C.D. Release Weekend!

The date is set for the great big C.D. release event for People, Places and Things. I just got off the phone with the Barnacle State Historic Park. We've booked a two-day event to coincide with the Mad Hatter Arts Festival.

Sat. Nov. 14th 3:00-4:30pm

Sun. Nov. 15th 3:30-4:30pm

Free with park admission

I am very excited. The Barnacle is a beautiful setting for a concert, The weather is begrudgingly starting to break, and the C.D. elves are busily trying to get them done. I've played at the Barnacle for a Birthday, but this will be my first official concert in Coconut Grove that is open to the public (strange huh?).

Once the C.D. is available online and through iTunes, I'll be updating the greater Bathtub Nation. Tell everyone you know!

Kid Quote of the Day: "Mr. Nick you have a mustache!" "Yes Brady, I do." ~Brady (age: 4)

Happy Halloween!

The Spearhead of Kids' Music

A nice little package came this week from a group called Rhythm Child. They were billed as a sort of Partridge Family with a funky, soulful vibe. I was intrigued. In an unexpected twist, the CD was accompanied by a neat little shaker with the album art on it.

The foundation for each song on this album is combo of acoustic guitar and organ set against a solid rhythm of hand drums and drum set. There is a lot of familiar material that listeners will recognize (such as Mary Had a Little Lamb or The Wheels on the Bus), but done in a unique Rhythm Child way. The closest in sound to anything I've heard or reviewed here at Singing in the Bathtub would be the Funky Kidz album. Rhythm Kid does have a bit of the New Orleans vibe, but again they add their own spin to everything they do. The completely original songs on this album are uplifting and enjoyable. It's easy to see why Rhythm Child is a John Lennon Songwriting Grand Prize Winner. As I mentioned in the title, Rhythm Child is something like the Spearhead of kids' music in my mind.

The Mike Brady Wrap-up:

It is nice to see a family working to create music together. I think the Partridge Family billing had me imaging the kids being more up front. The tracks where frontman Norm Jones' son Bailey are featured are great. He has the voice of a natural singer and I am sure he'll grow up to make some great music himself. Rhythm Child to me is a nice break from the typical music that is market for children. Eat A Bowl of Cherries offers a bit of soul, invites the listener to sing, dance and play along, and puts a smile on your face.

Kid Quote of The Day: "I'm a little coconut, sitting on my cocobutt." ~Sienna (age: 3)

State of the Art 2-D

I have the pleasure today to review The Jimmies latest DVD of concert footage, music videos and a behind the scenes documentary, entitled Trying Funny Stuff. There is even a bonus live CD that accompanies the DVD, how can you go wrong?

I have not had the pleasure of seeing the Jimmies perform live, and this DVD is the next best thing. "On a hot summer day, The Jimmies rocked New York City," the opening titles read, but I am glad that they chose to open with "Cool to Be Uncool." I love this song, even if no one in South Florida quite gets it. If the Jimmies are coming to your town, you should definitely bring the whole family, if not the concert portion of the DVD gives a good idea of the fun and excitement that is a JImmies show.

Many of the music videos on the DVD can be seen on the Jimmies website: www.gimmiejimmies.com. Directed by Michael Slavens and produced by Five Eyed Films the Jimmies music videos are top notch. There is a kooky sense of humor that runs through everything that the Jimmies do right down to the packaging of the DVD which includes little one-liners like "In State of the Art 2-D."

The real gem on this DVD to me is the behind the scenes "documentary" about the making of the music videos. It is an in-depth and humorous look at the hard work the Jimmies and Slavens put into each of their videos. In a 2 minute music video it's easy to miss all the time that went into lighting hundreds of candles to emulate firelight, making a dress out of cotton balls, or constructing a set out of candy!

The Mike Brady Wrap-up: Once again, I think DVD's are key for kids' musicians. With so many mini-vans having flip-down screens, popping in Trying Funny Stuff seems like a sure fire way to keep the little ones entertained on long trips, and the adults bopping to the music while they drive.

The Jimmies are hip, humorous and clever and Trying Funny Stuff highlights all of these qualities. As an aspiring kids' music artist, I appreciate catching a glimpse at the hard work that went into making their videos. Anyone who has made a diorama for school will enjoy the creativity of the Jimmies. Do your family a favor and pick up this DVD!

Kid Quote of the Day: "Do you want to tell me what your Halloween costume will be, or is it a surprise?" Nick asked in his music class. "It's a surprise and it's Wolverine." ~Edward (age: 4)

Cough, Cough, Sniffle, Sniffle...

2009 officially marks my ninth flu season as a preschool teacher. By now I have encountered every cough, cold and flu that has run roughshod through the halls of my schools, and my immune system is ironclad. Sadly, this does not extend to my dear wife Tracey who came down with a nasty seasonal flu and then the one-two punch of conjunctivitis.

Every year it is the same story, classes dwindle as students stay home sick, and teachers cross their fingers hoping that they are spared the brunt of another year's flu outbreaks. As a specialist, I am particularly vulnerable as I come in contact with hundreds of kids on a daily basis. This year the news is a bit more alarming with the H1N1 virus in all 50 states, and especially prevalent in schools. Not just the elderly, those with respiratory illness, and/or infants are at risk. Seemingly healthy patients are winding up in the hospital or worse.

There is good news! The scientific and medical communities have been working tirelessly to come up with a vaccine that can minimize risk of contracting the H1N1 virus. Thankfully this particular strain of flu is not as virulent as predicted, and though it is common for influenza to mutate, the H1N1 strain has remained stable and this vaccine proves to be a strong hedge against rampant infection.

The biggest impediment to the success of this effort by the C.D.C. and the W.H.O. is sadly the very tools that health organizations use to spread the word about vaccination. The internet is ripe with fear-mongering, misinformation and conjecture that is focused on political interests and not the health of those of us in the trenches of the war on flu. I have received emails whooping up anxiety, directing my attention to pseudo-scientific websites, and citing anecdotal evidence about vaccinations as far back as the 1918 Spanish Flu as a means of confusing the issue.

Thankfully the knowledge of DNA, advances in vaccine production, the use of non-live virus vaccines, and sound scientific practices have given us a chance to stave off a pandemic that could cost many young lives. There is a wealth of information about vaccines at the C.D.C. website if you find yourself concerned or confused by the dyne of misinformation out there:

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/

When in doubt, err on the side of caution and keep your child and yourself home when you may be coming down with the flu. Shots and flu mists aside, that is the best way to stop the transmission of the flu.

Kid Quote of the Day: "See, I catched my cough in my elbow." ~Halley (age: 3)

The Beyoncé Effect

If you are ever having a "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day," and you need to have a laugh and blow off some steam, I highly recommend going to YouTube and searching for "Babies Dancing to Beyoncé's Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)." It was my wife who introduced me to this, one of life's little joys. It's now a sensation and I believe one of the tiny dancers was featured on Ellen.

There are countless versions of this infant dance craze for you to enjoy. Here are my two favorites:

I have to say this next one is unbelievable and we should watch out for this young one on "So You Think You Can Dance" in a few years:

As a self-proclaimed music nerd, and a champion of all things early childhood I thought I would offer my thoughts on this phenomenon. Say what you will about Beyoncé's mind-numbingly catchy tune (I happen to like it, despite being a bit played out... such is pop music), there is something about it that gets infants grooving. The video is starkly simple, the beat is infectious, and the hooks are simple and repetitive. The dance moves are a bit suggestive and the wardrobe is a bit revealing, but the message is one of empowerment and Beyoncé is not a rail-thin waif like many of the pre-teen pop stars.

To me this is a clear example that music of all types can be enjoyable, inspirational and important for even the youngest listeners. I think parents too often feel that they have to suffer through bad music because it is packaged in bright colors and marketed to kids. Here's the alternative:

Call it sour grapes. The Wiggles are the superstars of the kids' music world. In their hay-day they out earned Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman combined as Australia's most successful entertainers. Despite their success, I maintain that this music is lousy, unimaginative and though it may illicit kids to get up and move, so does Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)!

Do kids' artists need to wear creepy smiles? Does kids' music have to sound like a Lawrence Welk tune? When I perform I don't enact a forced, over the top persona. I treat children like human beings, and when a broad smile grows across my face it's because playing music for kids is one of the most rewarding performance experiences out there.

The Mike Brady Wrap-up: Okay, so I presented two pretty extreme examples of music that gets kids' moving. I'll admit that both have their draw backs, and at the end of the day I hesitate to be too harsh a critic. Making kids' music is tough, and I admire and respect anyone who dedicates their talents to this end. I guess my real message is that there is a happy medium between grown-up music with adult themes and kids' music that makes parents want to tear their hair out after the 1,000th listening. Believe me, if it has a good beat and a catchy hook kids will dance to it. As adults if we don't care to listen to the Wiggles on repeat, we have the power to encourage different musical tastes in our kids. That has been the goal of this blog all along, and that has been a mission of my music from the first time I picked up a guitar and rocked the preschool. So what do you get when you mix the beat of Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) with the kid friendly danceability of Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes? I like to think it goes a little something like this:

Kid Quote of the Day: I think these dance moves say it all!

Snap, Crackle and Pop

One benefit of writing this blog is that I am able to spot the latest trends in Kids' Music. Lately I have been receiving a lot of music from female fronted pop groups. Today I'd like to review two albums in this "Kiddie Pop" genre for your consideration.

Great Day: Milkshake

The first album is the latest offering from the group Milkshake. The album is called Great Day, and it's a fun, high energy romp. The Baltimore based group is lead by Lisa Mathews and rounded out by a tight quintet of talented musicians. Upon tearing open the packaging, I was struck by the colorful photos and artistic design of the liner notes. There is even a fold-out poster of the band with the lyrics on the back. Milkshake are a talented band and Great Day is a slickly produced album. Producer Tor Hyams has created a finely crafted pop album.

As for the music, Milkshake offers a healthy dose of Rock, Pop, and Punk with a 90's alternative vibe. I'm reminded of Lisa Loeb, Juliana Hatfield and Liz Phair. My favorite tracks from the album are Statue of Me and Great Day the excellent piano and keyboards by Brian Simms are a bluesy, soulful addition. Musically and thematically, I would say this album is ideal for the elementary school crowd. This is not a sing-along album, the preschool/toddler aged child would enjoy the music, but the lyrics may be a bit over their heads.

Rockin', Rollin' and Ridin': Rebecca Frezza and Big Truck

Rebecca Frezza and Big Truck have been creating a buzz in the Kids' Music industry. They have been featured on Jack's Big Music Show. Rebecca's most recent solo album Special Kind of Day received a Parent's Choice Award. Rockin', Rollin' and Ridin' is just slightly longer than an EP (with 8 tracks of music), but it also comes with a fun music video for the song Big Truck.

From the get-go Rockin', Rollin' and Ridin' does just that, Rocks and Rolls. In addition to her six piece band, Rebecca Frezza is joined by Roscoe Orman.

Listeners will recognize his voice as Gordon From Sesame Street. At it's core Frezza's music has an acoustic/pop sound, but Big Truck adds a rockin' edge that will get your young music lovers on their feet. The lyrics capture the imaginative world of toy trucks, robots and rocketship rides to the moon. Rebecca Frezza's song writing style is rhythmic and repetitive which makes it catchy and perfect for the younger crowd. In the press release that accompanied the CD, Big Truck is billed as music for the "in-between crowd," however, the album art work, the thematic material and the simplicity of the songs make it better for the preschool aged listener.

The Mike Brady Wrap-up:

The days of Raffi/Barney-style kids' music are clearly over, and I think that parents are better off for it. Artists are recognizing that kids don't need to be talked-down-to when listening to music. In all honesty, Big Truck and Milkshake would not be my first choice in music. It's really not my preferred style of music, but clearly people are drawn to each of these bands, and they are making a splash in the industry. Both Milkshake and Big Truck offer up catchy tunes with a hard rockin' edge. If you long for the hay-days of 90's girl-rock, these albums might be right up your alley.

Kid Quote of the Day: Teacher: "Sam, what are you going to be for Halloween?"

Sam: "Not a robot. It was tricky to walk upstairs. I'm going to be a firefighter." ~ Sam (age 4)

Can you do the Hustle with no arms or legs?

Ask and ye shall receive. After a few months with nothing to review for Singing in the Bathtub, I finally have a growing list of CD's for your consideration. Today I am going to tackle the latest offering from ShirLaLa entitled, Earth Worm Disco. 

Frequent readers of Singing in the Bathtub will remember ShirLaLa from last Chanukah's post, Festival of Lights. When I heard about this upcoming release, I was intrigued. First because up until this album ShirLaLa had carved a niché for herself by writing Jewish kids' songs, and Second because her style of Acoustic/Folk music was far from disco!

In both ways this album is a big departure. By teaming up with Producer/Engineer/Multi-Instrumentalist, Josh Nelson as well as other performers, mixers, mastering agents and songwriters ShirLaLa is taking her music to new heights (or perhaps depths). Equally, there is no music that is specific to the Jewish faith on Earth Worm Disco, but, ever the niché performer, the theme here is ecology and the environment. 

Having been introduced to two Jewish themed kids' artists last year (ShirLaLa and Mama Doni), I wondered how much kids' music one could write with such a restrictive focus. In ShirLaLa's case, the answer is 3 albums (ShirLaLa Chanukah, ShirLaLa Pesach and ShirLaLa Shabat). With Earth Worm Disco, she is opening up her audience to we Gentiles (though I really enjoy her religious themed music). Along with this new theme, there is clearly a new sound. Shira rocks harder, incites her listeners to get down, and has created an album which is more of a "studio" offering. 

Fans of ShirLaLa's organic, near-live, folky music might be surprised when they pop in Earth Worm Disco. Even the sound of her voice and style of singing has evolved. She goes from the smoky, torch singer style on tunes like "Whole Wide World" to a harder edge of "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rock" to a pure sweet ballad tone on "Turning of the World." There are a lot more electric guitars, drum beats, horns and guest vocalists on E.W.D. and ShirLaLa has teamed up with some great performers! Shelley Nicole Jefferson adds a soulful flavor as Mother Earth on the title track. Shawn Shafner who plays Dr. BreathEasy on "Way Up There" brings a bit of Broadway sensibility to the album. I could imagine this cut being part of a kids' show on the environment. I was excited to see that ShirLaLa included a song by Ruth Pelham ("Turning of the World"). Her "Rainbow Song" was the song that kicked off my entire career in kids' music. I had never heard "Turning of the World" before, but it's a great addition to the album and my favorite vocal on the album.

As a special treat, ShirLaLa included a remix of "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle & Rock" done by Electric Junkyard Gamelan. I was not familiar with this crew of homemade musicians, but I am glad for the introduction. There is a bit of dialog to describe what is going on, but sadly, the music alone doesn't give the listener the whole story. Kids are so inundated with electronic music, that the organic sounds of this "junk-band" might be dismissed for more studio trickery. Check out the videos on their website. This is amazing stuff!

The Mike Brady Wrap-up: Earth Worm Disco marks a turning point for ShirLaLa in the world of kids music. She's got a new focus, a new sound, and some new friends to help her take the music to the next level. Ecology and the environment seem to be a growing trend in kids' music (everyone from Trout Fishing in America to Jack Johnson have their offerings along this theme), and when you stop to consider the uncertain world this next generation faces I am glad. 

As a child of the late 70's I am glad to hear some funky disco music specifically for the smaller set. True, many people railed against the over-produced excess of the disco era, but I'd take a little Night Fever over the auto-tuned, in your face pop that Radio Disney pumps out. With our first anniversary come and gone here at Singing in the Bathtub, it is fun to watch artists who have been reviewed in the past grow and evolve. Earth Worm Disco is ShirLaLa's "one giant leap" into new musical territory and, in my opinion, a ringing success!

Kid Quote of the Day: "If I can't think of something, I just hit my head and say 'think, think, think.' It helps me remember." ~ Genevieve (age: 5)