Yo Gabba Gabba. Coachella. Yes, the two coexisted. Visual proof below. It's not entirely surprising as DJ Lance Rock was scheduled to be at the Sahara stage/dance hall, but the presence of the whole YGG gang and an event which has never made any move towards kid-inclusion is either a jump-the-shark moment or some sort of tipping point into mainstream acceptance. They're not necessarily mutually exclusive, but check out the number of folks in the front few rows lifting up their cameras to record the thing for posterity. My money's on "mainstream acceptance," though one could argue they already had it.
And they were elsewhere at Coachella this weekend...
Review: "Ranky Tanky" - Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem
This is a disk that's been sitting on my desk for awhile, and I've actually listened to it a fair amount since receiving it a few months back. I feel slightly bad about this, some sort of cognitive dissonance between the desire to tell folks about a good CD and my inability to, you know, tell folks about a good CD.
The Connecticut-based band Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem has been making music stringband music for a good decade now, but Ranky Tanky is their first album specifically targeted at families. It's a big stew of songs familiar and not, "traditional" and "un." The first 4 songs -- Cat Stevens' "If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out," traditional tune "The Green Grass Grows All Around," the Meters' "They All Ask'd For You," and the pop novelty hit "Purple People Eater" -- illustrate the band's omniverous, genre-disregarding approach to music. They just find good songs and give them new life.
In essence, while lots of artists talk about making music for families, relatively few of them have taken the Dan Zanes approach of making "age-desgregated" music truly expected to be listened to without irony filters. This album takes this path less-traveled. In the end, I think Arbo falls just a little short of Zanes, which is an admittedly high bar to reach. While the album maintains a genial vibe infused with warmth, there are times on the album where the jolt of a Father Goose or an out-of-left-field guest artist would have helped a bit.
In true Zanes-ian fashion, the idea of an appropriate age range is a little odd with this disk, but think of it as being best for kids ages 3 and up. You can spin five of the tracks here and listen to clips at its CD Baby page.
Ranky Tanky is one of those disks destined to be listened to long after the kids have grown out of their size 1 shoes. Fans of Dan Zanes and Elizabeth Mitchell will find the eclectic song choices and cozy arrangements to their families' liking. Though you were always sort of part of this family music world, we'll wish you a formal welcome, Rani -- hope you stick around for awhile. (It won't take me this long next time to tell folks.) Definitely recommended.Video: "Hug" - The Mudcakes
Perhaps the production values are slightly below that of They Might Be Giants or a certain Super Bowl ad, but as videos featuring sock puppets go, this ain't a bad one. It's from the Australian band The Mudcakes -- the song is "Hug" and off their debut disk Songs For Little Monkey.
The Mudcakes - "Hug" [YouTube]
Video: "Music In You" - Heidi Hutchence
I can't say that I'm a huge fan of this song from London-based artist Heidi Hutchence, though I think it'd be pretty effective as a wind down song in a preschool classroom. But, man, this video looks splendid. Though the song's a couple years old, the video's new. Mmmmm.... dancing, computer-animated felt trees.
Heidi Hutchence - "Music In You" [Vimeo] (YouTube version after the jump)
Music in you from Heidi Hutchence on Vimeo.
So What Are You Doing After Kindiefest? (The Unofficial Party Thread)
I'm excited, of course, to be attending and moderating at Kindiefest in just a couple weeks (April 30-May 2), but since coming back from SXSW, I understand better that no music conference is complete without unofficial side parties and concerts.
This post, friends, is for those of you attending Kindiefest and feeling like there's not quite enough kids music (or kids music socializing) going on, and needing more. (It's also for you lucky ducks living in Brooklyn who want more than the official Sunday concert, which kicks off at noon.)
Right now there are two events I know of -- if you're playing a gig in NYC that weekend, shoot me an e-mail or post something in the comments and I'll be happy to expand the list. See below for more!
Anyway, Renee Stahl and Jeremy Toback are playing a Renee and Jeremy show of sorts -- they promise their solo music along with some R&J tunes. There are probably plenty of folks who play Renee & Jeremy tunes late at night -- it's just usually recorded, and in the nursery. Anyway, though details are scant on the Sullivan Hall website, it appears they're playing at 10:30 PM at the Greenwich Village venue. Tickets $10 in advance, $12 at the door.
Secondly, Frances England, who's playing the industry showcase at Kindiefest Saturday night, will also be playing a public show at the 92nd Y Tribeca on Sunday, May 2 at 11 AM. NYC folks, if you can't make it to Brooklyn (or if your kids are very easy-going) -- this is a rare opportunity. Tickets are $15.
NEW: Ralph Covert (Ralph's World) is doing a solo performance/signing at the Borders on Columbus Circle, Friday the 30th at 4 PM. Details here.
NEW: Rhythm Child is taping a Kids Place Live Rumpus Room concert at 2 PM Friday. Send an e-mail to Mindy Thomas (Mindy AT siriusxm DOT com) for details.
Also, here are a few things going on if you're not actually attending KindieFest...
NEW: AudraRox will be playing the Tribeca Film Festival on Saturday, May 1 at 4 PM, presumably at the street fair.
NEW: Lloyd Miller of the Deedle Deedle Dees is leading musical nature workshops for kids in Brooklyn's Prospect Park as part of NYC Wildflower Week, including Saturday morning at 10 AM for the preschoolers, 11 AM for the grade schoolers (details here).
NEW Princess Katie and Racer Steve are playing the Luke's Rock 'N' Stroll fundraiser from 8:30 - 11:30 (or so) Saturday morning.
Like I said, if you're performing in NYC that weekend, let me know...Crowdfunding, Part 3: Matt Clark Does It...
A few weeks back, I highlighted the attempt by Portland, Oregon's Matt Clark to use Kickstarter, a "crowd-sourcing" site which puts folks under a deadline to raise funds from fans for a wide variety of projects. Matt's project was to record the follow-up to Clark's debut, Funny Little Fella -- he was looking for $3,000 for mixing, mastering, and duplicating.
Well, as you can see from the fancy widget below, Clark made his goal. I'm posting this for two reasons:
1) Yay, Matt.
2) For other musicians considering this route, the details on how people chose to fund the project -- i.e., at what levels -- I think are useful reading. You'll actually have to click on the widget below to see that, but I found it interesting that folks bypassed the cheaper reward levels and were only interested in the higher levels. In other words, if you're gonna get somebody invested in you... make 'em invest.
