The Lucky Band C's a New Generation

Note: It seemed like a dozen children's music performers all released new music on June 25. I am staggering the reviews – literally and figuratively – as I listen and write about them. Courage, everybody!

Latin Grammy winners the Lucky Band are back with new music for Generation C. What is that, you may well ask? You've heard of Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Z. But did you know that your kids are part of the next round – with the "C" originally slated for things such as creation, curation, connection, and community. With the advent of COVID, they will be known for coming of age during the modern pandemic. "Generation C" is also the first song on CRAYON KIDS, the new collection from the Lucky Band. 

Post-coronavirus life and a return to normalcy are the key themes of CRAYON KIDS. We can't ignore that remote education happened (and virtually killed the concept of "snow days" in the northeast). Kids should get back to enjoying their childhoods, and the Lucky Band is on the case, with songs like "Sabado," a ska tune about weekend activities and "Dinomite," about a dinosaur from out of space (shades of "Eep Opp Ork Aah Ahh").

Between the pandemic and social unrest (bandleader Diaz found himself unhappily involved in a police incident), the band managed to produce an exceptionally life-affirming album. Distances melted away via Zoom as frequent collaborator Michael Farkas (based in New York's Hudson Valley) helped craft the arrangements for CRAYON KIDS.

The band covers a lot of ground in only nine tracks. Diaz and frontwoman Alisha Gaddis sing groovy harmony on "Dedos (Fingers)," a Spanish Dick Dale/twanging surf guitar tune. The frisky jive "Hey You!" finds Diaz prepping to eat his weight in snacks and junk food. The title track refers to city kids (of all crayon colors) as they traverse their surroundings with the familiarity of people many times their age, as Diaz channels a family-friendly bilingual Lou Reed. The SoCal soft rock ballad, "Better Together" closes the album with San Francisco's Frances England guesting with her trademark laidback vocals.

There's a spate of bilingual children's recording artists doing their best to integrate audiences from coast to coast. The Lucky Band and Twinkle on the West Coast are proponents of this (not new) movement. With CRAYON KIDS, the Lucky Band welcomes youngsters back into the larger world with a dance beat and hooks that don't stop. Diaz enthusiastically shows plenty of reasons to venerate his generation. 

CRAYON KIDS is available from the Lucky Band's website, Amazon, Spotify, and Apple Music.

Here is a video for the song "Dinomite":

Spend 28 Days With Little Miss Ann

The pandemic is still in full force, although a semblance of normality is beginning to emerge, including socially distanced concerts. Little Miss Ann (Ann Torralba) knows that youngsters have a short attention span, so she's boiled down more than a year of tumult, turmoil, and tenacity into her sixth children's music collection, titled 28 DAYS. All of the songs were written, recorded, and produced under quarantine, guided by the experienced hand of über-producer Dean Jones. Toddlers and preschoolers alike will enjoy the 11 progressive, infectious songs delivered by one of Chicago's favorite children's performers.

If there's one thing that people needed the most during COVID, it was friends. Miss Ann used the pandemic as an opportunity to load up 28 DAYS with special guests such as Frances England (on "Bright Winter Day"), Tommy Soulati Shepherd of the Alphabet Rockers (the title track), Amelia Robinson of Mil's Trills ("Stars On the Island"),  and Elana Moon Park and Suzi Shelton ("Good Luck"). Shelton returns on "Marshmallow Man," the first video from 28 DAYS. Chicago-based violinist Anna Jacobson guests on "Goin' Down the Road," a countrified number about learning from nature:

You never know who you'll meet
On your journey down the road
So be open to the froggies and the foxes and the toads.
They might be big or they might be small
Use your heart, not your eyes, don't put up a wall

The constant thread throughout 28 DAYS is "we will be just fine, one day at a time," as Miss Ann sings on "Safe At Home." It's been a tough year-plus for everyone and a little introspection goes a long way. But as Miss Ann gently emphasizes, it's also time to look forward, move upward, and plan ahead for the next 28 days. 

The Grammy Museum Experience is hosting Little Miss Ann as one of the stars of its "Spring & Sing! Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month Celebration," on Saturday, May 22 at 11 AM ET.  Click through to hear music and stories about performers' Asian heritage, including Elana Moon Park, Mista Cookie Jar, and Falu.

28 DAYS is available from Little Miss Ann's website, Bandcamp, Amazon, and Apple Music.

Here is a video for the new song "We Go Together Very Well," animated by Pirata y Luna:

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Reality In Motion – Tame Impala
La Brea Tar Pits – Weezer
That's My Style – The Bazillions
What Kind Of Fruit – Dean Jones
Glue – Frances England
Racecar – Uncle Dox
Winter Bird / When Winter Comes – Paul McCartney

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Chasing Birds – Foo Fighters
You Can Get It If You Really Want – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
Finally – Franz Ferdinand
Summer's Here – The Bazillions
Go – The Black Keys
La Brea Tar Pits – Weezer
Glue – Frances England

Yowie! A New Music Label For Kids!

When I got into the children's music scene in the early '00s, the major labels treated the genre with literal kid gloves. Recordings for young listeners required curation by parents – and the audience "ages out" of your talent roster in a finite number of years. It was frankly too much of a chore for an industry where physical product – at that point the lifeblood of the touring, local musician – was beginning to dwindle, in favor of digital downloads or online steaming services (something tweens and toddlers don't have a credit card to purchase).

In 2006-2008, a breakthrough looked possible, as Disney Music threw its massive marketing influence behind a selection of artists, including Ralph's World, for a "Disney Music Tour" featuring They Might Be Giants (who performed the theme to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and had released several children's music CDs). Disaster struck as the Barenaked Ladies, scheduled to headline a few of the concerts, dropped out when lead singer Steven Page was arrested for drug possession. TMBG filled in on those dates (including a show outside the Nassau Coliseum that I attended) but attendance didn't exactly thrill Disney. The experiment ended soon afterward. 

The world is a totally different place and 8 Pound Gorilla Records, curated by SiriusXM Kids Place Live's Kenny Curtis, is poised to face those challenges head-on in 2021. A division of the comedy label 800 Pound Gorilla Media, 8 Pound Gorilla Records will mirror its parent company's digital marketing tactics to promote a diverse lineup of truly independent musicians, spanning a number of genres, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.

More children's music in 2021? From people who know what they're doing? What's the downside in that? 

As seen by three of the contenders for Best Children's Recording bowing out of the category due to discomfort with the all-white nature of the five nominees, multi-culturalism is a big deal for 8 Pound Gorilla. The roster ranges from Australia’s Formidable Vegetable to Grammy-nominated Bay Area artist Frances England. This year will see new releases by Grammy winner Tim Kubart, Genevieve Goings (Disney Jr's Choo-Choo Soul), comedian-musician Mike Phirman, pop songwriting duo Rabbit!, Sesame Street songwriter Erica Rabner, Nashville's Elliott Park, SaulPaul, Latin Grammy and Emmy Award winners The Lucky Band, Chicago’s soul duo Raii & Whitney, and Atlanta’s hip-hop maestro DJ WillyWow. 

Genevieve Goings christens 8 Pound Gorilla Records as the first artist being featured this year, with the release of GREAT INDOORS, a pandemic family EP. “8 Pound Gorilla is really nurturing to artists – we do what we do, and they will take it from there,” she said. 

Ben's GroundHog Day Playlist - Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Reality In Motion – Tame Impala
Choo Choo – Stacey Peasley
Two Towns – David Gibb & Brady Rymer
Taco Tuesday – The Lucky Band
Playing My Piano – Weezer
Glue – Frances England
Whole Wide World – Billie Joe Armstrong

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, December 22, 2022

'Cause I'm A Man – Tame Impala
Glue – Francis England
Lazy Boy – Franz Ferdinand
Buenos Dias – The Lucky Band
With a Little Help From My Friends – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
Your Love is a Metaphor  – Danny Weinkauf
Flexible Brain – Ratboy Jr.

Ben's Playlist - Monday, November 23, 2020

Glue – Francis England Honey
People Watching – Dean Jones
That's My Style – The Bazillions
With a Little Help From My Friends – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
Word Association – Dog On Fleas
Anything Can Be A Hat – Ratboy Jr.
Taco Tuesday – The Lucky Band

Frances England Debuts Honey EP and New Video

Sometimes when you want cake, you settle for a cookie. That's my reaction to Frances England's new six-song EP, HONEY. It's a teaser that leaves you wanting more; a one-sentence answer to a question that required a lengthy explanation. But in a way, we should feel relieved that Frances has produced these soothing tracks to address children and families who are stuck in a pandemic. 

Some of the songs are reimagined versions of past recordings, such as "Daddy-O" from FASCINATING CREATURES and "Red Balloon" from MIND OF MY OWN. Coronavirus has required all of us to step up and change the way we view the world. And Frances is challenging herself to reinterpret her music with new arrangements. 

The new song "Glue" addresses just how stuck we are in our homes, our pods, our self-determined communities by worldwide health concerns. Frances is inviting fans and families to record and share their own home videos demonstrating who they’ve been joyfully “stuck” with in 2020 – send submissions to her website. "Daddy-O" (also from FASCINATING CREATURES) takes on additional depth and meaning, as many children look to their adults to lead by example, keeping them entertained as well as safe and sound. 

The San Francisco-based England originally recorded FASCINATING CREATURES in 2006 to as a school fundraiser for her (now teenaged) son. Within a couple of years, her music had garnered a dedicated following and her second life as a touring children's musician began in earnest. On HONEY, she goes back to almost the beginning, using the lockdown to explore her past and find new significance in her lyrics. The title track is especially prescient coming on the heels of Election Day:

You look like you could use some rest
A little tired, a little stress
Take a load off, and sit back with me
Honey, honey honey

As the bee population dangerously dwindles, it's important to find sweetness and harmony anywhere, whether it's for your morning tea or an afternoon drive with rambunctious offspring. Frances England has pollinated a little HONEY for all your little busy bees.

Find HONEY at Frances England's website, Amazon, Spotify, Apple Music, or Pandora.

Here is the new video for Frances England's song, "Daddy-O":

Ben's Playlist - Monday, October 19, 2020

Summer's Here – The Bazillions
Anything Can Be A Hat – Ratboy Jr.
Sally-O  – The Okee Dokee Brothers
Knee High Thing  – caspar babypants
Cut the Cheese – Danny Weinkauf
Glue – Francis England
I'm an Optimist – Dog On Fleas

Video Premieres: Frances England Gets Glued; Brady Rymer Masked

Music is coming fast and furious as the holidays approach, including unexpected pleasures from coast to coast. San Francisco's ethereal Frances England drops HONEY, a seven-song EP, early next month. In the meantime, the first video praises the people that you're "stuck" in quarantine with, appropriately titled "Glue."  The short gets its point across with nary a mask in sight – effectively ignoring coronavirus in favor of the proverbial ties that bind us together, as families, pods, communities, whatever you choose to call your chosen living arrangement. I've heard the entire EP (spoiler alert – it's really good). Frances has a soft, fully-defined persona. Her new collection is very much an "extender" until she compiles a full batch of songs for 2021. Looking forward to the post-pandemic era and return of live performances, and hopefully a return to the East Coast from this West Coast original. Here's the video for "Glue":

On the other end of the spectrum (and country) is Long Island's Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could, with their educational and instructional "Good Looking Mask." Brady wrote the song to cast mask wearing in a positive and creative light. "Some kids find masks a little scary and off-putting," he explained. "With the new video, I hope it helps kids feel good about putting on their good looking masks." 

Sway that insistent science denier in your family with simple lyrics:

We’ll protect each other
It’s a selfless, loving act
All just by wearing a mask

Brady reached out to his network of fans and followers to send their most fun, most expressive, creative, and joyful contributions, captured in photographs and video clips. The resulting YouTube short includes examples of humans (as well as animals and accordion players) promoting safety, community health, and fun activities with friends and family. There's a cottage industry in songs about the pandemic. Brady's North Fork enclosure is far from a cottage, but he's mastered the industry of consummate children's music. Here's the video for "Good Looking Mask":

Ben's Playlist - Friday, August 2, 2019

Can You Sing? – Dan Zanes
Helicopter Leaves – Ants Ants Ants
I Don't Care – Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber
Perfect Tuesday Afternoon – Frances England
Under the Big Umbrella – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
Watch Petunia Dance – Caspar Babypants
Window – Gustafer Yellowgold

Growing Up Right With Josh Lovelace

If you want to know the difference between folk music and Americana, it's pretty simple – while all folk music qualifies as Americana, not everything Americana is folk music. While you play with that Rubik's Cube, consider Josh Lovelace, a prosaic provider of Americana whose children's works often drifts into the realm of folk music. But not all the time.

Josh's new CD, GROWING UP, paints a charming portrait of life in the southeast region of the country. The 12 songs grew organically from conversations with his wife and two children, through the course of their day-to-day interactions. Communication and bonding are prevalent themes on tracks like "You've Got Me and I've Got You" and "Forever My Friend." Frances England makes a welcome appearance on the bright and sprightly "Butterfly." Josh makes his agenda clear when he sings "Upside Down":

One thing makes us all the same
Everyone deserves to feel love everyday
We all have sickness, we have pain
Everybody needs a little shelter from the rain
We all want to be protected, understood, and feel accepted
Love is free so let's give it away
And together we can turn the whole world upside down.

"Hey It's a Good Day" has a Jack Johnson/John Mayer vibe with a dash of Michael Franti thrown in. "Goodbyes Are the Hardest Thing To Do" may be about when Josh goes on the road and has to leave his family to perform. Or it might be about dropping kids at school. "Even if we're miles apart, you've got a place here in my heart," is the refrain over a George Harrison guitar chord. Ultimately, it comes down to the album closer, "You Are Loved," which assures the listener, "You are enough... and you are loved." Who doesn't want to that simple comfort at the end of the day?

There are performers who want to make "good time music" and others who want to get kids to think. As a member of NEEDTOBREATHE, which originally came from the Christian rock movement, you could expect Josh to do some preaching. When those lessons do come, they're more from the Fred Rogers school of laid-back Presbyterian values. It's a "love thy neighbor" inclusion vibe. No one can accuse Josh of "pulling a Mike Pence/Fake christian" act. As long as Josh Lovelace forges ahead and his music evolves, it will be a pleasure to listen to him grow up.

GROWING UP is available from Josh Lovelace's website, Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, and Amazon.

Here is the video for the song, "More Time With You":

Ben's Playlist - Friday, April 12, 2019

Watching You Grow – Frances England Boogie Chillen – Randy Kaplan Hey Face – Ratboy Jr. Hanukkah Rocks – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could Disco Hippo – Caspar Babypants Have Some Fun Out There – David Tobocman Dozen Good Reasons – Danny Weinkauf

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Me And You – Caspar Babypants

Perfect Tuesday Afternoon – Frances England

El Corazon – The Lucky Band

Boogie Chillen – Randy Kaplan

Me On The Map – Brady Rymer & The Little Band That Could

Humans Are Still Evolving – Dean Jones

Inside I Shine – Danny Weinkauf

Ben's Playlist - Friday, March 15, 2019

One Of These Days – Vance Joy
Handle With Care – Like Father Like Son
Cloud Skateboard – Mo Phillips
One – Aaron Nigel Smith
New Pair Of Shoes – The Bazillions
City of Sardines (with Frances England) – Gunnar Madsen
Tae Kwon Do – Bob and Luc Schneider

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

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 - Friday, October 26, 2018

Watching You Grow – Frances England
Might As Well Dance – Jason Mraz
Rainbow In Your Eyes – Hot Peas 'n Butter
Summer's Here – The Bazillions
White Whale – Kepi Ghoulie
Watch Petunia Dance – Caspar Babypants