I got word that Brady Rymer and The Little Band That Could will be heading off on a 12-city national tour starting in August and on through the fall.
I don't usually comment on single-artist tours unless there's something different about the tour, even for artists I like such as Brady, so why am I mentioning it? Well, this particular tour is going to be under the sponsorship of Children's Dimetapp. I know what you're saying, you're saying, oh, Stefan, you're a tool of the children's cold medicine-makers, but there's something else.
Besides being saddled with the somewhat clunky name of the "Children's Dimetapp Breathe & Boogie Tour," the other noteworthy thing is that the entire tour will be free. (Apparently attendees will even receive a Rymer compilation CD, among other goodies.)
So for the first time as I can tell, a company has figured that it's worth the money to fly a kids' musician (and a sizeable band) around the country to play for free in the hope that the association will pay off for the company. I don't think it'll be the last time.
I'll be curious to hear whether the new songs Rymer has written for the tour have any direct Dimetapp references, a la Ralph Covert's Rice Krispie jingle for his tour. But, of course, I won't know that because once again, despite the fact that the Phoenix is the fifth largest city in the country and has a very young population, a major tour is skipping the area.
Tour dates for those of you living in other areas of the country that apparently suffer from more children's colds than I do after the jump...
The White Stripes Rock It For the Kids
Really. I dig the preschool our kids attend(ed), but it's safe to say the White Stripes never played a secret show for them like they did a couple weeks ago at a Toronto YMCA. The setlist included “Cannon,” “Sugar Never Tasted So Good,” “Apple Blossom,” “We’re Going to be Friends”, “Martyr for My Love for You” and “Hotel Yorba.” Oh, and then kids came up and sang songs -- "Wheels on the Bus" and "I Believe I Can Fly" among the selections.
Y the Y? Well, apparently it came up first when the band's manager searched for "Toronto" and "fun" on the internet.
Oh, and if you haven't seen this, the Stripes' last "secret show" in Canada, this is kinda funny. Make sure you stick around for the crowd chant at the very end.
Nine Days of Great Kids Music in Chicago
Now, Kidzapalooza will rock Chicago August 3 through 5 (for more details, see here).
But the previous weekend is, well, pretty darn good in its own right if you'd rather fight local neighborhood throngs than fight the Pearl Jam and Ben Harper-obsessed throngs in Grant Park.
I've been waiting to post about the Summer on Southport festival on the 28th and 29th because I wanted to know the times, and I'm glad I did... check out the lineup.
Not only does it include Lunch Money... and ScribbleMonster... and Justin Roberts, it also includes, well, see for yourself:
Saturday
Lunch Money 10:00 am
Seussical the Musical 11:00 am
Scribble Monster noon
Little Nashville 12.30 pm
Girl Authority 2:00 pm
Justin Roberts 2:00 pm
Sunday
School of ROCK 11:30 am
Ralph’s World 2:00 pm
Girl Authority and Justin Roberts will be playing on different stages Saturday, though the '80s references on Roberts' classic Meltdown! might be a little bit up their alley.
Hey, Chicago, did I miss anybody?
Traditional Music. New Locations. Also, Parenting Tips.
Y'know, now that kids' music is the bee's knees, the cat's pajamas, and the kangaroo's Underoos, you can't take three steps without running into some new kids' music program. Except now they're moving into even older or less traditional locations. Such examples (and suggested alternative locations) include:
Enzo Garcia -- playing at Golden Gate National Park's Crissy Field. If your kids don't like the show, you can always tell them that Alcatraz is but a short ferry ride away. (Uh, wait. They'd probably like that. Never mind.)
SteveSongs -- playing at the Life is Good Festival in Fenway Park. No word on whether he'll do "Sweet Caroline" for the kiddos. Please take this opportunity to tell your kids how inferior Fever Pitch the movie is compared to Fever Pitch the book.
Hot Peas 'n Butter, Little Nashville, and Babaloo -- playing at the On the Waterfront festival in Rockford, Illinois. If your oldest kid keeps complaining about his brother and how he coulda been a contender over and over and over, just explain to him that you'd be glad to Leave. This. Stage. Right. Now. and take him to see "The New Cars" (playing Saturday night) and explain to him ad nauseam how there's no way that can be better than the original lineup. Also, you had to listen to music at home on something called a stereo when you were his age and so can he please take off the headphones right now.
Austin Kiddie Limits Schedule Set (along with a few other bands)
Well, the schedule for the 2007 Austin City Limits Festival was announced today, which is a good thing, seeing as the three-day passes are sold out and those without tickets must now resort to individual day passes. (Day 1, Day 2, Day 3)
Of course, you don't really care that Bjork is headlining Day 1, do you? Or that you'll have to choose between the Arcade Fire and the White Stripes on Saturday? Oh, yes, you probably do, because even if you don't care about Bjork, there are lots of other people who do, and so if you want to see particular bands on the Austin Kiddie Limits stage, you better keep in mind that those lots of people who want to see Bjork don't care that you really want to see a kids set from Sara Hickman -- they'll have bought all the tickets in advance.
Unfortunately, the organizers have done a good job of forcing people to buy all three days' worth of tickets spreading the quality acts all around -- there's no single day that's head-and-shoulders above the rest. (Except, of course, when they're scheduling great acts at the same time -- I'm lookin' at you, Wilco and My Morning Jacket on Sunday night.)
Anyway, here are the Austin Kiddie Limits times:
Friday, Sept. 14th
Sara Hickman, 11:30 - 11:50
Bummkinn Band, 12:30 - 12:50
Jambo, 1:30 - 1:50
Daddy-A-Go-Go, 2:30 - 2:50
Paul Green School of Rock All-Stars: 3:30 - 3:50
Saturday, Sept. 15th
Bummkinn Band, 11:30 - 11:50
Jambo, 12:30 - 12:50
Sippy Cups, 1:30 - 1:50
Sippy Cups, 2:30 - 2:50
Farmer Jason, 3:30 - 3:50
Sunday, Sept. 16th
We Go To 11, 11:30 - 11:50
Farmer Jason, 12:30 - 12:50
The Jellydots, 1:30 - 1:50
Q Brothers, 2:30 - 2:50
Paul Green School of Rock All-Stars, 3:30 - 3:50
What Kind of Cold Beverages Do Kids Like?
Well, thanks to Karen in Chicago, who attended the Kidzapalooza kickoff party in Chicago a few days back, this question is a little more relevant. I noted the Kidzapalooza lineup a few days ago, but Karen in Chicago went to the party and noted an additional performer: G. Love.
Now, the only kids' song I know G. Love has recorded is "Jungle Gym," with Jack Johnson on the Curious George soundtrack. Assuming he's not going to play that song a dozen times straight (how punk would that be?), maybe he's got some new stuff up his sleeve. Heck, if you can tolerate a few references to adult beverages, "Cold Beverage" itself would be easily G-rated.
