Ben's Playlist - Monday, March 28, 2022

Side Scroller – Eric Herman And The Puppy Dogs
Is It True – Tame Impala
Fanga Alafia – Aaron Nigel Smith
Doppelganger – Dog On Fleas
Yellow and Green – Steve Elci and Friends
Finally – Franz Ferdinand

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, March 24, 2022

Lost In Yesterday – Tame Impala
Go - Eric Herman And The Puppy Dogs
Who, What, When, Where, Why – The Bazillions
One – Aaron Nigel Smith
Lazy Boy – Franz Ferdinand
Daffodil Girl – Steve Elci and Friends
Lost And Loving It – Kepi Ghoulie

Eric Herman Is Full of Magic Beans

The genre of children's music is a better place when Eric Herman is an active contributor. A whole new audience has been born and potty trained in the six years since the last full-length album from Mr. Herman and his band, the Puppy Dogs. They've returned with MAGIC BEANS (plus a host of accompanying videos) and it's like they've never been away.

In a career that has spanned more than 20 years, Herman has learned to cram a lot of references and asides into his songs, which means kids will need at least two listens to interpret and appreciate the elaborate playfulness it takes to make these songs sound so distinctively "Eric Herman." For example, how many children know David Attenborough (mentioned in the topping-shaming song "Mushroom Pizza"). And there are callbacks to previous tunes (mushroom pizza is used as a taunt on "My Brother"), which weaves a collective tissue throughout the entire CD.

"Magic Beans" originated from a joke about paying his hand members with something relatively small and seemingly insignificant. Upon further naval gazing and reflection, Herman ascertained that we are all human beans and there is something unexpected and wonderful about our connection to the universe:

Magic beans made you
Everything you've ever done and seen
Came from just a tiny magic mean
And now you're a magic bean

MAGIC BEANS is not all fun and games. There's no pandemic fatigue to be found on the 12 tracks. Instead, Herman (and guest vocalist Brady Rymer) tackle the difficult subject of dementia on "Remember," where a five and a 1/2 year old promises to remember things that his grandmother can no recall, such as walking her dog, giving big hugs, or even his name. The band segues effortlessly into "Side Scroller" to ponder the way life sometimes mimics video games and vice versa. Herman may have taken half a decade to recharge his batteries, but MAGIC BEANS shows he's well-rested and back at full strength with an auspicious arsenal aimed to amuse audiences.

MAGIC BEANS is available from Eric Herman's website, Spotify, Amazon, and Apple Music.

Here is the video for Eric's song, "Magic Beans":

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Stars – Ants Ants Ants
snowy blanket – Caspar Babypants
Finally – Franz Ferdinand
Taco Tuesday – The Lucky Band
Lo/Hi – The Black Keys
Inkpot – Kepi Ghoulie
Merry-Go-Round – Eric Herman And The Puppy Dogs

Ben's Playlist - Monday, March 14, 2022

when I was little – Caspar Babypants
New Pair Of Shoes – The Bazillions
Village d'Ãtoile – Dog On Fleas
White Whale – Kepi Ghoulie
Googly Eyes – Eric Herman And The Puppy Dogs 4:08 Eric Herman And The Puppy Dogs
Shine A Little Light – The Black Keys

Kids Vids from Big Idea Committee, Eric Herman, and Joanie Leeds

I spent many years in a corporate environment where every so often I'd be asked to join a committee. My usual response was "Yes, but not this one!" Parents learning to preach the power of positive energy may choose to sign their families up for Big Idea Committee (BIC), a new two-woman children's performance group established by Christine Petrini and Melissa Brun. They have released a self-titled song from their upcoming spring album, "Welcome to the Big Idea Committee," which lays out their goals and aspirations (and introduces audiences to Karl the Cello). BIC hopes to merge and acquire similar spirited free thinkers through an interactive theatrical experience. You can purchase the song below and watch their new video:

 

 For many parents, the announcement that COVID vaccinations were approved for children ages five and up was a huge, life-improving moment. Veteran award-winning children's musician Joanie Leeds prepared her daughter Joya but also sought to share knowledge that a split-second pinprick could also provide protection for an entire community. A staunch pro-science advocate, Leeds attempted to keep her recording persona apolitical during the pandemic. However she and Joya felt it was time to laud "America's Doctor" and his 40-year career in the public health services sector. The duo have recorded a duet called "Fauci Ouchie," and an accompanying animated video that delivers a visual representation of how vaccines help your body battle against infectious disease. Grab the song from Spotify, Amazon, or Apple Music and watch the video here:

Eric Herman and the Puppy Dogs are releasing MAGIC BEANS, their first new CD in six years, later this month. To celebrate, Herman is releasing five music videos to build excitement for the CD. "Stinker" features a braggadocious lead character whose exploits are not exactly as clear-cut as he would lead you to believe (hence the title). The video is by Foo Tze Wei and the song features the elegant violin of Jude Noah on violin and Ben Macy on accordion:

Eric Herman Debates Reality in New Music Video

What the world needs now is more Eric Herman. This spring, the surreal children's musician is returning with MAGIC BEANS, his nine album and also his first new full recording in more than five years. In the meantime, he's teasing the upcoming CD with a series of five videos, including this month's "Side Scroller."

The song (and video) operate on several levels, considering the amount of hours that children are encouraged to spend in front of screens during the pandemic. The protagonist imagines himself in a "Matrix"-esque situation where all his daily interactions mesh with different video games (For instance: Getting to your seat in the classroom? Centipede). "Side Scroller" is also delightfully meta, as there's the main character and the character in the video game that he plays, and then the (spoiler alert) human who sits at the main controller.

If you're a fan of shows like Westworld or films like the Matrix series, you'll immediately understand the concept of "simulation hypothesis." It pretty much asks, are we the reality or are we a program built by a more sophisticated species? It's notable that STEM expert Neil deGrasse Tyson gives this theory a 50/50 chance of being true, in part because an advanced civilization would have to weigh the significance of allowing the characters to have the sentience to comprehend their exact nature. If that premise gives you nightmares, just assemble some s'mores for the kids, relax in your family room, and exult in the knowledge that Eric Herman is dealing with these complex abstractions.

"Side Scroller" also depicts parallels between the boy's life and such classic video games as Pong, Tetris, Pac-Man, and even Tron (yes, Tron). The video is one of three created for MAGIC BEANS by NYC-based animator and motion graphics artist Jay Marks. 

Watch the video for "Side Scroller":

Ben's Playlist - Friday, April 13, 2018

Smile For Me – David Tobocman
Get What You Get – Bears And Lions
Chain Reaction – Brady Rymer & The Little Band That Could
Crazy Mountain Road – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band
Paradise – George Ezra
Lazy Boy – Franz Ferdinand

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, January 3, 2018

The Grass Is Always Greener – The Okee Dokee Brothers
Crazy Mountain Road – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band
Brighter Side – Gustafer Yellowgold
That Way – Chibi Kodama
Humans Are Still Evolving – Dean Jones
King of the World – Weezer
Inkpot – Kepi Ghoulie

Ben's Playlist - Friday, November 17, 2017

Crazy Mountain Road – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band
Have You Ever Been Real – Dean Jones
Brighter Side – Gustafer Yellowgold
That Way – Chibi Kodama
Feels Like Summer  – Weezer
It's A Wonderful Life – Kepi Ghoulie

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, November 2, 2017

How Lucky We Are – Justin Roberts
By The Light – Red Yarn
I Dreamed I Could Fly – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band
White Whale – Kepi Ghoulie
Peace Be To All – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
Tell Me You Love Me – Demi Lovato

Ben's Playlist - Monday, October 16, 2017

O-O-O Child – Lisa Loeb
Sunshine Sunny Sun Sunshine Day – Danny Weinkauf
Crazy Mountain Road – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band
Brighter Side – Gustafer Yellowgold
Have A Good Day – Lard Dog & The Band Of Shy
Not Today – Imagine Dragons

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, September 19, 2017

I Dreamed I Could Fly – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band
The Softest Guitar On The Moon – Caspar Babypants
Soar  – Mo Phillips
Drink Up  – Train
Summer's Here – The Bazillions
Feels Like Summer  – Weezer

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, June 22, 2017

How Lucky We Are – Justin Roberts
I Dreamed I Could Fly – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band
T.L.C. – Alison Faith Levy
One Day By The Riverside – Brady Rymer & The Little Band That Could
Perfect Places – Lorde
Look At Those Clouds – Danny Weinkauf

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Unhuggable – Caspar Babypants
Here Comes The Sun – Andrew & Polly
Popsicle – Bob and Luc Schneider
Rainbow Tunnel – Alison Faith Levy
What Kind Of Fruit – Dean Jones
Supercut – Lorde
Crazy Mountain Road – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, May 25, 2017

Big Buncha Buddies – Keith Munslow And Bridget Brewer
Cloud Skateboard – Mo Phillips
Cow Cow Yippee – The Okee Dokee Brothers
Crazy Mountain Road – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band
Humans Are Still Evolving – Dean Jones
Matt Damon Magnetized Me – The Salamanders
Rattlesnake – Caspar Babypants

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, April 27, 2017

Humans Are Still Evolving – Dean Jones
I Dreamed I Could Fly – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band
One After 909 – Caspar Babypants
Serotonin – Mista Cookie Jar
Why Did You Teach Me That Word – Keith Munslow And Bridget Brewer
Your Happy Place – Jason Didner and the Jungle Gym Jam

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, March 2, 2017

Babylon – David Gray
Crazy Mountain Road – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band
Love You Always – Lucy Kalantari
My Magic Helicopter – Danny Weinkauf
Sugar – Randy Kaplan
Your Happy Place – Jason Didner and the Jungle Gym Jam

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, January 26, 2017

Find A Way – Stacey Peasley
I Dreamed I Could Fly – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band
My Magic Helicopter – Danny Weinkauf
Rattlesnake – Caspar Babypants
Right Side of the Bed – Ratboy Jr.
Washington, DC – The Not-Its!

Ben's New Year's Day Playlist - Monday, January 2, 2017

Crazy Mountain Road – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band
Free Ride Everyday – Lori Henriques
How Lucky We Are – Justin Roberts
Island in the Ocean – Bob and Luc Schneider
Picky Eaters – Danny Weinkauf
Small Bird – Caspar Babypants
Solar Flares – Mo Phillips