Well, it's not family in particular, but there's only many family types you can describe in exactly 90 seconds. Or at least, in a bouncy pop tune. While it's not quite as incredibly awesome a tune as "We R Super Heroes," the animation for this video for "That's My Family" looks similar in places as the video for "We R Super Heroes." (Unsurprisingly, they share the same illustrator.) This tune's from Yo Gabba Gabba!, and, yeah, while it's an Apples in Stereo song, it sounds like a Robbert Bobbert outtake. Or vice versa.
The Apples in Stereo - "That's My Family" (from Yo Gabba Gabba!) - [YouTube]
Oh, and if you like Apples in Stereo...
A Flood of They Might Be Giants Stuff
You can never have too much They Might Be Giants. OK, you probably can, but we haven't reached that part of the supply curve yet.
1) Did you know that we're coming up on the 20th anniversary of the band's classic album Flood? Did you know the band gave new liner notes of sorts to the album in this interview with Rolling Stone? Did you know that if you're a fan of the album at all, you need to click that link immediately and read? (Sorry. No more questions. I promise.)
2) Speaking of Flood, while it doesn't have possibly the greatest moment in television history, props to the band for picking one of the lesser-known tracks for airing on this Web-exclusive from Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Should they be smiling so much singing a song about being dead? (Oops. Sorry. Last question.)
They Might Be Giants - "Dead" (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon)
(Thanks on both of those to This Might Be a Wiki.)
3) Finally, moving back into the present-day, props to Bill for helping to snag a New Year's Eve kids show with the band. If you're in the Northampton area the afternoon of the 31st, you need to go.
Austin City Limits Festival 2009: Day 1 in Review (Part 2)
Believe it or not I spent some time at the rest of the 2009 Austin City Limits Music Festival. I have so many conflicting obligations when I visit the Festival, that I never feel like I see enough of the non-Austin Kiddie Limits music. The first part of the day was cool enough, but it was time for the adult in me to enjoy a little music without the kids. So after helping my wife, Miss Mary Mack, and Little Boy Blue get back to downtown Austin (they're not quite the festival hounds I am), I finally made it back to Zilker Park and made my to the Wildflower Center stage to see K'naan.
Every year there's one performance I didn't quite anticipate that ends up blowing me away. K'naan's set, or at least the last 30 minutes that I caught, was that experience for this year. How good was this Canadian hip-hop artist originally born in Somalia? I bought his album Troubadour at the Waterloo tent pretty much right after his set ended. His set-closing performance of "Wavin' Flag," of which he did an abbreviated version that I half-caught at the Austin Kiddie Limits stage, might very well be the single best musical experience I've had in 3 years of attending ACL. This YouTube clip can't do it complete justice, of course, but the way he works the crowd together freestyling for about 6 minutes before launching into the music is masterful. "When I get older / I will be stronger / They'll call me freedom / Just like a wavin' flag / And then it goes back / And then it goes back / And then it goes back." I'm still singing this nearly a week later.
K'naan - "Wavin' Flag" (Live @ Austin City Limits Festival 2009)
K'naan - "Bang Bang" (Live @ Austin City Limits Festival 2009)
On my way to the Waterloo tent after his set, I stopped by the BMI stage to hear the Greencards (nice bluegrass with a hint of gypsy and non-North American influences). After picking up the CDs, I made my way over the Xbox 360 stage to hear Them Crooked Vultures, a supergroup featuring Dave Grohl on drums, Josh Homme on guitar, and Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones. I'm not sure I'd buy their album and listen on a regular basis, but in a live setting on a beautiful evening, they absolutely rocked. Even a kajillion miles away I could see Grohl drumming away, grinning like Animal. Makes me happy everytime I seem him drum.
Them Crooked Vultures - "Mind Eraser" (Live @ Austin City Limits Festival 2009)
And, conveniently, I just needed to turn around and see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs open up on the AMD stage. But by that point it was getting late and I knew I had another 45 minutes (or more) of traveling before seeing my family again. So I stayed for 3 songs of Karen O and her boys, then took off in the perfect Austin night.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Runaway" (Live @ Austin City Limits Festival 2009)
Video: "Adventure Quest!" - The Jellydots
Here it is, folks, the first video for The Jellydots. Doug made good on his suggestion that his upcoming album Jelly Jukebox would be a lot more beat-based, and with this video for "Adventure Quest!" from the album, he's playing around with a younger doppelganger. It's a video every bit as funky (and fun) as the song itself.
The Jellydots - "Adventure Quest!" [YouTube]
Vote Today in the Top Kids Music Albums of All Time Poll
I don't ask much of you, my readers, but today I'm asking that if you haven't already, please please please with sugar on top vote in the Top Kids Music Albums of All Time Poll. Tonight at 8:59 PM west coast (11:59 PM east coast). You don't have to be like Bill or Jeff (thanks for the shout-out) or Kathy or Phil and do this as a hobby or career. You just have to have made music for kids and families part of your life. Go to the link above to read all the voting directions. Remember that lobbying for votes for yourself or others is bad, but that spreading the word is A-OK.
Don't overthink it -- just vote! Thanks!Video: "Meet the Elements" (Live on Jimmy Fallon) - They Might Be Giants
I know, I just posted a video for this song yesterday. But. It's an awesome song, and if the moment at about 1:13 into this clip of They Might Be Giants performing the song on last night's Late Night With Jimmy Fallon isn't the "greatest moment in television history," as one YouTuber suggested it might be, it's pretty darn close.
They Might Be Giants - "Meet the Elements" (Live on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon) [YouTube]
