I live in Phoenix, which, as anyone who lives in Phoenix will tell you, is not the most scintillating of live music towns. There are many reasons for that, but I'm doing my best to change that, at least in the kids' music field.
There are certain venues across the country, however, that I draw inspiration from -- venues that manage to find space for both local and national artists, building a kids music community through live shows.
One note -- unfortunately, I've never been to any of these venues. My declaration of these sites as "the best" is based solely on the quality and diversity of their concert lineup. I should also note that this list explicitly excludes libraries and festivals as the former tends not to be able to bring in a bunch of touring musicians and the latter only gives you a weekend of music each year.
Of course, I want to hear about your favorite places to hear music with your family, not just for the quality of the music but also for the quality of the experience. Because no matter how good the show, if there's no place to change your kids' diaper, it's hard for anyone to be a happy camper.
On with the list...
Review: Loquat Rooftop - Randy Kaplan
It is possible that Brooklyn-based Randy Kaplan could become, if he wanted to, the next Dan Zanes, playing for the moms and dads a mixture of blues and rock that works well for both the kids and adults.
But on Loquat Rooftop, his second album for kids, Kaplan continues to follow his own idiosyncratic path that might not generate a deal with the Disney Channel next week, but shows off both his musical and storytelling chops.
Those musical chops are certainly there, as Kaplan's voice, ever-so-slightly nasally and raspy, blends in perfectly with his song choices. A couple songs, such as producer Mike West's amusing "Clothes Dryer" (on which Kaplan dryly notes that he used to love doing laundry so much, he went to "laundry camp") and "The Ladybug Without Spots," employ a strolling New Orleans-jazz-style approach. "Mazal Mazal" is a punkish song about a little kid, while the title track is a gentle folk song. Kids are used as chorus and occasional counterpoint (and a kid named Joe does a great "Boogie Woogie Washer Woman") to good effect.
Kaplan's choices of covers are well-selected -- Huddie Ledbetter's "Good Morning Blues" is a gentle blues which, as you might expect from the title, is more blues in 12-bar structure only. Hank Williams ("Move It On Over"), Lieber and Stoller ("Charlie Brown"), and the musical Annie ("Tomorrow") also make and appearance here, and one of Kaplan's strengths is making those songs sound fresh (and appropriate for kids).
Finally, Kaplan comes from the stories-and-(and-in-)song wing of kids' music, as heard on the silly story about monkeys and ducks "No Nothing" or the sweet "(Don't Say) Anything At All," a message song about not using words as violence. It's the kind of song that, strung together a dozen times, would make most parents' eyes roll, but, as a single song interspersed all the other goofiness and gladness sounds just about perfect.
With the exception of the "The Fire Engine," whose chorus "It's big / It's red / It's metal with water" is now unfortunately lodged in my brain, the 42-minute album is mostly targeted at kids ages 4 through 8. You can hear some tracks from the album (and its predecessor Five Cent Piece) at Kaplan's Myspace page for his kids stuff or at the album's CDBaby page.
Perhaps Randy Kaplan won't be the next Dan Zanes -- his love of storytelling puts him more in the camp of Pete Seeger or Trout Fishing in America perhaps (not bad company there, either). But it would be nice to see a bit of Zanes' popularity rub off on Kaplan, because Loquat Rooftop's mixture of blues and folk-rock, laced with good humor and heart, will appeal to many kids and their adults. Definitely recommended.New Music From Astrograss
The New York band Astrograss has, at least in its music for kids, always had an affinity for words -- after all, its first EP for kids (review here) set its bluegrass-y jazz (or jazzy bluegrass) to the lyrics of Shel Silverstein.
So it's no surprise that the first song the band's made available from their upcoming album, tentatively called Let Me Stay Up All Night continues with the fanciful wordplay. Called "There Their They're," it includes the zen-like phrase, "Someday, when I learn to spell 'spell'..." and is set to Astrograss' adventurous musical stylings.
Plenty of kids' bands say that they don't sound like anyone else -- Astrograss is one of the few that can back up that claim.
Listen to (and download) "There Their They're" here. Let Me Stay Up All Night is out March 9.
The Dees Blow It Up Big-Time
OK, perhaps mentions on an Esquire blog and a local television aren't quite the equivalent of, say, American Idol, but baby steps, man, baby steps.
Brooklyn's rockin' Deedle Deedle Dees have pulled off the unusual double-header.
First off, Esquire's Matt Marinovich's writes of his day as a children's band roadie. It's from a show the Dees did a couple weeks ago. It's an amusing read (plus a good description of a Dees show). My favorite part (and not just because there's a hint of my own life in there)?
A woman puts her hand on my shoulder. I turn around, expecting that I’m about to be offered my first sexual favor. Instead, it’s Beth, a friend of my wife’s. She’s there with her two kids. “What are you doing here?” she says. “I’m the band’s “roadie,” I says, putting quotes around “roadie” with my fingers to indicate mature, cynical detachment. This doesn’t seem to help matters. I turn around and hear her whispering something to the mom next to her. Feeling an urge to clarify things, I turn around and smile at her. “I should have called my wife,” I say, as if the thought had just occurred to me. “Had her bring down the kids.” “That would have been a good idea,” Beth says, looking at me warily. “It’s a kids’ concert, right?”Or, if you don't like the dry wit of an Esquire blogger, how about the earnestness of a local TV news broadcast? Like this one, which inexplicably is on a Charleston, SC NBC affiliate's webpage. The video talks about chief Dee songwriter Lloyd Miller's Nature Babies program in Brooklyn's Prospect Park. The text on the page is essentially a transcript of the video, but if you watch the video, you can hear snippets of "I'm A Duck." I'm totally expecting that on the next Dees album.
You Are My Something Something
News from Elizabeth Mitchell that she's spending the rest of 2007 finishing her next children's music album. "If you have any song suggestions, now is the time to let us know," Mitchell says. (For the lazy among you, that address is: mail AT youaremyflower DOT org.) If it's half as good as any in her You Are My... trilogy, it should be great.
And for those of you around New York City next weekend, Mitchell is playing Symphony Space November 10. How is that different from any of her other shows? Well, Mitchell's Catch the Moon compatriot Lisa Loeb and Laurie Berkner partner-in-crime Susie Lampert will be joining in on the fun. Admit it, those harmonies might be sweet.
Listen To This: Rowland's Ramblin' Family Band
I've written before about the slight conflict I feel when hearing new stuff -- keep it secret until it's ready to be unleashed upon the world or let everybody know, right away? I almost always err on the side of sharing (it's in my mission, duh) and so that's what I'm doing here.
Go forth right now and listen to the 4 songs posted on the Myspace page of Brooklyn's Rowland's Ramblin' Family Band. It's a very rootsy/folk blend of original and traditional songs, some written for kids, others merely kid-friendly. The songs come from a home-recorded EP that guitarist Chris Mills admits sounds a little rough around the edges, but the songwriting and solid musicianship come through. (A couple band members are also in Bloodshot Records' The Silos.)
The song you're mostly likely to hear when you get to the page is the raggedy and sprightly "The Lemon Drop," but make sure you also listen to the lullaby "Little Dreamer." It's the last track that gave me the most Band-like vibe. Which makes it not-too-surprising to hear that they're playing this Saturday's Kid's Ramble with Levon Helm. Heady company for a band who only just posted songs to their Myspace page yesterday.
Fans of Dan Zanes, Dog on Fleas, the Hollow Trees, and Session Americana should especially check them out...
