter Himmelman kick a lot recently, but this live video from last night's Furious World webcast shows Himmelman's band (along with the Ruby Friedman Orchestra) at their best. Not that you don't already know this, but My Trampoline, the title song of which is featured below, is out this week.
Brady Rymer totally needs to cover this song. Not sayin' he'd do it better -- because this rocks -- but he'd do it well...
Peter Himmelman - "My Trampoline" (Live)
Video: "For The Planet Pluto" - The Music Tapes (Julian Koster)
There have been a number of kids music songs about Pluto -- I'm most partial to Rocknoceros' "Pluto", but the Nields' "Percy on Pluto" and They Might Be Giants' "How Many Planets?" (off their forthcoming Here Comes Science) are pretty good, too.
The Music Tapes, which is the brainchild of Julian Koster, who also played in Neutral Milk Hotel, doesn't have a kids music album to its credit. But this song, "For The Planet Pluto," features some kids, plus a singing song. As a standalone kids' song, it's only so-so, even with the singing saw. But as a video, nothing else I've seen (or heard) more eloquently demonstrates why people -- especially kids -- reacted so strongly to Pluto's dismissal from planetary status. (It's even better than TMBG's video, which is pretty darn good.)
If you like this, there's more on its way... stay tuned...
The Music Tapes - "For the Planet Pluto"
The Music Tapes - For the Planet Pluto from Merge Records on Vimeo.
Video: "Electric Car" - They Might Be Giants
I'll have a lot more to say about They Might Be Giants this week and next in the runup to the release of Here Comes Science (including a free mp3). For the moment, please bounce slowly and clap along to the underaged crew carpooling in "Electric Car," one of the most gorgeously animated videos from the upcoming DVD/CD set.
They Might Be Giants - "Electric Car"
Video: "Trying To Write A Song" (Live) - Rocknoceros
Lest Billy Kelly think he has the market cornered on self-referential kids music, I would remind you that DC-area band Rocknoceros pioneered the genre with "Trying To Write A Song," from their self-titled debut (review). I know that Rockno's bread and butter are their more direct tunes, but it's the gems like this that lets the parents keep the CD in the player. The sound on this isn't the best (it does get a little clearer as it goes), but it's Friday and I haven't had a chance to finish the other things I'm working on...
Rocknocers - "Trying To Write A Song" (Live) [YouTube]
Video: "Bowl of Cherries" (Live) - Rhythm Child
Putumayo Kids' Picnic Playground tour wasn't much of a tour -- just four or five cities, I think. They seemed to draw a nice crowd, though, if this video from Rhythm Child's performance in LA was any indication. This video features Norman Jones going all quadruple-time on his "Bowl of Cherries" (which will sound familiar to those of you who have "Pick A Bale of Cotton" imprinted on your brain thanks to Raffi or Leadbelly).
The song's on the Picnic Playground, as well as on their upcoming album of the same name. (By the way, you can download a free mp3 of "The Shaker Song," which isn't necessarily a favorite of mine -- "Cherries" is a lot better -- at Rhythm Child's website.)
Rhythm Child - "Bowl of Cherries" (Live)
Peter Himmelman: More Curious, Less Furious
I already mentioned how Peter Himmelman would be releasing My Trampoline, his latest album for kids, next week on the Minivan Productions label. I also noted how he's putting together Peter Himmelman's Curious World, which will be webcast on the Land of Nod website.
A few more details are trickling out, including, perhaps most importantly, a time and day. The first 10 episodes will start on Sunday, October 4, at 10 AM (Central Time), with new weekly episodes running each Sunday morning through December 6. [Update: Will now start Sunday, September 27.] Each episode will feature a theme of the day and things like questions from kids, on the street visits, and chats with King Ferdinand, Himmelman's African leopard tortoise.
Ferdinand's been a part of Himmelman's Furious World webcasts for awhile now. You can even find some of Ferdinand's videos on YouTube. Here he is talking with Peter about music...
King Ferdinand - "Music" [YouTube]
And one more...
