Video: "Sing Hallelu" - Elizabeth Mitchell and You Are My Flower

As part of the promotion for Elizabeth Mitchell and You Are My Flower's wonderful holiday album The Sounding Joy, Smithsonian Folkways has released a number of very well-done videos featuring Mitchell and her many friends singing tracks off the album live in a handful of different New York locales, including "Baby Born Today," "January, February (Last Month of the Year)," and "Cradle Hymn."

My choice for this Christmas Eve night, however, is "Sing Hallelu," which features just Mitchell, her husband Daniel Littleton, and harpist Elizabeth Clark-Jerez.  I like the quiet.  Merry Christmas, everyone.

Elizabeth Mitchell and You Are My Flower - "Sing Hallelu" [YouTube]

Free Music (and New Video) from Todd McHatton

In the glass-half-empty/glass-half-full approach to looking at this, you could either say, "Stefan, it's been 48 hours since Todd McHatton made all his music free for download, and you're only telling me now? Grr!"

Or, you could be in the spirit of the season and view the glass as half-full (or more) and say, "Stefan, thanks for giving me 48 hours to download Todd McHatton's music for free!"

That's right, through Dec. 25, you can download of the California power/psychedelic popster's family-friendly music for free.  Just go to McHatton's Bandcamp page and begin.

And while you're downloading away, check out McHatton's latest self-animated video for his song "Santa Flying In Your Sleigh," a fun track from his Christmas Songs album, which he updates (almost) annually -- this year the update features a brand new "I Think I'm a Bunny" holiday remix.  Christmas joy to go around!

Todd McHatton - "Santa Flying In Your Sleigh" [YouTube]

Video: Recess Monkey's "Tambourine Submarine" Live at Teatro ZinZanni

It is easy to get spoiled in this era of instant access.  So let's just take a moment to appreciate what Recess Monkey has done.  They filmed -- with six cameras -- their latest 54-minute kids show at Seattle's Teatro ZinZanni and put it on the internet for you to watch for free.  It's from their "Tambourine Submarine" show this past summer and fall and, in addition, to their high-energy live show, the show features some clowning (beyond Jack's and Drew's and Korum's), hula-dancing, and acrobatics.  I'd put the ratio at about 80% Recess Monkey / 20% circus, but close to 100% fun.  (Also, props for the '90s and even '80s rock song shout-outs.)

Video: "Snow Day" - Zak Morgan

I don't think we've yet had this year a Snowmageddon or Snowpocalypse or whatever cutesy name you East Coasters and Midwesterners like to give to large snow storms.  Still, it never hurts to have your snow-themed videos cued up early.  Zak Morgan, with the latest video from his The Barber of the Beasts album, has got your "Snow Day" back.  It's as if Tom Waits filmed a video involving a man dressed in a chicken suit at the airport.  Likeable even if you got gypped and school was just open 2 hours late.

Zak Morgan - "Snow Day" [Vimeo]

Video: "Baby Born Today" - Elizabeth Mitchell and Friends

I'm obviously a big fan of Elizabeth Mitchell's album of Christmas music, The Sounding Joy.  So when you share a video (recorded live) of "Baby Born Today," of course I am going to share it here.  Features a bunch of artists besides Mitchell (including Natalie Merchant, Simi Stone, Amy Helm, and Ruthy Unger) giving it their vocal all.  As with the entire album, this is not exactly a "kids music video," but it is pretty cool.

Elizabeth Mitchell and Friends - "Baby Born Today" [Vimeo]

Video: "Friends Again" - Lunch Money

After you go all Blues Brothers with your first video, I guess the only option Lunch Money had for their second video was to go small.  Their video for "Friends Again," which opens their previous album Original Friend, has the simplest of concepts, matching the reconciliatory theme of the song itself.  But it's nicely shot and edited and looks lovely. (Donuts at the end are a nice touch.)

Also: Lucy is a stone-cold comedian.  Tina Fey, watch your back.

Lunch Money - "Friends Again" [YouTube]