Boy am I glad that I took the time to check my email this week. Parent Map was nice enough to inform me that Recess Monkey was going to play a FREE concert at the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts at South Puget Sound Community College (phew, what a mouthful). And what do you know, that's just down the street from where I live! What a score! A free Saturday morning concert that I could literally walk to. The sun was shining, it was warm and dry outside and I could see Recess Monkey. For free. Life just doesn't get any better than that.
Let me tell you that I may have been the last to know about this concert, but apparently everyone else knew about it. This is the third year that Recess Monkey has played this concert sponsored by Parenting Tools. So guess what? There were tons of people there! It was a blast despite the fact that even though there were so many people there, one person was very obviously missing. Jack Forman couldn't make the concert due to the arrival of his baby boy, Oscar, yesterday. But no worries. Though we missed Jack, Drew and Daron brought plenty of energy and fun.
They started with Birthday Bite, in celebration of little Oscar, off their 2008 album Tabby Road. Then quickly jumped to a sample of their newest album, Flying, to be released in June 2011 with the song Flap Jacks. It's all about making pancakes on a Saturday morning. Who doesn't love that? Next up was Lucas's favorite song, Knocktopus, about an octopus that tells knock-knock-jokes. Lots of audience participation and really bad kid jokes. He never gets tired of that.
Jet Pack came next off their most recent album The Final Funktier followed by Melvin the shark and the song Pet Shark. Then Daron jumped out in front to show everyone how to do the moves for riding a roller coaster. This was followed by lots of jumping up and down and screaming. Haven't got a Pet Yet came next, followed by Under My Bed, and then Dr. Wiggle. I love Dr. Wiggle. It's just such a fun, silly song. Even if it is about something that makes my stomach turn.
Finally, we had songs about playing with a box (hadn't heard this one before), going to swim at the pool, playing on the monkey bars, and to top things off Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road? A totally interactive song in which Daron started a chicken dance conga line and led nearly the entire audience up on to the stage. No back stage passes needed to see these guys!
Wow! What a great show! These guys really bring it when they come to play and even though the auditorium seating was somewhat restricting in terms of movement, that didn't keep the kids from jumping up and down and screaming their little hearts out. (Not my kids of course who always attend these things like they are a pair of constipated old men.) All the parents around me knew all the words to the songs and we sang along and, I suspect, had way more fun than the kids. My husband and I threatened never to bring the kids again. Next time we'll just go by ourselves.
Don't tell Daron, but after the concert, I took a few quick photos of Lucas pretending to play that incredibly snazzy, sparkly red drum kit of his. It was just so bright and glittery that I couldn't resist. I'd run out and buy one exactly like it today if I didn't think my neighbors would kill me. Then the kids got to make some craft projects out in the lobby and we took a quick picture of Lucas with Drew and Daron. They enjoyed the fact that we were all wearing our Recess Monkey t-shirts (thanks Jack!!) It was a great concert.
I have just one final thing to say. Recess Monkey, YOU ROCK!!!
I was checking out The Harmonica Pocket's website recently and saw that they would be coming to our local library with their new show Get Loose With Seuss. Timberland Regional library is using this new show to kick-off their annual reading program and to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday.
I've heard of The Harmonica Pocket before, but I didn't have any experience with their music, and I really had no idea what to expect. The group is fronted by Keeth Monta Apgar who plays "acoustic wah wah guitar" and is joined by a rotating selection of other musicians. Nala Walla joined him this time; she provides vocal harmony and her famous hula hoop.
The group is described as "indie-pop" and "jazz-pop", but not "corn-pop", at least not yet. Honestly these labels don't really mean anything to me. I dislike putting labels on music because I think that most people don't tend to think in terms of labels when they think about the kind of music that they like. "Kids Music" is enough of a label for me because kids music can be just about anything.
The two marched out stomping and playing their hinkle-horns (that would be a kazoo attached to two tubes leading to a couple of brightly colored horns) and greeted the crowd enthusiastically. However, there was no sound! Wow, let me tell you that totally threw all the kids off! They were so intrigued, baffled, confused . . . what in the world was up with these people!? It was soon determined that it was necessary for the kids to turn on their ears before the show could start and after a quick lesson on how to turn on your ears, everything continued at a much louder pace.
They began by singing a birthday song to Dr. Suess and other songs were created using parts of Dr. Seuss stories. The kids were really excited about it because all of them were familiar with Dr. Seuss books and their subsequent songs like One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. There was also a great little sketch about how Dr. Seuss came up with his ideas, including the idea for Horton Hatches an Egg. The kids expressed shear delight when Nala broke out her hula hoop and she received quite a bit of applause for all her tricks. Nala also danced with a pair of large orange and red scarves that was really beautiful and fun to watch. At one point she pulled one of the scarves over several kids in the audience until she reached the end of the semi-circle of kids. She then draped the scarf over herself and three very lucky little kids and they sat for a moment in their own private tent. It was so child-like and carefree.
They closed the show with a song about Horton Hears a Who and a large balloon was bounced around the audience as we all pretended that it contained a tiny world of Whos. Nala ended up catching the balloon and letting all the air out in Keeth's face, to which Keeth replied, "That balloon has bad breath!" The audience all had a laugh and gave a large round of applause.
We bought The Harmonica Pocket's new album, Lady Bug One, to get a sense of what some of their other music is like. I for one enjoyed the show so much that I'd really love to see some of their other shows. I've listened to the CD several times now and I can tell you that it is like nothing else that you will hear in the kids music world. Visit their website where you can download mp3s of some of their songs for free (or leave a contribution in the tip jar). Also check out what they say about the Free Music Project. It's a delightful breath of fresh air in the music industry. I love the fact that some people in the kids music industry are embracing this idea.
The Harmonica Pocket has more shows coming up so be sure to go check them out! They'll even be doing a taped radio show on Evergreen's radio station KAOS, Sunday, March 14, 3-5 pm PST. So even if you can't get to one of their shows, you can still listen to them.
I figured that since I actually saw Caspar Babypants live with my kids, he deserved a little more space to talk about. Also, since my husband is a fan of The Presidents of the United States of America and has been playing songs by them for our son since he was a wee one, a more in depth post was needed.
So what does the Presidents of the United States of America and Caspar Babypants have in common? Well, as all the numerous articles and interviews like to point out, Chris Ballew is Caspar Babypants. Yeah, really, that's exactly how he is introduced every single time. Chris Ballew, lead singer of the Presidents of the United States (the group behind Lump) is in fact, Caspar Babypants. Kind of weird isn't it? Even the title of his website says, caspar babypants is chris ballew. Like he's trying to say, "No, really, it is me!" Okay, we get it. That's quite an alter ego if you ask me and there's no way he's going to keep this a secret anymore. And what's with all the references to Lump? Was that the only song that they sang? What about Peaches? Okay, yes I did see Peaches mentioned too.
But, I digress. We're here to talk about Caspar Babypants and the show his band put on in the rotunda at the Capitol sponsored by Mom's Rising. I get a weekly email update from Seattle magazine Parent Map, that lets me know all the happenings going on in Seattle and the South Sound region. So, lo and behold one day I read that Caspar Babypants will be putting on a free show at the Capitol Rotunda, and I say, "I am so there". I tell me husband about it and he feels that it's necessary to take the afternoon off too.
I was curious just how they were going to set up a band to play in the rotunda since the area directly under the dome is four sets of stairs leading up to, and down to, a square which contains the roped off seal of Washington state. I imagined a series of toddlers tumbling head-over-heals down the marble stairs chased by frantic mommies. Instead the band was set-up in a hallway off-center from the dome and nobody tumbled. However, the venue was still odd since the group sat directly in front of a rather gigantic, shiny-nosed bust of George Washington (I believe his nose has been rubbed more than once for luck). The hallway was large, but was packed with kids, parents, and various legislators who stopped by to see what all the fuss was about. Needless to say it was a hot and smelly affair, but nobody seemed to mind.
I read about Caspar Babypants when he debuted his album Here I Am. My family was immediately intrigued knowing what Chris Ballew's background was. (Did you know that caspar babypants is chris ballew!?) Anyway, we immediately went online and tried to find some of the songs to listen to. However, because we had preconceived notions of what his music for PUSA sounded like, we were caught off guard, and ultimately, disappointed. I think what we all hoped to hear was something like dune buggy.
Still, when I saw that he would be in town I knew it was a good musical opportunity for my family (I don't deny that I was also happy that the show was free).I don't claim to have enjoyed the cramped, hot, sweaty, stinky, smelly quarters, but, the MUSIC, the music was FUN! Honestly, I was surprised how much I actually enjoyed myself. And though neither of my children is a card carrying member of the "Fisher-Price, My First Mosh-Pit" group (I stole that from Captain Bogg), they also had fun!
I know everyone knows this, but seeing someone perform music in person is such a distinctly different experience than listening to music on a CD, or even watching a video on YouTube. Especially in such an intimate setting (it doesn't get more intimate than singing and sweating in a hallway with a ton of little people and the smell of a very ripe diaper). The group started out with the song Baby Bear and I was instantly hooked. Even my very squirmy baby boy took a moment to listen intently. I apologize that I don't remember the whole play list. While I tried to remain focused on the music, I still had to watch a 6-year-old and previously mentioned squirmy, wormy almost-two-year-old. So, here's what else my husband and I also seem to remember hearing: Little Broken Truck (a real crowd pleaser), Mary Had a Little Lamb, I'm a Nut (also enjoyed by the crowd), Run Baby Run (lots of out-of-control toddlers), and Under a Rock. Sorry it's such a sketchy list. Songs were included from his new album More Please!
At one point I had to skip out to the car, just before the concert was almost over, so I missed the song in which Caspar (who is Chris Ballew) paraded through the crowd playing a melodica. My husband took pictures though and when I saw them, I asked him, "was that a real musical instrument?" Yes, yes it is. In fact there are numerous pictures of him on the internet playing this thing that looks more like a Fisher-Price toy from the 70's than a real musical instrument. You see why you have to really go see someone play live in order to get the full experience? Okay, I'll stop harping on that now.
So, to sum up, my family has a new appreciation for Caspar Babypants. I'm happy to say that the numerous videos on the internet meant that we could see and hear the music from a new perspective too. Included here are some of our favorites. Also, if you want to hear more music, visit the Caspar Babypants website, which has a player at the bottom of the page so that you can listen to songs in full.
First up is itsy bitsy spider. Everyone likes this video because the added lyrics bring a whole new level to the song. But, more importantly is just how awesome the video is in all it's simplicity. Everyone knows the hand-movements associated with this simple song, but to make your hands look like real characters is just so cool. I can't do the video justice with my words, you just have to watch it.
Next up is poor dust bunnies, a fan video that really compliments the music. You know you're cool when talented people want to make videos of your songs.
Finally, is Mama's favorite. I tend to be a very sensitive person who will cry even at commercials so this video hits me right where it counts. I'm always a blubbering mess after watching this one.
For more really cool Caspar Babypants videos visit the caspar babypants tv YouTube channel. Or, visit my new Mrs. Mama's Monsters YouTube channel for Caspar Babypants and other fun kids music videos.
Let me tell you that I may have been the last to know about this concert, but apparently everyone else knew about it. This is the third year that Recess Monkey has played this concert sponsored by Parenting Tools. So guess what? There were tons of people there! It was a blast despite the fact that even though there were so many people there, one person was very obviously missing. Jack Forman couldn't make the concert due to the arrival of his baby boy, Oscar, yesterday. But no worries. Though we missed Jack, Drew and Daron brought plenty of energy and fun. 
Jet Pack came next off their most recent album The Final Funktier followed by Melvin the shark and the song Pet Shark. Then Daron jumped out in front to show everyone how to do the moves for riding a roller coaster. This was followed by lots of jumping up and down and screaming. Haven't got a Pet Yet came next, followed by Under My Bed, and then Dr. Wiggle. I love Dr. Wiggle. It's just such a fun, silly song. Even if it is about something that makes my stomach turn. 
Wow! What a great show! These guys really bring it when they come to play and even though the auditorium seating was somewhat restricting in terms of movement, that didn't keep the kids from jumping up and down and screaming their little hearts out. (Not my kids of course who always attend these things like they are a pair of constipated old men.) All the parents around me knew all the words to the songs and we sang along and, I suspect, had way more fun than the kids. My husband and I threatened never to bring the kids again. Next time we'll just go by ourselves. 
