Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, June 1, 2011

What Is A Mammal? - Marais & Miranda
Poker Face (Glee Cast) (Feat. Idina Menzel) - Glee
The Daylight Strong - The Figgs
Super Sonic Rocket Bike - The Bazillions
Ferris Wheel - Kindercastle
Birdsong - Steve Weeks
The Wall - Yuck
Sound of Sunshine - Michael Franti & Spearhead
Type A Prayer - Alchemystics
Gee Angel - Sugar

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, May 31, 2011

California Stars - Wilco
Richie and Ruben - Fountains of Wayne
Change My Luck - The Not-Its!
Somewhere Only We Know - Glee
Tiny Cool - Princess Katie and Racer Steve
Buffalo Gals - Dog On Fleas
Superhero - Tim and the Space Cadets
Kinder Words - Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Flaming Pie - Paul McCartney

Ben's Playlist - Monday, May 30, 2011

The Birth (Journey to the Light Part 2) - Cloud Cult
Count Me In - Trout Fishing in America
Baseball Dreams - Ralph's World
Green Submarine - Flannery Brothers
Happy - Dog on Fleas
Gelt Melts - The LeeVees
Freedom Highway - Mavis Staples
So Long to the Day - Charity and the JAMband
Tommy Got In Trouble - The Bazillions
Havalina - They Might Be Giants
Come On Get Happy (Partridge Family TV Show Theme) - Daddy a Go Go

Ben's Playlist - Friday, May 27, 2011

Oompa Loompa - Willy Wonka
I Want An Alien for Christmas - Fountains of Wayne
My Funny Valentine - Ella Fitzgeral
(Nothing But) Flowers - Talking Heads
Hi 5 Dance - Flannery Brothers
Dance This Mess Around - The B-52s
Sleigh Ride - The Jimmies
Twistification - Dog on Fleas
Octopus - Artichoke

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, May 26, 2011

Type A Prayer - Alchemystics
Jump Up and Down - Flannery Brothers
Soft Things - Brady Rymer
Everything's Controlled By the Brain - Doc Dauer
Messy Room Song - The Hipwaders
Jump So High - Jeremy Plays Guitar
Turning Tables - Adele
Baby - Glee
It's Close Enough - Billy Kelly
California Dreaming - Mamas and the Papas

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Be Yourself - Grenadilla
Mama Tooted - Keller Williams
The Rhyming Circus - Ralph's World
It's Not My Birthday - They Might Be Giants
The Race Is On Again - Yo La Tengo
Change My Luck - The Not-Its!
Mothership Connection (Star Child) - Parliament
Bohemian Rhapsody - Glee
Every Day Is Yours To Win - R.E.M.

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Kinder Words - Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Ice Ages Are Fun - Board of Education
California Gurls - Katy Perry (Feat. Snoop Dogg)
Come On Get Happy (Partridge Family TV Show Theme) - Daddy a Go Go
Set Fire To The Rain - Adele
Worms - Dog On Fleas
Song of the Passaic - Fountains of Wayne
Little Parrot - Matt Clark
Dancing Queen - Glee
Stalk of Wheat - They Might Be Giants
Hero - Okee-Dokee Brothers

Ben's Playlist - Monday, May 23, 2011

Type A Prayer - Alchemystics
Little Brown Dog - The Missing Piece
Beddie Bye - Kinder Castle
Say It Loudly - The Not-Its!
Hang On - Weezer
I Shall Sing - Grenadilla
ÜBerlin - R.E.M.
Tiny Cool - Princess Katie and Racer Steve
Burning Coffee - They Might Be Giants
At the Timeshare - The LeeVees

Ben's Playlist - Friday, May 20, 2011

Mothership Connection (Star Child) - Parliament
Bubble Test - Daniel Hales & the Frost Heaves
The Birth (Journey to the Light Part 2) - Cloud Cult
Turn Your Body Around - Monkey Monkey Music
Darwin - Artichoke
Kick - INXS
Little Parrot - Matt Clark
Mammal - They Might Be Giants
Pure Imagination - Glee

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, May 19, 2011

Back To Black - Glee
Kinder Words - Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Happy - Dog on Fleas
Oh My Heart - R.E.M.
Lucy Lawcy - Keller Williams
Jewish Cowgirl [Remix] - The Mama Doni Band
Say It Loudly - The Not-Its!
Green Submarine - Flannery Brothers
Octopus - Artichoke
Squirrels - Mister G

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Hello Hello (Good Morning) - Dustin Type
Chanukah, Oh Hanukkah, Oh Hanuka - The Jimmies
Friday - Glee
Seasons - Caroline Herring
Shake! - Flannery Brothers
Shoo Lie Loo - Elizabeth Mitchell
Muffin Man - Ella Fitzgerald
Big Blue Whale - Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights
Shabbat Shaboom - The Mama Doni Band
Dishes - Joe's Backyard Band
Soft Things - Brady Rymer

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, May 17, 2011

All The Animals - Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights
Mothership Connection (Star Child) - Parliament
Raise Your Glass - Glee
Barbra Streisand (Original Mix) - Duck Sauce
Bluegrass for Breakfast - Okee-Dokee Brothers
A Matter Of Time - Foo Fighters
Everything Is Music To Me - Jonathan Samson
Dreamer - Supertramp

Ben's Playlist - Monday, May 16, 2011

The Daylight Strong - The Figgs
Elvis Is Everywhere - Mojo Nixon
Atomic Dog - George Clinton
Closer to the Sky - Michael Franti
Free Your Mind - En Vogue
Popcorn Tree - Music For Aardvarks Presents David Weinstone
Look Through Any Window - The Hollies
K-I-D-S 2:04 - Love Clowns!
Sleigh Ride - The Jimmies

Ben's Playlist - Friday, May 13, 2011

My Father's Waltz - Hem
So You Want To Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star - The Byrds
Gravy Waltz - Buddie Emmons
It's Hard To Be A Kid - Daddy A Go-Go
Rolling in the Deep - Glee
Hey Hey Hey - Michael Franti & Spearhead
TV - Music For Aardvarks Presents David Weinstone
Happy - Dog on Fleas
It's Close Enough - Billy Kelly
I Eat Kids - Radioactive Chicken Heads
Bicycle - Frances England

She Hopes You Go Country

Hope Harris Brings a Junior Jamboree

Okay I'm not a fan of country music. It's my East Coast rock mentality and upbringing. But a decade of child-rearing and kid's music have beaten down some of my defenses. Boy, what a ringing endorsement, huh?

Richmond, Virgina's own Hope Harris has released a charming collection of 16 countrified tunes, "Cousin's Jamboree," that we'll give some spins to in our CD player. [I understand that using a verb associated with record players dates me.] Hope covers some classics, such as "Down In the Valley," with the archetypal twanging guitar, and "Five Little Monkeys." If I'm not mistaken, it's officially the 5,000th recording of the song.



Harris' second CD, "Cousin's Jamboree" is an homage to the childhood variety shows that she staged with her younger brother. The lyrics skew to the younger crowd (songs include "I Can Do It," "Good Manners," and "Seatbelt Buckled"). After hearing Uncle Rock's "Rock and Roll Babysitter," any other tune about professional childcare immediately comes in second place.

Ably produced by Dan Zanes co-producer Rob Friedman, Harris delivers an upbeat set of light and gentle country tunes. While our 10-year-old might give us some of his beginners' eye rolling at the table manners and behavior songs, his five-month-old brother will definitely need some musical prompting in the years to come.

With a background in Broadway and Off-Broadway productions (Jekyll & Hyde, Civil War), Harris is seeking to mark her territory as a children's performer who is country but not too country. After releasing lullaby and country CDs, her next release, "Picasso, That's Who" (fall 2011) will honor great artists through the centuries. And the prolific Harris has plans for a 2012 Earth-friendly CD, "Lemonade Stand." Perhaps Hope Harris wants to be the kids' equivalent of the Indigo Girls. Perhaps she wants to be the female Dan Zanes. It will be interesting to see where her musical journey takes her in the next few years.

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, May 12, 2011

Froggie Went A Coutrin' (Featuring Secret Agent 23 Skidoo) - Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights
Dancing Queen - Glee
What's Your Name? - Meredith Brooks
I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
Take A Bow - Leona Lewis
Song of the Passaic - Fountains of Wayne
Sometimes I'll Be There - Naked Brothers Band
So Long to the Day - Charity and the JAMband
Dishes - Joe's Backyard Band
When I'm Five - The Not-Its!
Black Socks - Bill Harley

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, May 11, 2011

A World of Happiness for Autism - Ralph Covert & Various Artists
Set Fire To The Rain - Adele
Imitation Of Life - R.E.M.
Still Got Tonight - Matthew Morrison
Jay Leno Show - Mel Glazer/Charlie Weiss
We Had To Go Home - The Verve Pipe
Can't Get Enough of You Baby - Smash Mouth
Finiculi Finicula - Hollow Trees
Flaming Pie - Paul McCartney
Onyonghasayo - Skankin' Pickle

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, May 10, 2011

(Nothing But) Flowers - Talking Heads
Diving in the Deep Blue Sea - Monty Harper
Turning Tables - Adele
Sleep Through The Static - Jack Johnson
Lee Majors Come Again - Beastie Boys
Mighty Milo - Music For Aardvarks Presents David Weinstone
Come On Get Happy (Partridge Family TV Show Theme) - Daddy a Go Go
You've Got a Friend In Me - Bonerama
Wear My Pajamas To School - Rudy Trubitt

Ben's Playlist - Monday, May 9, 2011

Tommy Got In Trouble - The Bazillions
Hang On - Weezer
Daddy Fox - Brendan Taaffe
Stronger Than Me - Amy Winehouse
A Little Green - Baze And His Silly Friends
Linus and Lucy - Asylum Street Spankers
Superhero - Tim and the Space Cadets
Original Friend - Lunch Money
This Is Hip - John Lee Hooker
I Eat Kids - Radioactive Chicken Heads
Jump So High - Jeremy Plays Guitar

Ben's Playlist - Friday, May 6, 2011

I Don't Want To Know - Glee
Sunglasses - Recess Monkey
Snack Time - RTTs
The Rockford Files - Mike Post
California Dreaming - Mamas and the Papas
What Colour Is Your T Shirt? - Nick Cope
Superhero - Tim and the Space Cadets
I Gotta Feeling - The Black Eyed Peas
We R Who We R - Ke$ha
My Name Is No - Starfish

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, May 5, 2011

Ain't Nothin' But a Party - Dirty Dozen Brass Band
The I Love You Song - Dreyer Family Band
Don't Stop - Glee
Cardboard Box - Justin Roberts
Super Sonic Rocket Bike - The Bazillions
I Want To Push Buttons - Lunch Money
This Old Man - Lucky Diaz
Invisible Friend - Recess Monkey
Arabella Angelique - Grenadilla

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, May 4, 2011

The Daylight Strong - The Figgs
Everything's Controlled By the Brain - Doc Dauer
Wind It Up - Gwen Stefani
I Shall Sing - Grenadilla
Honey Honey - Feist
Loser Like Me - Glee
Shoo Lie Loo - Elizabeth Mitchell
Bravest Kid In The World - Recess Monkey
Free Your Mind - En Vogue

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Paparazzi - Lady Gaga
Baby Lee - Teenage Fanclub
TV - Music For Aardvarks Presents David Weinstone
Eggs - Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
Obsessed By Trucks - Justin Roberts
Robot Pirate - Ratboy Jr.
Hang On - Weezer
Savoy Truffle - They Might Be Giants
The Time (The Dirty Bit) - Black Eyed Peas

The Verve Pipe at Kindiefest 2011

Where was I? Oh yes - after a brutal drive through traffic caused by the annual Five Boro Bike Tour, Ben and I settled in at Littlefield NYC for Kindiefest 2011.

Elizabeth Mitchell and company did a great, mellow set that featured guest appearances by Dean Jones and Heidi Swedberg.

After a break, it was time for the rockin' Verve Pipe gang. And they did not disappoint. A fun set that had guitar solos, four-part a cappella harmonies, and punny lyrics. Not to mention lots of audience singalong.

Here are some videos from there set to give you an example of what I mean:

Wake Up



You Can Write A Song (featuring Recess Monkey)



Here's how I know that Ben is impressed by someone - he becomes shy. Whether it was a preschool instructor that he had a crush on, or a musician that he really likes. Not that he doesn't like some of the people he's met in person, such as Ashley and the Jimmies or Molly and Lunch Money. When Ben saw that Recess Monkey was in attendance, he grew a big smile - but he did NOT want to approach them after the show.

Ice Cream Man



Kind of hard to follow the iconic Van Halen version, but this was a neat kindie-fied rendition.

Cereal/All You Need Is Love



If there was ever an appropriate way to wrap up a children's music festival, here it was - a kid-friendly anthem about what else but breakfast cereal. Followed by a segue into a Beatles classic, clean-pressed for stage-filling return performers.

I may have additional thoughts on the music festival (I did not attend the Saturday sessions, so I'll leave that to others to contemplate). For next year, we will look at mass transit options (the subway stops about 1/2 mile from Littlefield) if the bike tour conflicts again. And Kindiefest is recommended! Take it from me, I've been to all three (and the STINK show before that). Kudos to the organizers once again.

Elizabeth Mitchell at Kindiefest 2011

Ben and I suffered through 90 minutes of traffic and got to Kindiefest 2011 at Brooklyn's Littlefield very late.

How late? We missed four of the six acts. Luckily, we managed to catch the final two - Elizabeth Mitchell and the Verve Pipe.

I shot a few videos of both performances. Here are the Mitchell band songs:

Little Liza Jane



What Goes On



Peace Like A River



Good set, crowd was really into the band. And the Verve Pipe were a complete change of pace, which helped make it really feel like a festival.

Ben's Playlist - Monday, May 2, 2011

Frosty the Snowman - Ben Rudnick & Friends
Do The Turnout - Deedle Deedle Dees
Messy Room Song - The Hipwaders
Burn It To The Ground (clean) - Nickelback
Jewish Girls (At the Matzoh Ball) - The LeeVees
Things Behind the Sun - Nick Drake
Rock and Roll - The New Standards
Super Sonic Rocket Bike - The Bazillions
Say It Loudly - The Not-Its!
Happy - Dog on Fleas