Interview: Ashley Albert (The Jimmies)

Ashley_videoshoot.jpgAshley Albert is the founder of the New York-based band The Jimmies. Their debut album, Make Your Own Someday is a whole bunch of fun, and their videos are, well, their videos are something to see, and a lot of that is due to Ashley herself. Let's put it this way -- when I asked Ashley to send some photos to accompany this interview, she sent me one that featured her wearing a fake mustache. Deedee Doodle (of Doodlebops fame) might have many positive attributes, but being willing to send a photo of herself wearing a fake mustache is not, I am willing to guess, one of them. Read on for the story behind the band's creation, the recording of the debut, the name of their next album, and, yes, the picture of Ashley wearing the fake mustache. Zooglobble: What were your musical influences growing up? Ashley Albert: I had music coming at me from all sides when I was a kid- my dad was a record producer and I spent a lot of weekends in the 70’s asleep on the couch at the studio while bands like CSN, The Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton and John Cougar rocked it out. I also fell in love with a lot of unknown bands he worked on that never saw the light of day. My mom was really into the reggae scene and we actually lived in the Bahamas for a stint while Bob Marley was recording “Rastaman Vibration”. I was exposed to a whole lot of decidedly “adult” music. When I was writing the songs for Make Your Own Someday, I remembered that the songs I liked best were the ones that at least mentioned something that seemed kid-like to me…i.e. “Rock the Boat” by The Hues Corporation (“Boats! Boats are for kids!”) or “Just the Two of Us” by Grover Washington Jr. (“The number two! This is like a counting song!”). I also went through a heavy Dr. Demento phase in junior high, followed closely by an affinity for musicals, Carly Simon, Led Zeppelin and Cat Stevens. I’m just all over the place in the music department.

This Kids Festival Coulda Been a Contender. No, Wait, It Is.

OK, if you're going to name your festival the On The Waterfront Festival, you can't expect me not to make a bad movie reference, right? (Oh, I see I made the same joke last year. So predictable.) Aaaanyway, the four-day fest features a nice little lineup of local and not-so-local acts for the kids interspersed amongst a much larger set of bands. Might be worth a trip if you're in the area Labor Day weekend. Saturday Aug.30th Mindy Hester (who I don't see listed on the schedule at the moment, but I've been told is playing) The Deeedle Deedle Dees Sunday Aug. 31st The Chickadees Jim Gill

Afterschool Special: The Terrible Twos in Concert (Presented by Zooglobble)

MattPryor.JPGThe Terrible Twos are releasing their new album Jerzy the Giant next week (have you heard it yet?) and to mark the occasion, they're doing some touring the next couple months. At the same time, chief Two (Number One Two?) Matt Pryor is also releasing his first solo record, Confidence Man and to mark the occasion, he's doing some touring the next couple months. Coincidence? Who cares! There's a show in Phoenix! Presented by Zooglobble (a phrase which I still can't say without chuckling a little). On Wednesday, August 20th, at 6 PM (doors open at 5:30) at downtown Phoenix's Modified Arts, you'll get to see the Terrible Twos in a special early show. It will be energetic, fun, and no small party. Tickets are $5, $3 for the kiddos. Other Terrible Twos dates after the jump.

World Premiere: Stream the New Terrible Twos (Jerzy the Giant)

Oh, boy, am I geeked about this. The Terrible Twos' great new album Jerzy the Giant is out next Tuesday the 29th on Vagrant Records and if you don't want wait for my review, or want to see what the fuss is all about, or just want to listen to the album, have I got a deal for you. Vagrant Records is allowing me to world premiere the stream of the entire album, and I wouldn't have said yes if I didn't think a lot of you were going to love it. Just click on a song track below to get started. Might I suggest #1 ("Old Man Miller")?... (And go forth and explore that player, it'll even allow you to post it on your own website -- or your kid's if you're that type of family.) You can preorder the album here or here.