Video: "(I Woke Up) In a Firetruck" - Karen K and the Jitterbugs

This video from the East Coast artist Karen K and the Jitterbugs starts out a bit slowly -- my first thought was, "well, that's nicely produced, but..." so when I say that you should give it a couple minutes before rendering a verdict, I speak from experience.  It's a simple kids' song designed for interaction with preschoolers, but it takes a while for the interactive nature to become clear.  It also gets funnier as it goes on.

Also: ask your kids if they get the pop culture reference the video's organizing structure is based on. 

Karen K and the Jitterbugs - "(I Woke Up) In a Firetruck" [YouTube]

Video: "Midnight Sun in the Arctic" - Elska

You'll forgive me if I don't get too excited about the onset of summer.  Just as those of you in colder climes don't tend to celebrate the start of winter (very much, anyway), I'm pretty muted about the summer solstice (this year on Friday the 21st), as we've already had some 110-degree days, and we'll have plenty more where that came from.

Having said that, I suppose I could be a little more charitable were I living in, say, Iceland, in which the land of the midnight sun is a bit cooler than here in the desert Southwest. 

So I'll just take the latest video from Elska as an opportunity to relax and imagine  myself cooling off.  It's for "Midnight Sun in the Arctic" from Middle of Nowhere  and, yes, it was filmed in the midnight hour(s) in Iceland.

Elska - "Midnight Sun in the Arctic" [YouTube] 

Video: "Spicy Kid" - Lunch Money

Is there any doubt I wouldn't  have featured the first video from Lunch Money?  I mean, after world-premiering the video as part of my review of great kindie music videos at Kindiefest?

Of course not.

So, yay, a video for "Spicy Kid"!  There are a whole bunch of influences here in this video directed by Jerry Stevenson (Mentos and The Blues Brothers  among them), but it's also totally Lunch Money.  Which is a very good thing.

Lunch Money - "Spicy Kid" [YouTube] 

Weekly Summary (6/10/13 - 6/16/13)

Didn't get to post quite much last week, but here's what caught my attention (and occupied my time) for the site:

Blog:  Share: "Shark Sandwich" EP - ScribbleMonster, Listen To This: "Texas" - Rocknoceros

Videos: "How to Count to 20" - The Ukulady

Listen to Music: None this week...

Free Music:  None this week...

Kids Music Reviews: None this week...

Upcoming Releases: Constantly updating...

Podcasts

Kindie Week in Review: Episode 19: He Says, Facetiously

My Other Other Gig: None this week...

Bake Sale: None this week...

Listen To This: "Texas" - Rocknoceros

Last month the Virginia-based band Rocknoceros released a single called "Ohio."  I liked it. 

So now they have a new single -- it's called "Texas" and if the state's BBQ doesn't hit you in the solar plexus, perhaps Williebob's guitar work will.  Really, the whole song is pretty nifty and I suggest you check it out via YouTube, which is where the younguns these days find out about their music.   (If you like it, you can download "Texas" here.)

Rocknoceros - "Texas" [YouTube]

Share: "Shark Sandwich" EP - ScribbleMonster

I find it much easier to transition to summer once I've heard a great summer song.  You know, with the guitars and the drums and the bopping of heads? 

So, thank you , ScribbleMonster, it will be much easier for me to handle this 110-degree summer heat!

Seriously, the Chicago-area powerpop band's new three-song EP is about 92% fun, 8% educational, and pretty much 100% great.  (I particularly like "What's the Big Idea?")  Even better, the EP is free via NoiseTrade, though I'm sure they won't mind if you tip 'em a buck or two.   Go listen, now!