Little Boy Blue had another birthday recently, and while I didn't make him his own Drumship Enterprise (it's beat up but still working), I did make him a sequel to last year's playlist. It's a mix of songs he's grooved to a lot over the past few months and new and thematically-appropriate tunes.
Six Little Ducks - Raffi (More Singable Songs)
It's Hard To Wait For Your Birthday - Lori Henriques (Outside My Door)
Birthday - The Jimmies (Practically Ridiculous)
All My Friends Are Different - Salteens (Kid Songs)
Hey Pepito! - Key Wilde & Mr Clarke (Hey Pepito!)
Everybody's Got Their Underwear On - Billy Kelly (Is This Some Kind of Joke?)
The Sound I Found - Kira Willey (Dance For The Sun)
Bluegrass For Breakfast - The Okee Dokee Brothers (Take It Outside)
Cereal - The Verve Pipe (A Family Album)
Mushy Berry Pie - The Thinkers (Oh Zoooty!)
If Mama Had Four Hands - Sarah Lee Guthrie and Family (Go Waggaloo)
Original Friend - Lunch Money (Original Friend)
Your Favorite Book - Recess Monkey (Flying!)
Keep It On The Paper - Keller Williams (Kids)
Let's Dance - Lucky Diaz And The Family Jam Band (Oh Lucky Day!)
Stick Tune - Music Together (Family Favorites)
Carry Me - The Not-Its! (Tag, You're It!)
Our Family - Mr. Leebot (Erratic Schematic)
Tatooine - Jeremy Messersmith
150 Year Old Surfer Turtle - Cat and a Bird (Cat and a Bird)
Vagabond Worms - Kindiependent
Googly Eyes - Caspar Babypants (This Is Fun!)
Cooperate - Sugar Free Allstars & Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
Hay Que Trabajar - Moona Luna (Piñata Party)
Dandelion - Steve Weeks (Dandelion)
Particle Man - They Might Be Giants (TMBGs Other Thing Brass Band)
Ooki Na Nuri No Ki No Shita De (Under the Big Chestnut Tree) - Elizabeth Mitchell (Sunny Day)
Something That I Want - Grace Potter (Tangled)
For what it's worth, this year's musical gift was ukulele of his very own...
Video: "Everybody's Got a Name" - Matt Clark
This new video from Matt Clark for his song "Everybody's Got a Name" is fine and all -- it's got simple animation by Jessica Cornelius, simple tune, two Uncle Craigs and a cat called Puddin' Tain.
But it still doesn't resolve the ultimate question -- what's the name of the guy at the grocery store!?!
Matt Clark - "Everybody's Got a Name" [YouTube]
Concert Recap: The Thinkers (July 2011, Children's Museum of Phoenix)
Hoo boy, that was a fun show put on by The Thinkers on Sunday. We set up most of the Children's Museum of Phoenix shows many months in advance, so it's not often we can fit in a last-minute addition like the Thinkers as the Boston/NY-based band moved westward on a massive country-wide tour, but I'm glad we did, because we all had fun.
Little Boy Blue, Miss Mary Mack, and I caught their second set of the day, and with the help of a generous supply of egg shakers and rhythm sticks, it was one of the most chaotic sets I've seen in the sunlit room where we host the shows.
But chaotic in a good, not totally chaotic way. Just lots of kids banging around, jumping, maybe dancing. (I was told that the first set earlier was even more packed and chaotic.) Nobody really knew the songs, of course (present company excepted), but the kids were more than game.
Twenty-five minutes later, they were done, the kids were toast, and I had a grin on my face.
The band continues to tour for at least next three weeks up the west coast. Definitely track 'em down and check 'em out.
Here's "Froggy Hop," with more live video after the jump.
The Thinkers - "Froggy Hop" [YouTube]
Video: "Shape Rap" - The Alphabet Rockers
The Alphabet Rockers have been around for a few years -- their self-titled debut came out almost 4 years ago. The San Francisco-based group is trying to do two things that many have tried, but comparatively few have succeeded at: making tuneful hip-hop for kids, and making tuneful educational music for kids.
On at least one track, they've met both challenges, and made a slick video to boot. Check out "Shape Rap" - v. smooth. It's reminiscent of one of my favorite public service announcement series of all time. (And if you're looking to continue the educational vibes, you might want to also view "Shape Hunt" with the kiddos.)
Alphabet Rockers - Shape Rap from Alphabet Rockers on Vimeo.
Share: "I'm a Vampire" - Roy Handy & the Moonshot
You know how last year, it was pretty clear even in summer that Justin Roberts' "Trick or Treat" would be the Halloween song of 2010?
This year, I've got a really good feeling about Roy Handy and the Moonshot's new song, "I'm a Vampire." It's catchy, it's funny, and is, well, seasonally appropriate. And, no, it has nothing to do with True Blood or Twilight or any of those things. It's just got an excellent Old '97s-like riff.
Hopefully by the time October rolls around and the song's all over the airwaves (and your stereo), the promised RH&MS EP will be ready. In the meantime, download the song for free below.
(And here's a video...)Video: "Party Day" - The Laurie Berkner Band (World Premiere)
The Laurie Berkner Band have a new DVD coming out later this month. It's called Party Day! and it features 12 all-new videos of longtime Berkner favorites (see: "This Hat") and new ones (see: "Where Is The Cake?"). It also comes with a 5-song EP, which includes a new acoustic version of fan favorite "My Family."
Today, I'm proud to have for you the world premiere of Berkner's "Party Day" video. The video for this "title track" features a ladybug, banana slug, a beetle, and an ant, along with Laurie and the band and the kids dancing around in some silly hats. (Trust me, the hats make a little more sense in the context of the DVD.) It's a fun little song and video, not to mention representative of the DVD's top-notch production quality.
Party Day! is released on July 26th.
