A few months ago, I called the kids' music series at the DC-area club Jammin' Java the "best kids music series in the country, hands down".
How impressed am I? Well, you can now find my comments on selected artists in their Tot Rock series on their website. Not everybody gets a comment (don't worry, Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke and Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, we'll get some special quotes up there shortly), but a lot of folks do.
Now to work on getting Jammin' Java Southwest.
Concert Review: The Wiggles (Phoenix, July 2009)
I promise, this'll be the last Wiggles post for awhile, but since I went to the show and wrote a review of it for the Phoenix New Times, I thought I'd at least note it -- you can read the review -- with 10% extra snark -- here.
I'll try to update this post with a few slightly grainy photos later, but for now, here's some cheap front-row cellphone footage from a drumline Anthony and Captain Feathersword performed during the show. This was kinda cool, actually...
Seattle Says, Hey, We Like Music Festivals and Kids Too!
I know, I spend a lot of time talking about Austin Kiddie Limits, but there are some pretty cool fests that, even though they don't have quite as much kids music, are still sufficiently kid-focused.
Seattle's annual Bumbershoot festival, which is being held this year, as always, on Labor Day weekend (Sept. 5-7), has kids bands playing for the first time. Luckily, Seattle's got a great crop of bands, so they can be local, too -- the Not-Its! play at 1:30 Saturday, Central Services’ Board of Education at 1:00 Sunday, and Recess Monkey 1:30 Monday.
You can't have a kids section at a music festival without having a cheeky name, and Bumbershoot is no different -- welcome to Youngershoot. In addition to the bands, they've got movies, animation, and all sorts of other cool stuff going on. They even take a crack at suggesting kid-friendly "adult" artists -- I've got a feeling there are some other folks who would second the Michael Franti & Spearhead suggestion...
New Englanders, Do This. And New Yorkers, Too.
Three months ago, I posted my list of the best kids music venues in the country. I'm not sure the No Nap Happy Hour organized by Bill would appear in that top 5 list yet, but take a look at the first six bands in the series and tell me that it wouldn't be in the Top 10 at least:
7/26 Lunch Money
8/23 Justin Roberts & the Not Ready for Naptime Trio
9/20 Deedle Deedle Dees
10/18 Uncle Rock & the Playthings
11/8 Brady Rymer & the Little Band That Could
12/6 Bill Harley
That's a great lineup, a nice blend of local(-ish) and not-so-local musicians. And it kicks off with Lunch Money, folks! All shows are Sundays at 2 PM at the Iron Horse Music Hall. It's the best lineup north of the 42nd parallel. Go!
Video: "Watch Me Share" (Live) - The Not-Its
The first annual "Timeout To Rock" event in Seattle is now over, but this video of The Not-Its playing "Watch Me Share" from their upcoming debut made me smile. Not so much the opening sax solo as the pogoing kids. I think they all drank their parents' Starbucks.
The Not-Its - "Watch Me Share"
I Might Pay $8 Just For The Poster
It shouldn't be too surprising that the same band whose upcoming album art is pretty cool would also have cool poster art for a big ol' benefit show they're putting together. Yeah, Seattle's The Not-Its have put together a pretty awesome poster for "Timeout To Rock," which is being billed as "Seattle's First Annual Children's Music Festival." (I dig the positive attitude assumed in that billing.)
If it were just a single-band show benefiting Juvenile Diabetes research, I probably wouldn't post about it, but since the poster's gone public and has a pretty awesome lineup -- the Not-Its, Recess Monkey, Caspar Babypants, and Central Services Board of Education -- I thought I'd share. (Seriously, folks, think about the assorted Seattle-area artists not performing -- Johnny Bregar, Eric Herman, the Harmonica Pocket, Eric Ode -- and try to come up with another locality with as many vital performers. Maybe NYC, and that's it.)
Anyway, that awesome lineup will be playing Saturday, June 27th starting at 11 AM at Seattle's Vera Project. Tickets are just $8/person, $25/family. Such a deal. Make it if you can. And pick up a poster for me. (Poster after the jump.)
