Stupid Big Continent

MeltdownLogo.jpgThat's all I can say. Because, really, if the 2nd annual Meltdown, the show put together by Bill Childs of Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child were less than, you know, a 72-hour-drive, I'd seriously consider going. And since I'm already going to Austin for SXSW in March and Brooklyn for Kindiefest in April/May, springing for a cheap airfare is out of the question. (Not to mention I like spending time with my family, too.) But if your distance (or budgetary) constraints are looser than mine, I highly recommend a trip out to Northampton on Saturday, March 27. Bill's put together a heckuva lineup -- Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem, Elizabeth Mitchell, Uncle Rock, Dog on Fleas, Keith Munslow, and lots, lots more. The lineup's even more impressive when you consider it's free free FREE! (Say that in a booming voice. I do.) So, yeah, those of you residing in the population-dense East Coast should definitely consider a trip out to Massachusetts later this month. With lots of video cameras and a YouTube account to make the rest of us jealous.

Monday Morning Smile: "MLK" (U2, arr. Bob Chilcott) - "Vox Laci Youth Choir"

The last time I did this, the smile was more of a grin. Well, after hearing the Phoenix Chorale do a fabulous version of U2's "MLK" as arranged by Bob Chilcott at their sold-out "Darkness and Light" concert on Saturday, I knew I wanted to share this lullaby. I preferred the Chorale's version to anything I could find online, but I think you'll get the point. A bit of calm for the week ahead. Vox Laci Youth Choir - "MLK" (U2, arr. Bob Chilcott) [YouTube]

Share: "Skywriter" (and more) - Baron Von Rumblebuss

baronvonrumblebuss.jpgIt's been awhile -- not quite light-years, but too long in any case -- since we in the rest of the solar system have heard new music from outer-space-via-Raleigh's space oddity Baron Von Rumblebuss, but it looks (and sounds) like that will change this year. The good rocker has posted three tracks for downloading at his Reverbnation page, including the dreamy "Skywriter" and the angular power-poppy "(It Wuzza) Boo-Boo." (There's also a P.S.A. called "Flush the Toilet." They're unmastered tracks from the Baron's upcoming album, and available for the price of an e-mail. (There are also 3 other tracks from the first BVR album available for streaming, which I highly recommend doing.) As for the new album, the Baron (who here on earth is also known as Tray Batson) reports that the new album will probably be out this summer. It'll be called Agreeably Loud (which is a pretty awesome kids music album title) and "will feature 'skits' and 'commercials' to mimic an intergalactic radio broadcast (the E- E- K)." Other tracks scheduled for inclusion on the album include "Helicopter," "Agreeably Loud", "(Ooh La, La) Play That Song," "I'm from Space," "Did You See Where the Cat Threw Up?", "Wait", "The Sound is the Thing, " and "Boulderboy." There's also another P.S.A called "Nobody Likes It When You Whine." Batson promises an "amp[ed] up... Python/SNL/Electric Co. stupid humor vibe on this one." Works for me.

Jimmies Chick Nixes Flick-Rockers Split

Ashley_videoshoot.jpgOr, to put it another way, the rumors of the Jimmies' demise have been greatly exaggerated. When I posted the first video from the band Tim and the Space Cadets, I didn't expect that most of the chatter in the comments would be about the status of the band the two founders of TATSC left, The Jimmies. I knew that the Jimmies weren't folding or anything of the sort, but pretty soon after I posted the video, I followed up with both chief Jimmie Ashley Albert and chief, er, Space Cadet Tim Kubart to find out the real story... So why the split (which happened in 2008)?

Video: "Tap Dancer" - Molly Ledford (Lunch Money)

molly-cookie-head.jpgOh, sure, you can go check out Molly Ledford: Songs, the new song blog from Lunch Money songwriter extraordinaire Molly Ledford. 'Cuz, yeah, there are lots of cool songs there. But my favorite unreleased track from Molly thus far isn't even on the blog. It's called "Tap Dancer" -- you can watch and listen to it below. Molly notes that it won't be on the upcoming Lunch Money disk Original Friend but that "it will be on something eventually." I really dig the bluesy turn the bridge takes. And I think more kids songs should use the word "Arabesque." I should use the word "Arabesque." Molly Ledford (Lunch Money) - "Tap Dancer"

Tapdancer from Jay Barry on Vimeo.