I Might Pay $8 Just For The Poster

It shouldn't be too surprising that the same band whose upcoming album art is pretty cool would also have cool poster art for a big ol' benefit show they're putting together. Yeah, Seattle's The Not-Its have put together a pretty awesome poster for "Timeout To Rock," which is being billed as "Seattle's First Annual Children's Music Festival." (I dig the positive attitude assumed in that billing.) If it were just a single-band show benefiting Juvenile Diabetes research, I probably wouldn't post about it, but since the poster's gone public and has a pretty awesome lineup -- the Not-Its, Recess Monkey, Caspar Babypants, and Central Services Board of Education -- I thought I'd share. (Seriously, folks, think about the assorted Seattle-area artists not performing -- Johnny Bregar, Eric Herman, the Harmonica Pocket, Eric Ode -- and try to come up with another locality with as many vital performers. Maybe NYC, and that's it.) Anyway, that awesome lineup will be playing Saturday, June 27th starting at 11 AM at Seattle's Vera Project. Tickets are just $8/person, $25/family. Such a deal. Make it if you can. And pick up a poster for me. (Poster after the jump.)

Video: "Hot Chocolate" - Recess Monkey

I've posted the first couple videos from Recess Monkey, so why not finish the triumvirate? This one's for the funky "Hot Chocolate" and features Jack Forman skiing his way across Seattle.... er, sort of. Field Trip the album is set for release June 9th and Field Trips with Recess Monkey the DVD is set for release later this summer. Recess Monkey - "Hot Chocolate"

New Dan Zanes and Friends DVD On Its Way...

I talked to Dan Zanes very briefly at KindieFest 2009, and he was pleasant as he's been every time I've met him, but did he mention anything about The Fine Friends Are Here, his upcoming DVD? Nosiree. Even though the live DVD (featuring Dan and his current band playing 14 songs) was filmed where we were talking, Brooklyn's Jalopy Theatre. Also including three new videos and a lot of other goodies, I think this is going to be a fun collection for the tens of thousands of folks who've seen him live over the past year or two. (Though how they managed to fit cameras in amongst the bands on Jalopy's tiny stage is a mystery to me...)

We Are The Not-Its, and We'd Like To Show You Album Art

Skating in with their new album later this summer (you'll understand what I mean in a moment) are Seattle's The Not-Its. We've been talking about them for almost a year now, but now their debut album We Are The Not-Its is just about ready to go. Besides the music, what I like about the band is that while I know they've been pushing to get the album out to the world, it hasn't been at the expense of other things, like album art. For their debut they partnered with Seattle design firm Invisible Creature for the album art, and it looks reeeeeallly cool. Track listing and album art (the skating reference will become self-evident) after the jump.

They Might Be Giants: The Little League Team

This, my friends, is a Genius Idea. I mean, as Flansy says, "If a pizza parlor or a super market can sponsor a team, why can't a rock band?" So now a Little League team in Seattle (named They Might Be Giants, natch) is outfitted with a whole bunch of No!-themed bright yellow t-shirts. What's better is that They Might Be Giants will make the same offer to 10 other teams (go to the link above for further details). Almost makes me wish we played t-ball in the 116-degree summer heat here in Phoenix. Obligatory TMBG/kids/baseball-related video after the jump.