Gustafer Yellowgold's Infinity Trip Around the Kindie Interwebs

GY_InfinitySock.jpgIt's not quite as lengthy as the trip he takes in his forthcoming DVD/CD set Gustafer Yellowgold's Inifinity Sock, but Gustafer Yellowgold will be making a number of appearances next month at many family music sites. Gustafer Yellowgold’s Infinity Sock World Premiere Video Week will feature seven videos (in order) from the March 1 release, but unlike the sock whose origin Gustafer seeks out in the album, the length of time you'll have to see each of the videos is very finite -- only about 24 hours. So you'll want to make sure not to miss each site each day. The schedule is below - see you here on February 2nd. Tuesday, Feb. 1: The Saturday Morning Cereal Bowl - “Slim Gets In ‘Em” Wednesday, Feb. 2: Zooglobble (that's right here!) - “Infinity” Thursday, Feb. 3: Out with the Kids - “Beehive” Friday, Feb. 4: Gooney Bird Kids - “Snake Proms” Saturday, Feb. 5: Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child - “Cheddar” Sunday, Feb. 6: Ages 3 and Up! - “Wisconsin Poncho” (I know it's Sunday, folks, but make sure you don't miss this one) Monday: Feb. 7: Boston Children’s Music – “Question Marks”

Video: "It's Raining, It's Pouring" (Live) - The Speks

There is absolutely nothing visually special about this new video from Ireland's The Speks. The traditonal preschool tune "It's Raining, It's Pouring" is performed live by the band as an Irish reel (if that is, indeed the correct name for the style of music -- I'll admit I don't know my reels from my jigs). But I'm so used to thinking of the band as animated (literally), that seeing actual people playing actual instruments was reason enough to post. It's fun to see adults get into the song (and by the end, the off-screen audience is, too.) The Speks - "It's Raining, It's Pouring" (Live) [YouTube]

Share: "England Swings" - The Wiggles (with Keith Urban)

LetsEat.jpgI don't typically post much about The Wiggles, but I'm not totally silent about the band. Still, even with the offer to post a free mp3, I did feel the need to give it the once-over before sharing. It's OK - you can download it. I encourage you to, even. It's the band's cover of Roger Miller's 1965 hit "England Swings," and the band's recruited fellow Australian and country music star Keith Urban to join in. It's not ground-breaking, it's not edgy, but it's kinda fun. It's also free, courtesy of Razor & Tie. I'm not really seeing how the song fits into the overall theme of their forthcoming February 1 album Let's Eat!, but, hey, they're the millionaires, not me. Stream or download the track below. The Wiggles (feat. Keith Urban) - "England Swings" [mp3]

Three Sesame Street Counting Songs

I so enjoyed coming up with a list of counting songs from Sesame Street that I'm going to duplicate it by moving on to numbers. (No, I haven't decided if I'm going to do 3 science-related songs from the show next week.) First off, the show recently re-did their classic "Ladybugs' Picnic" video. This new version is done with claymation and features vocals from Langhorne Slim. But as you can guess by the fact that I'm not actually embedding that video, I prefer the old traditionally animated version and sung by Bud Luckey. It's like an old college t-shirt (or, if you're a kid, a well-loved teddy bear) -- the rough-around-the-edges nature of the original has become an asset. (I really like Elizabeth Mitchell's version, though.) "Ladybugs' Picnic" [YouTube]

Pancake Mountain Needs Your Help. Your Kickstarting Help.

I've long been a fan of the TV show Pancake Mountain, which combines a subversive take on commercial culture with a whole bunch of cool musicians wrapped in a kid-friendly packaging and hosted by a goat puppet. (I love Rufus.) Anyway, perhaps seeing the success of Yo Gabba Gabba! gave the creators of PM pause, because they've now started a Kickstarter campaign in hopes of raising enough funds to produce a proper pilot for shopping around to networks. (I always thought they were legit before, but I guess I'm a poor judge of that.) It'll take a lot of coin -- $50,000, to be precise -- but I think they might just make it. Pledges get you DVDs, t-shirts, and at pledges of $250 or more, a "Little Rufus" hand puppet. Anyway, here's their pledge video. One more video of a fun musical performance (David Bowie, eat your heart out) after the jump.

The Ketchup Report, Vol. 5

Back with another list of random notes from around the kids music world... -- I'm a fan of Symphony Space's Just Kidding series, even 3,000 miles away, but I don't typically talk about single shows in that or any series. Having said that, I have it on good authority that Elizabeth Mitchell is planning on attending the Lunch Money Just Kidding concert on Saturday, January 29 (at 11 AM) and make a "guest appearance" for some songs. NYC fans, I expect you to be there -- not to be missed, I'm telling you. -- Continuing in the category of single shows meriting mention, if you're not tired out after the Lunch Money show (or if you're busy that morning), there's another show in NYC that afternoon. It's an event called "KIDS ROCK!" -- it's a big 'ol benefit concert for KIDS NEED A MELODY, which provides developmental music classes to young children living in the shelter system. It's also Saturday the 29th (from 1 to 4 PM) at Crash Mansion in the Bowery in NYC. It's hosted by Bob McGrath and will feature performances by Rebecca Frezza and Big Truck, Suzi Shelton with guitarist Steve Elliot, Jeremy Plays Guitar, The Fuzzy Lemons, Joanie Leeds, and Baze and His Silly Friends. Not bad, eh? -- Moving out of the city (sort of), word from Florida's Mr. Richard that he's leading David Weinstone's Music For Aardvarks classes in Orlando. Mr. Richard isn't the first kindie musicians with his own career to participate in these types of classes. Audra Tsanos has done MFA classes in NYC for years, Rebecca Frezza got her start doing Music Together, and Enzo Garcia is another. But Mr. Richard, who's definitely on the shortlist for the title of hardest-working guy in kids music, may be the first to join those types of classes after starting his own, independent kindie career. -- I noted this on Facebook yesterday, but the first video from Moona Luna is up. You can watch the currently exclusive video here (or just go straight to YouTube here). -- Frances England has a whole bunch of creative resolutions (designed very, er, creatively of course) and not only that she's pulled in a bunch of creative resolutions from folks like Caspar Babypants, Drew from Recess Monkey, Joe from the Okee Dokee Brothers and lots, lots more. Worth a perusal. -- Finally, in the category of self-promotion, Australian newspaper The Age dips its toes into the world of Australian kindie music and picks out the two best, Holly Throbsy and The Mudcakes. (It also cites this site, but not in a policeman-sort-of-way. The good way.)