Video (and mp3): "The Fine Friends Are Here" - Dan Zanes and Friends

As previously noted, Dan Zanes' next DVD, The Fine Friends Are Here, will be out next week. Zanes and his (fine) friends were recorded live at Brooklyn's Jalopy Theatre, and, yeah, they're all up there on that tiny stage. Want the audio from the title track in a nice, portable mp3 format? Well, here you go. (Thanks, Razor and Tie!) For those of you more visually-oriented, check out the DVD video below. Like I said, tiny stage... Dan Zanes and Friends - "The Fine Friends Are Here" [Myspace] Dan Zanes and Friends - The Fine Friends Are Here
(You're also welcome to go here and order the disk with free shipping through the 22nd. Just enter "ZANESDVD" at checkout.)

The First Gentle Reminder About the Top Kids Music Albums of All Time Poll

TopKidsAlbumsLogo.jpgThe reminders will probably become less and less gentle as the October 7 deadline for submitting your list of the top 10 kids music albums of all time approaches, but for now, I'll just say that I appreciate the number of folks who have already sent me their lists. And I also would like to thank Elizabeth Bird at Fuse #8 (whose idea for a Top 100 Picture Books poll she borrowed from someone else just as I borrowed from her) and the folks at friend-of-Zooglobble the Cybils Awards (a really great resource for keeping up on the best kids books of the year) for their nice words. Go vote already (click on pic for details). No pressure, of course.

Concert Recap: Todd Baio (Phoenix, September 2009)

ToddBaioCOBSept09.jpgA fun show this afternoon from Phoenix's own Todd Baio -- a whole host of instruments (you ain't lived 'til you've heard a "can-jo") and songs going back 150 years (or 500 if you count "Froggy Went A Courtin'"). Definitely a fun kickoff to the 2009-2010 season for the "Not Just For Kids" Concert series. Lots more to come over the next few months. Anyway, here's "Ezekiel Saw the Wheel," with a couple more familiar tunes after the jump (as soon as YouTube cooperates). More videos at the concert series' Facebook page. Todd Baio - "Ezekiel Saw the Wheel" [YouTube]

Last-Minute Heads-Up: Chuck Cheesman / Todd Baio in Phoenix

ChuckCheesmanJan07.jpgI've tended not to talk much about the Phoenix shows I've been putting on, given the more national focus of the site, but a quick heads up for anyone from the Phoenix area who isn't on my e-mail list or didn't hear about this through Facebook and the like. Tomorrow (Sunday) there will be two different shows set up with my assistance. First up, the Children's Museum of Phoenix continues its 2009 series of concerts with a pair of sets from Flagstaff-based artist Chuck Cheesman. Chuck played in the famous Wiggleworms program at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music and I've seen him a number of times here in Arizona. If you've got preschoolers, this'll be a fun show for them. The show is free with museum admission. Shows are at 10:30 and 12:30 and require tickets, which I believe are sold out, but as people move in and out of the shows, you'll probably be able to get in even if you don't have a ticket and are willing to wait just a little bit. ToddBaioCMOPJuly09.jpg Second, Church of the Beatitudes here in Phoenix (which just so happens to be my church) is starting a full season of Not Just For Kids Concerts (we kicked it off last season with Randy Kaplan and Justin Roberts) and the first show will feature Todd Baio playing his ukulele with songs for young and old. The show starts at 2 PM and is free. I will get around to talking about the Not Just For Kids Concerts soon enough 'round here because we're going to have 6 or 7 shows this season and it's going to be pretty darn cool...

Video: "Poor Dust Bunnies" - Caspar Babypants

When your fans turn out fan videos like these, then you've got it made. Caspar Babypants (aka Chris Ballew) has got it made. Here's a very simple, but cute, video for "Poor Dust Bunnies" (off of Here I Am!) from a fan by the name of Greg DeLiso. Caspar Babypants - "Poor Dust Bunnies" (fan video) [YouTube]