Ben's Playlist - Friday, February 1, 2019

Press Play – Brady Rymer & The Little Band That Could
New Pair Of Shoes – The Bazillions
Inside I Shine – Danny Weinkauf
What Kind Of Fruit – Dean Jones
No Time for Questions – Jack Forman
Always Ascending – Franz Ferdinand

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, January 31, 2019

Have You Ever Been Real – Dean Jones
Me And You – Caspar Babypants
The Only One – Brady Rymer & The Little Band That Could
Helicopter Leaves – Ants Ants Ants
That's My Style – The Bazillions
Perfect Tuesday Afternoon – Frances England
Sunshine Sunny Sun Sunshine Day – Danny Weinkauf

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Stars – Ants Ants Ants
One – Aaron Nigel Smith
Summer's Here – The Bazillions
Chain Reaction – Brady Rymer & The Little Band That Could
Watch Petunia Dance – Caspar Babypants
Carefree – Frances England
Dozen Good Reasons – Danny Weinkauf

New Music for Wintry Moods

Depressed by early sunsets and dark nights? Slick, cold streets got you down? Well, there's a few sunny new tunes to get you and the kids rocking this season. The "winter is fun" theme is clearly in play as Cowboy Andy and the Salamanders present "SNOW!" yes, with the exclamation mark.

There's even a disco dance break in the middle of the song, with an instructional snow dance for the kids. The band promises a new album, PUT YOUR ARMS IN THE AIR ! this May, as spring flowers are blooming. In the meantime, you can grab "SNOW!" and throw it to the kids (not at them) right here.

Mista Cookie Jar and Grammy winner Secret Agent 23 Skidoo have teamed up for "Rock This World," a power rap/pop positive values message. The song implores kids to go all in with their hearts and good intentions:

You're such a work of art
And I don't mean that
sarcastically.
You are so beautiful.
You perfect jewel.
You nutty squirrel.
You rock our world!

CJ and 23 make a good team and have recorded before. "Rock This World" is another fine gem in their shared collection. Grab a listen here at Bandcamp.

Ben's Playlist - Friday, January 18, 2019

Can You Sing? – Dan Zanes
Animal Land – Bears And Lions
Peace Be To All – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
That's My Style – The Bazillions
Dozen Good Reasons – Danny Weinkauf
Swamp Romp – Johnette Downing With Scott Billington
Carefree – Frances England

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, January 17, 2019

My Barn Door Is Open – Red Yarn
Finally – Franz Ferdinand
Fly Like A Bird – Dean Jones
It's A Wonderful Life – Kepi Ghoulie
Little Bit of Time – Like Father Like Son
Hide & Seek – The Not-Its!
Solar Flares – Mo Phillips

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Holiday Jam – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
Get What You Get – Bears And Lions
Lazy Boy – Franz Ferdinand
Handle With Care – Like Father Like Son
I Spy – Ants Ants Ants
Going to the Library – Danny Weinkauf
Watch Petunia Dance – Caspar Babypants

Winter Wondering With the Okee Dokee Brothers in NYC

Simon and Garfunkel sang about the New York winters in "The Boxer." However, blame climate change or El Nino of whatever you want, it was mild temperatures that welcomed the Okee Dokee Brothers from Minnesota to Manhattan last Saturday, January 5.



Childhood friends Joe Mailander and Justin Lansing have made a name for themselves (and won a Grammy in the process) with their rustic, modern take on traditional American roots music. Their return to Symphony Space as part of the Just Kidding Kids series drew a near-full house of rapturous fans who seemed to know the words to their favorites, from "Slumberjack" to "Blankets of Snow."



The OG OD's avoid making audiences OD on messages. There is a gentle conservation theme through their material regarding the magnificence of nature. Videos played behind a few of the tracks also celebrate participation, whether it involves water and boats or boots and forest snowfalls. Like icicles slowly melting on a pine tree, the hour-long concert was over before most young observers realized. And back into the rain (although not the cold) they went.



Joe and Justin have dedicated the most recent CD, WINTERLAND, to their beloved and endangered winters, which are warming fast as a result of climate change. To help ensure their fans can enjoy a lifetime of snowy winter exploration, the Okee Dokees are donating 10% of all WINTERLAND sales to Askov Finlayson’s Keep the North Cold initiative, which supports leading-edge climate solutions in the North and across the country. Read more about their important mission here.

The Just Kidding Kids series continues with "Beats, Rhymes, and Breaking" (featuring breakdancing performances) on Saturday, January 12 at 11 AM and 2 PM (click here for tickets) and "Go Home Tiny Monster," a puppet play about a family of monsters on Saturday, January 19 at 11 AM and 2 PM (click here for tickets).

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, January 3, 2019

Me On The Map – Brady Rymer & The Little Band That Could
Loving & Kind – Aaron Nigel Smith
New Pair Of Shoes – The Bazillions
Disco Hippo – Caspar Babypants
Always Ascending – Franz Ferdinand
Sunshine Sunny Sun Sunshine Day – Danny Weinkauf

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Me And You – Caspar Babypants
Smile For Me – David Tobocman
Holiday Jam – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
What's Done is Done – Jack White
Dodgeball – Justin Roberts
Ode To Bed – Mo Phillips
Little Bit of Time – Like Father Like Son