Video: "Planet Hopping" Trailer - Lunch Money / Belle et Bête

I'm geeked about one of my favorite bands, Lunch Money, stretching their wings (or whatever it is bands collectively stretch) and doing new things.

Especially if those new things are with puppets. 

Next week is the world premiere of the space puppet musical the band has created with  Belle et Bête, a South Carolina-based puppetry duo.  If you are at all near the Columbia, South Carolina area next weekend (Nov. 15 & 16), please do check out the show and let this poor West Coast(-ish) guy know how it was.  'Cause otherwise I'll just have to rely on this trailer which, while it does feature Lunch Money music and puppets, won't really be like being there.

Video: "Boo!" - Trout Fishing in America

Another Halloween, and there's a bunch of Halloween-themed music out, most of which I really don't care that much about because I don't care that much about Halloween.

So the Halloween videos and music I feature here are definitely cream of the crop, such as the latest video from Trout Fishing in America.  It's for "Boo!," one of the most distinctive tracks off of Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers.  The song and the video (directed by Maxwell Sorensen and Louis Sparre for Tweed Video) are spooky in just the right way for your favorite 8-year-old. 

Trout Fishing in America - "Boo!" [YouTube] 

Video: "Recess" - Justin Roberts

Justin Roberts has not been one of those artists who've ridden to kids music stardom on the tails of his videos -- he's only made a few, and while they're good, they tend to attract tens of thousands of views because of the quality of the songs.

From a pure video perspective, Roberts' brand new video for "Recess," the title-track from his award-winning album, this is probably my favorite of his.  That's mostly because the video -- directed by his sister Staci, name-checked in the song and showing off fancy disco moves of her own as the teacher -- very much captures the playfulness that Roberts and his Not Ready for Naptime Players brings to their live performances.  I fully expect to see some disco moves the next time I see them live.

Justin Roberts - "Recess" [YouTube] (h/t USA Today) 

Video: "From You" - Charlie Hope

Charlie Hope, who in her warm-hearted simplicity and clear voice, I sometimes think of as the latter-day, female equivalent of Raffi (though with a Juno and without the Daniel Lanois connection), has a new album coming out next month.  She's just released her first video from Sing As We Go , an animated video for "From You," and it's a tender, computerized felt-like creation from UK animator Charlotte Blacker.  (We are big Charlotte Blacker fans 'round here.)  It bodes well for the album as a whole.

Charlie Hope - "From You" [YouTube]

Video: "Fill It Up" - Josh and the Jamtones

Isn't This Old House?  filmed in the Boston area?  Then perhaps this video, filmed during the "buildout" of the Josh and the Jamtones headquarters, could be part of a Very Special Kindie Edition of the home improvement show.  The video is for "Fill It Up," one of the appealing tracks on their new album Bear Hunt , and while it's simple, it shows the gregarious band being gregarious.

But, really, my chief reason for featuring the video is the paint brushes.  I would like to see more videos featuring the paint brushes, please.

Josh and the Jamtones - "Fill It Up" [YouTube] 

World Premiere Video: "For Halloween This Year" - You and Me and the Rain (Lori Henriques and Todd McHatton)

It's been a busy past few weeks for Los Angeles' Todd McHatton.  Last week saw the release of his (first) EP and animated show with Mista Cookie Jar as part of Todd and Cookie.

This week, another new band he's a part of, You and Me and the Rain, is unleashed upon the world.  His partner in this effort?  Portland's Lori Henriques.

The first product of their collaboration is a duet about Halloween creativity called "For Halloween This Year," though to call it a "duet" sells it short by half, as both Henriques' older child and McHatton's younger one make vocal contributions.

The idea of combining Henriques' jazz and showtune sensibility and McHatton's psychedelic kindie was not obvious to me when I first heard of it, but their shared taste for nifty wordplay ("is rogue in vogue this year?") and their well-matched vocal tones shows that this could be very fruitful.  What could come from this? It's fun not knowing.

In any case, I'm pleased as punch to present the world premiere of the song's video, directed by Gina and Todd McHatton and offering low-cost, high-imagination costumes for Halloween (or anytime of year).

You and Me and the Rain (Lori Henriques and Todd McHatton) - "For Halloween This Year" [YouTube]