Have Words With Weinkauf's Red Pants Band

Danny Weinkauf and the Red Pants Band would like to have a few words with you and your family. In fact, they'd like to share a whole album of WORDS. If Danny seems obsessed with the language, that stems from more than 20 years working with special needs children. Communication opens many doors and is an enormous challenge for children on the spectrum, which presented an educational opportunity for Danny and bandmates Tina Kenny Jones, Steve Plesnarski, and Russ Jones.

WORDS is the snappy sixth set from the sartorially selective syndicate. The previous sentence is a tongue twister, the subject of an infectious same-named tune on this collection from kids label 8 Pound Gorilla Records. Over the course of 11 tracks, the band also looks at the origins of words ("Etymology" featuring Danny's son Kai on vocals), using repetition of similar-sounding words ("Alliteration"), and why spelling is important ("Silent Letters"). Prime offenders in the lyrics include the "T" in tsunami and "P" in pterodactyl. 

On "Hyperbole," Danny demonstrates how exaggeration can emphasize your point but also blow things out of proportion from reality, such as the following examples:

My girlfriend’s name is Shelly she’s as sharp as a pin
She’s skinny as a toothpick and as fast as the wind
She lugs around her backpack - man, that thing weighs a ton
But reading Harry Potter makes her shine like the sun

Aside from his composing work, Danny has played bass for They Might Be Giants since 1998 (the longest band tenure other than the two founding Johns). TMBG dipped their toes into children's music (recording five CDs and winning one Grammy award). Danny's tracks on those albums motivated him to expand his presence in the genre, earning him and the Red Pants Band airplay on Spare the Rock (kid's music podcast) and SiriusXM's Kids Place Live.

Danny's dedication to increasing the art of communication led to the cultivation of the "Words Project,"  a collaboration of 25 animators across six countries sharing the common goal on showing the impact of words and how they affect the society around us, both locally and globally. WORDS is a bouncy, brisk journey that takes less than 30 minutes to complete, even with an updated version of "Champion of the Spelling Bee" featuring Tina on lead vocals. The video from the group (directed by Eric Kreidler and Mike Owens) recently made its debut (see below). Parents and educators alike may now sagely distribute their words as well as share jaunty, upbeat WORDS songs for young listeners.

WORDS is available from Danny Weinkauf's website, Amazon, Spotify, and Apple Music.

Here is the new video for "Hyperbole":

Fun Summer Music from DJ Willy Wow, Mista Cookie Jar

It's tough to be a DJ when the parties are all remote. DJ Willy Wow (William March) experienced this firsthand during our pandemic year. With the world reopening, Willy has dropped his latest rave collection, IT'S ALL GOOD IN THE NATUREHOOD (featuring Grotch the Sasquatch) on 8 Pound Gorilla Records.

NATUREHOOD spends its eight songs educating kids to the importance to conservation (as it directly relates to forest fires on "California Fire") and gives background on the character of Grotch on "We Found Bigfoot! (Believe It Or Not)" and "Funky Bigfoot." National parks and camping get shout-outs on "More S'Mores" and "Butterflies." COVID is not ignored, with mentions on "Curbside DJ Slide" ("Don't forget to wear your mask"), as well as a chorus on "We Found Bigfoot":

We know you waited
We're glad you made it
Let's celebrate it
And Grandma's vaccinated

Willy is not new to the DJ game, having first entered the arena way back in 2005. He and his cast of characters have been featured on Sirius XM Kids Place Live and performed at four annual White House Easter Egg Rolls. This collection ably showcases his ability to generate kid-friendly old school dance music for all ages. Willy (and Grotch) are out of the woods on NATUREHOOD – now it's up to the rest of us to get vaccinated so the party never ends.

IT'S ALL GOOD IN THE NATUREHOOD is available from DJ Willy Wow's website, Apple Music, Spotify, or Amazon Music.

Here is the video for Willy's song, "More S'Mores":

 

People talk about the "plight" of the disabled while sometimes ignoring their strengths and achievements. Mista Cookie Jar is taking a crack at a summertime anthem with his new song, “Magic Day.” Joining him is collaborator Orbit Deen (Michael Cooney). In his day job, Cooney is an activist for the disabled, as well as a songwriter and motivational speaker. His "Able Cafe" podcast delves into ways to bust stereotypes about the disabled. "Magic Day" drops a happy beat about personal powers and potential, delivering a potent message about overcoming obstacles to accomplish new tasks and activities with family and friends. You can grab the song from Bandcamp (below):

Quick Hits: Phriman Finds Activities, Caroline's Teen Power Pop

Do your kids keep busy with mind-expanding activity books? Mike Phirman feels their struggle and celebrates their experiences with his new five-song concept EP, ACTIVITY BOOKS. The songs are all about (you guessed it) sundry large-format paperbacks that challenge kids' brain processes – mazes, connect the dots, word searches, color by numbers, and and what's wrong with this picture.

The new children’s music label 8 Pound Gorilla Records is rolling out spring releases from its eclectic roster of performers. The SiriusXM Kids Place Live favorite, LA-based comedian/singer/songwriter/dishwasher/juggler Mike Phirman fits their "sweet spot" of silly, sweet, and mildly educational (so parents can nod their heads and pat themselves on the back). 

"Connect the Dots" opens the playlist with the reveal of a luggage dog (it gets explained if you don't know what that is). "Color By Numbers" begins with a clangy, literal translation as a picture of a boxing ring is completed. "Word Search" features “Weird Al” Yankovic as “stuff that gets sucked up by a vacuum." No, I'm not making that up. "What's Wrong With This Picture" rolls along with a country music feel, as Mike sings "there's a bell in the melon that I'm sellin'." The EP closes with "Maze/Petting Zoo Bouncy House" with a GPS system that has a mind of its own on the way to the eponymous destination.

ACTIVITY BOOKS is available from Mike Phirman's website, Amazon, and Apple Music.

Here is the new video for the song "Color By Numbers / Bobbing and Weaving":

Teenage pop singer Caroline understands that perceptions can sometimes be deceiving. Her new single "Smiling" depicts internal emotional turmoil while attempting to put on a happy face. She sings about wanting to share what's behind the surface, no matter how troubling that might be for other people:

People never care about who you are
So I want to show them all my scars

Caroline fills her social media with daily livestreams and interactions with her youthful fan base. You can grab the song at Soundcloud, Spotify, and YouTube. Here is one of (many) videos for "Why Can't You Be Mine":

The Story Pirates Inspire Imagination

Coronavirus may have stopped kids from going outside or attending school in person, but it hasn't stopped them from being imaginative. The proof exists on CATS SIT ON YOU, the latest release from the Story Pirates. The dozen songs were inspired by kids' original ideas, including the timely "The First Kids to Work at the Census," written by William, a 7-year-old whose father is an actual U.S. Census worker in California.

A nationally renowned group of top comedians, musicians, best-selling authors, and teachers, the Story Pirates have 15 years of experience creating content that literally did not exist before children thought it up, many times on the spot (for their live shows). Their Creators Club helps keep nascent minds firing on all cylinders with live stream workshops, radio shows, and podcast bonus activities. The fourth season of their podcast launches this week with the Halloween-themed "The Weird Sisters," by 9-year-old Evalea from Missouri, a poppy Billie Eilish homage song composed by Monique Moses and featuring Stephanie Hsu of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

The title track on CATS SIT ON YOU is a deceptive earworm (complete with a dance, see below video) adapted from an original story by six-year-old Alex. It made an impression on SiriusXM's Kids Place Live and now is immortalized on this collection. The troupe always draws an eclectic group of celebrity and musical guests. Grammy winner Secret Agent 23 Skidoo breaks some rhythms on "Banana Clown," about a fruit-obsessed fast food worker who finally finds his big break. 

Unpredictability and plot twists abound on the songs on CATS SIT ON YOU. That's par for the course, with titles such as "The Raccoon's Very Hard Choice," "The Boy Who Hated Kisses," and "The Mad Piano Player." A rabbit discovers the wisdom of foraging for vegetables on "Cheese Quest," and "Turtle Beach" is a paean to inclusion that sounds like an homage from a Disney film (think "Little Mermaid"). Speaking of big-time musical productions, "The Amazing Adventure" acts as a gateway to live theater, whenever that happens near you. "One Little Pink Rose" could be sung by Adele, if Adele performed kids songs. 

If your youngsters have a forté for creative thought, the Story Pirates may cater to their inner impulses. For your inner child longing for variety, CATS SIT ON YOU is cabaret on demand. 

CATS SIT ON YOU is available from the Story Pirates website, Amazon, Spotify, and Apple Music.

Here's the "Cats Sit On You" dance class video:

Jack Forman Refuses to Phone It In

The original "jack of all trades" for children's music is back with his third solo album. Jack Forman – known from Recess Monkey and SiriusXM Kids Place fame – has dropped HOLD THE PHONE for kids and their supervising parental adults. Produced pre-COVID, the 12 songs travel from the amusement park to Harry Potter to family pets ("The Cat Walk" and "Dogs Always Wait").

Body shaming is a big deal these days and Jack does his part to de-stigmatize bodily functions. On OFCICE HOURS, it was "No Tooting On the Dance Floor." On HOLD THE PHONE, it's "I Had to Pee (On the Ferris Wheel)," the saga of an anxious lad conducting an epic battle with bladder control at the amusement park. His pet songs show the dichotomy of feline/canine ownership – "The Cat Walk" has a protagonist sitting on keys and faces and running the house. Meanwhile "Dogs Always Wait" extols the loyalty and selfless friendship of a faithful companion anticipating the return of its master from a day at school.

A child's big concern with food is amusingly covered in "I Can't Believe I Ate the Whole Thing," formerly a famous slogan back in the day for Alka-Seltzer. Jack channels the concept through the focus of the bottomless pit of childhood feasting habits on treats. Jack also keeps his finger on the pulse of nerd culture, which runs strong through the preteen set. "Little Dobby Does It" is his earnest tribute to Harry Potter's steadfast house elf. The disco anthem "My Walkman" memorializes technology from a different era. It also gave me the opportunity to show the kids my walkman, unused for years, with batteries that were still working! "Surprise Party" recalls the planning and last-minute expectations going through the heads of people waiting for the birthday recipient to arrive:

We got balloons tacked back to the chairs
Grandma invited her friends from downstairs
Party hats 'cause we've got lots of spares
We're going to a surprise party

These are interesting times for the music business. Subscriptions for Spotify rocketed up due to consumers looking for more entertainment options. SiriusXM extended its offer of free service through May 31, so click through and hear Jack doing his daily show, as well as songs from many other artists. HOLD THE PHONE broadens Jack Forman's digital danceprint and thought ownership in kid culture.

HOLD THE PHONE is available from Jack Forman's website, Amazon, and Apple Music.

Here is the video for Jack's song, "Yodeling Yoda":

Let SiriusXM Know: Kids Place Live Should Stay on Channel 78

SiriusXM has announced that starting Thursday, August 15, Kids Place Live will move "down" the dial from Channel 78 to Channel 355. That means the majority of vehicles will no longer receive the station. It will be restricted to computers and devices with streaming audio.

I got bored with Sesame Street and the WIggles pretty early on when Ben was a toddler. Luckily there was SiriusXM's Kids Place Live, which was an oasis in the desert. We heard dozens, if not hundreds of new artists. And as soon as Ben was able to tell me his favorites, I was able to purchase and download specific songs and CDs (which generated revenue for those musicians).

By the time Ben was five, he had an encyclopedic knowledge of the "standard" kids music stuff that was promoted by his education programs – including Sesame Street and Barney (shudder). But he would also break into songs that his friends and classmates didn't know. Every year, we'd compile CDs of original children's music and distribute it to his friends for his birthday. That became a quarterly occurrence with the amount of music he consumed.

SiriusXM ostensibly has THREE stations for children, but two of them don't really count. Kidz Bop is reworked versions of adult songs, with the lyrics "dumbed down." And Radio Disney is mostly the same pop tunes you can hear on dozens of their other channels, but with a heavier emphasis on artists discovered or signed to Disney labels.

Really, Kids Place Live is an oasis. SiriusXM bragged about adding "more than 100 streaming channels." But they are burying the only channel with original content for children. In my mind, that's SiriusXM practically admitting this is a shady move on their part. I'm certain that Kidz Bop isn't moving because Sirius must have a lucrative financial deal.

So what can we do to "save" Kids Place Live? Well, you can call them directly at (866) 635-5027. Or go to their HELP page and start a live chat. Or click to this page and file a complaint. However, if you do that, you'll only get a canned response that this move is being done because of "bandwidth limitations."

You should e-mail the top brass directly at Jim.meyer@siriusxm.com and scott.greenstein@siriusxm.com. Don't let SiriusXM get away with marginalizing children's music, which is an important part of their development and education. Make your voice heard for your children and the kids in your life.

Quick His: New Videos from Thunder & Sunshine and Ants Ants Ants

There's nothing worse than being stuck inside on a rain-soaked afternoon. Or is that just an over-reaction? The New York-based Thunder and Sunshine delivers an opposing viewpoint with their song (and video) celebrating the quiet pleasures of a "Rainy Day."

The brainchild of longtime area musician Esther Crow, the band's origins are simple –have a child, decide to create material for them. She surrounded herself with a group of like-minded performers and viola, a band was christened. You can buy their debut CD, THIS IS THUNDER AND SUNSHINE, from their website.

The band is playing in Union Square Park on Thursday, July 11 at 11 am.

Here is the titular tune in question. "Rainy Day" has a heavy '60s Mamas and Papas vibe to it, but the kids won't know that:



Ants Ants Ants continue the video output for their high concept release, THE ROBOT EP. You can buy the EP on July 19 from their website, Amazon, or Apple Music.

The band's performance "Live from the Rumpus Room" on SiriusXM's Kids Place Live is airing this weekend (July 12-14). Check the website for times.

Listen to the song on Spotify. Here is the kaleidoscope-delic video for the song, "Dance, Robot, Dance!"

Ratboy Jr. Remains Sincerely Silly

It takes a village to produce consistently entertaining children's music and Ratboy Jr. lives is such a village. Tim Sutton and Matt Senzatimore like raucous and ridiculous concepts, which makes their fourth CD, LUCKY FOOT AND SUNNY MOON, a delightful addition to their oeuvre.

Take "Rap Van Winkle," which is about exactly what we all think it is – a guy who slept for 20 years and wakes up rapping. "Play Us On the Radio" is the guys' version of "The Ballad of John and Yoko" and a plea to call SiriusXM Kids Place Live (and other outlets) to request their music. The proficient guiding hand of überproducer Dean Jones polishes such amusing gems as "Flexible Brain" and the hard-rocking (with tinkly toy piano) anthem about "Dirt."

Mark Twain once said that jokes are like frogs. You can dissect them, but then you've killed it. To that extent, it's best to accept Ratboy Jr.'s premises at face value. "Anything Can Be a Hat" indeed. And when life is like juggling in the circus, you want to put on your "Clown Shoes":

When you're down, you just gotta laugh a lot.

It's the only thing we have.

So let's go fix this circus.

It's like running uphill with your clown shoes on.

Artwork for LUCKY FOOT AND SUNNY MOON is by Anton Refreigier, a notable Works Progress Administration (WPA) muralist and sculptor whose last cover was for the Weavers in 1959. But he was also Tim's grandfather, so that was quite the door opener. His most famous work, "The History of California" is nothing less than that, chronicles in 27 panels in downtown San Francisco's Rincon Center. It took eight years to complete and is still on exhibit.

Recording songs is an intricate, mysterious process. It's like watching popcorn in a microwave oven – you never know quite when it's done. Tim and Matt took two years to assemble the enjoyable, voluble tracks on LUCKY FOOT AND SUNNY MOON. It may not be their master opus, but Ratboy Jr. are more inclined to make you rock out then to sit and think about dangerously serious stuff. Flip on your flexible brain and pull on your sock hat for the boys – glad to have you back!

LUCKY FOOT AND SUNNY MOON is available on May 17 from Ratboy Jr's website, CDBABY, Apple Music, and Amazon.

Here is the video for the band's song "Sponges:"

The Lucky Band Says Buenos Diaz With New Music

Happiness is contagious. I write these words sitting with a housebound child getting over a cold. Hence, he too is contagious. But he'll get better soon (I hope I hope I hope) while Lucky Diaz will never, never stop being contagious. His music, I mean. Such is BUENOS DIAZ, the latest release from the newly-rebranded The Lucky Band.

Latin Grammy (and Emmy) winner Diaz, wife Alisha Gaddis, and a space-age flock of contributors (including Andrew & Polly and Nathalia) have produced a new collection of bilingual ballads and danceable ditties for children of many ages. BUENOS DIAZ opens with (naturally) "Buenos Dias," to greet newcomers and returning fans alike. "Wake Up" follows, ironically not the (eye) opening track on the CD. "Nacho Song" tells the totally true comic story of Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya, the man who created serving nacho cheese over chips.

"Taco Tuesday" is bound to be a perennial favorite on SiriusXM's Kids Place Live and even ends with a riff from "Funkytown." The xylophonic "Zapatitos" delights in shoes, don't you know. "Como Se Dice?" is full of call-and-respond translations of basic English-Spanish words and phrases, such as "good morning" and "taco" (no big surprise there).

Xenophobic parents who are put off by song titles such as "El Corazon" and "El Sol Te Siga" (a cover of a Pianosaurus song) don't know what they're missing. Luckily, that's what audio samples are good for on streaming sites. For those of us who've met Lucky (in person or through his previous releases), these 11 songs generate multi-culture good will and good times. What else should you expect from über-producer Dean Jones (Dog On Fleas and dozens of other CDs)?

The world has finally got wise to The Lucky Band. Last year, the group added China to their touring checklist and they're headed to Tokyo and Shanghai in April. If they're not coming to your city any time soon, you can still say BUENOS DIAZ in two languages and enjoy their distinctive, upbeat música.

BUENOS DIAZ is available April 5 from the Lucky Band's website, Amazon, and Apple Music.

Here is the video for their song, "Taco Tuesday":

Symphony Space Ready to Celebrate 40th Season

Hard to believe that Symphony Space is 40 years old. That's an amazing milestone and makes the facility a legitimate city landmark.

Tickets are now on sale for all events for its 2018-2019 season, including the Just Kidding Kids family series. In addition to concerts, there are also theater and literary events, such as Thalia Kids' Book Club Camp with author Katherine Marsh (Nowhere Boy) on Saturday, September 22 and the National Dance Institute Team Celebration on Saturday, October 27.

Mindy Thomas and the Pop-Ups

But the heart of the children's program has been the breadth of the musicians. We've been attending going back 15 years to seeing Dan Zanes, Tom Chapin, and Ralph's World. It's been a musical education not only for my children, but for myself. It opened doors to appreciation of different cultures and lifestyles. For me, it also turned into an entire venture (which you happen to be reading).

Performers for the upcoming season include Michael and the Rockness Monsters (Sat., October 6), Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players (Sat., Nov. 3), Lucy Kalantari and the Jazz Cats (Sat., Dec. 1). Mindy Thomas from Kids Place Live and the Pop-Ups also present a live installment of "Wow In the World" on Saturday, October 13. Heading into 2019 are the Okee Dokee Brothers (Sat., Jan. 5) to promote their upcoming CD and Gustafer Yellowgold (Sat., Feb. 2).

Tickets range from $17 for non-members to $14 for members. (Wow in the World tickets are $20 for non-members, $17 for members). For information on the entire season, visit Symphony Space's website.

Photo Finish for Recess Monkey on 14th Family Album

After more than a decade (mostly) together, Recess Monkey reached a turning point in 2016 – their Amazon Music exclusive release, NOVELTIES, received the band's first Grammy nomination for Best Children's Recording. It was a bittersweet moment for the trio; after all, it had taken 13 CDs to achieve that milestone. Then there was silence as the group went on hiatus after a promotional tour. Jack Forman remained a presence with his show on SiriusXM's Kids Place Live and released a solo CD, LIVE FROM THE MONKEY HOUSE. But the sturdy simian sweatshop had definitely lost its momentum. The question was, would the mojo ever return?

it turns out the fellows (Jack, Drew Holloway, and Korum Bischoff) needed a mature time-out to recharge their batteries. Their 14th CD, FAMILY PHOTO ALBUM, has dropped with 15 choice selections, led by the sneak-previewed "Chewy To Your Han" ode to friendship and "That Laugh" on Star Wars Day (May 4).

Every Recess Monkey CD has its own theme, from THE FINAL FUNKTIER (2009) to WIRED (2014). FAMILY PHOTO ALBUM relates each song as a snapshot of family and friend relationships. Perhaps this concept occurred organically as the band reconnected earlier this year in the studio with producer Johnny Bregar. As Jack noted, "This particular moment in time seems to be in need of building community more than ever. Fundamentally, that sense of family is the overriding reason that the band made this album."

The monk-sicians courageously share some real family photos of their own on the sleeve of the CD. It's enlightening to see (and hear) how some of their bright-eyed innocence shines through decades later, on tracks such as "Wake Up," about spending a lazy summer/weekend day with friends and "Together," which examines how every activity is more fun when it's accomplished by more than one person. Imagination is on full display as Drew and his pal Leo shovel all the way through the planet on "Digging A Hole."

My own "family photo" incident happened – thankfully – decades prior to social media, when a few college friends visited my house and absconded with a distinctly ghastly school photo that my mother had framed for public consumption. Imagine my stupefaction when I arrived on campus the next day to see that picture on numerous flyers hanging around the student union building. After methodically destroying every flyer, I tracked down the possessor and retrieved said photo. It never returned to the previous place of prominence, lest it get re-abducted.

After 14 collections, Recess Monkey deserves an opportunity to bask on their laurels. There's no evidence of coasting on FAMILY PHOTO ALBUM. Songs like the anti-bedtime anthem "Just One More Thing" and the soloing of improvisator-anarchist Mister Noodles on "Make It Up As You Go" are as whimsical and inventive as anything in their existing catalog. The band remains one of the top family acts and it's a pleasure that they're still around making joyful sounds. With FAMILY PHOTO ALBUM, Recess Monkey opens desk drawers and attic boxes and turns it all into a boisterous omnibus of the less obvious.

FAMILY PHOTO ALBUM is available on July 20 from Recess Monkey's website, Spotify, Amazon, and Apple Music.

Here is the video for the band's song, "Wind Up Robot":

Rockness Monsters Pop, Bop, and Roll On

A decade working with the Blue Man Group gave Michael Napolitano an above-average dose of the surreal. After a 10 year stint (and five CDs) as the Preschool of Rock, he's twisted his vision into Michael and the Rockness Monsters. Their new CD, FUNNY FACES, pits the ordinary ("Babies Cry") up against the extraordinary ("Squirrel Fight"). Your kids won't know what's coming next.

"Mr. Pickle" is a 1940s boogie-woogie jazz number as engineered by Frank Zappa. The novelty tune "Elevator Song," currently getting airplay on SiriusXM's KidsPlace, harkens back to Mayor Monkey once forcing Recess Monkey to live in an elevator. There are still many handprints that FUNNY FACES is blueprinted for messy little hands, from "Feet for Hands" to the prototypical "you are special" song, "Everything Anything." Michael even enlists his 92-year-old Aunt Jo to participate on the family-themed "So Happy."

Assisted by a host of talents (including Tim Sutton from Ratboy Jr, Tracy Bonham, Sonia de los Santos), FUNNY FACES was helmed by children's music über-producer Dean Jones. Side note – I referred to Dean in a conversation using that exact term and received the response, "He runs Uber?"

Growing up is a confusing time. Adults say one thing and mean something else. What exactly is a double entendré? What is an entendré, for that matter? Michael and the Rockness Monsters deliver a safe space with songs that sounds like fun for intrepid minds. With FUNNY FACES, Mr. N delivers his valedictorian project as he graduates from the Preschool (of Rock). And he's still kidding. In this case, that's a good thing.

FUNNY FACES is available on April 28 from Michael and the Rockness Monsters' website, Amazon, and iTunes.

Here is the video for "Cosmic Vacation":

Willey Mindful of Yoga for Kids

Yoga and kids music. What could go wrong? You're asking someone who isn't part of the equation.

I know people who do yoga. I know people who swear by yoga. My own son did yoga for several years (he stopped due to school time constraints and an instructor who subsequently relocated without letting ex-pupils know).

 There seems to be a mini-explosion of children's recording artists who double as yoga instructors. We are more commonly acquainted with Bari Koral (who hosts a "Yogapalooza" event), but there's also Bethlehem, PA's own Kira Willey. Selected PBS affiliates run Kira's yoga-for-kids interstitials. And at the urging of SiriusXM Kids Place host Mindy Thomas, she produced a series of "Backseat Yoga" exercises that run on the station.

Kira is releasing a collection of yoga "shorts" for short-attention-span children, MINDFUL MOMENTS FOR KIDS. For our older son, who leads a fairly stressed life (early wake-up for school, long bus rides, homework, and after-school activities, not to mention a hyper little brother who attaches himself to big bro), these exercises are just the ticket for a quick breather.

The 30 moments are broken into sections such as "Calm," "Focus," and "Energize." You get the basic concept from titles like "Count to Five," "Be a Bumblebee," "Imagine You're a Tree," and "Do Nothing Moment." The arrangements contain simple instrumentation and plain, spoken directions in a sweet, encouraging tone. Kira has the confidence from years of experience and tried-and-true technique and is delighted to share these meditations, whether families choose to use them in the home or on the road.

MINDFUL MOMENTS FOR KIDS closes with two songs, "Dance for the Sun" and "Just Be," which is close to an anthem for meditation, if such a thing is possible. And she's on the road, singing and leading yoga to receptive audiences in the PA/NJ area – just click through to Kira's site for upcoming events.

MINDFUL MOMENTS FOR KIDS is available on January 15 from Kira's website, Amazon, iTunes, and CDBABY.

Here is the video for Kira's PBS kid's yoga series, "Fireflies Musical Yoga":

Inter-Boro Funk With the Pop-Ups, Raving With the Salamanders

Ever want to host a dance party for your kids but not want to hire a DJ? Here's a quick solution – subscribe to Amazon Prime Music and stream The Pop-Ups first digital release, THE GREAT PRETENDERS CLUB. Brooklyn's Jason Rabinowitz & Jacob Stein are futuristic guinea pigs for kindie music; boldly going where few artists have dared to travel. You can still purchase a physical CD, but the primary method of distribution for their fourth collection is the Internet giant's attempt to combat Spotify and Pandora.


Ask most adults and they'll tell you that pop-ups (meaning ads) are totally annoying. Ask most teenagers and they'll say pop-ups are for kids (meaning illustrated books with parts that protrude from the pages). Working against that inherent double standard, J & J take their electro-acoustic music and challenge your expectations. Bolstered by a packed video wall featuring tracks from across their recordings, The Pop-Ups want to amuse and work out your children. If the kids learn something in the process, that's they're own fault.

"Bird and Rhino" is kind of a fire prevention song. The primary rhino stomps out fires when he sees and smells them. Dancing is his secondary goal. The narrator of "On the Air" hosts his own imaginary radio program (not a podcast, incidentally), sings songs, and interviews the family dog. I can see my son Matt (approaching 5) graduating to that activity once he gets past re-enacting every live concert he's ever attended, in our living room. Are you and your kids forever losing things around the house? "Treasure Hunter" makes it an adventure. "Animal Birthday Party" disco-fies the typical "party with [insert critter]" concept:

You might say it smells a little unsavory
But I'll celebrate with every animal family
'cause I'm at an animal birthday party.

It's a brave new world for kindie music, with videos, streaming, DVDs, apps, as well as the traditional methods of CDs and LPs (I'm looking at you, Red Yarn). Those who do not embrace technology or at least try to keep in step with the bandwagon may not be here in 5-7 years for the next wave of their audiences. The Pop-Ups are making the leap. In fact, they are encouraging children and families to make the leap with them. Take a listen, embrace the pretend, and leap with eyes open.

THE GREAT PRETENDERS CLUB is available from Amazon Prime Music.

Here is the video for the song "Bird and Rhino" from the Pop-Ups:



Making children's music is serious music that requires serious attention and serious artistry. Yet some of the silliest stuff comes from these intensely serious people. The Salamanders' self-titled debut, THE SALAMANDERS, is chock full of silly. But once you get past that, there's some delightfully thought-out sentiment behind it.

Rambunctious toddlers are on the Salamanders' minds in the lead track, "Please Don't Eat My Guitar." Hands-on experience with a "Brand New Toy" gives the band the opportunity to jam out. The Salamanders make you think there's a thriving kindie music scene in Missoula, Montana – at least when they're making a commotion for audiences. "My Grandma Is a Spy" devolves into a full rave version of "Live and Let Die," which my son Ben (14) identified as a Billy Joel (!) song, mostly due to Joel's recent cover version on the ART OF McCARTNEY CD.

Bandmates Matthew Nord, Andrew Hunt, Brevy Walden, and Antonio Alvarez get to exercise their musical chops on the aptly named "Barefoot Booger Boogie." And the disc wraps with the shuffling "Chickens Go to Hawaii." And honestly, shouldn't every children's CD have a poultry-inspired travelogue? It's hard to grasp an amphibious salamander. These musical Salamanders are looking to grab hold of an audience and, in turn, have that audience declare its allegiance.

It's refreshing to receive children's music CDs from different parts of the country, hear the different perspectives, and share the collective joy. Montana is the fourth largest state but only the 44th in terms of population. Still, that's a lot of children and somebody has to entertain them. However, if the Salamanders seek to move from their natural environment and embark on a larger landscape, perhaps SiriusXM Kids Place is their next destination.

THE SALAMANDERS is available from the band's website, Amazon, CDBABY, and iTunes.

Here is the video from the band's song, "Please Don't Eat My Guitar":

Smiles Ahead and Much Love from Vivi Melody

Last week, Amazon Prime Music announced its new streaming service for children's music featuring the Pop-Ups and (upcoming) Lisa Loeb. This week, Mighty Mo Productions goes back to the future to release its first physical CD, a sampler of independent kindie music entitled SMILES AHEAD.

What a difference a week makes, hmmm? It's an era of Kickstarter and Indiegogo and other crowdfunding sites that children's artists (among others) use to scrounge resources to produce music. Are the two concepts diametrically opposed? I'm sure Amazon will embrace music produced independently. Many of the tracks on SMILES AHEAD have been released by the artists themselves, such as Brady Rymer's "Jump Up!" and Secret Agent 23 Skidoo's "You're It!" There is no shortage of exclamation points on this compilation, by the way.

Rissi Palmer brings a touch of soulful country to "Best Day Ever" (not the Spongebob kid's favorite) and local artist Katydid makes her spotlight debut with "The Together Song." Kira Willey's "Gotta Lotta Happy" makes a welcome re-appearance after its debut on her yoga CD earlier this year. As Matthew pointed out when we tracked SMILES AHEAD during dinner, SiriusXM's Kids Place played the song over the weekend. You also get Frances England, Caspar Babypants, and the Okee-Dokee Brothers, among others.

Jim "Mr. Stinky Feet" Cosgrove deserves credit for stepping into an arena where even Disney washed its hands and went back to its tween offerings. Mighty Mo is taking a different path – issuing compilations rather than fully-fleshed brand spanking new music. The Verve Pipe offered up their new anthem, "Get Happy."

SMILES AHEAD is available October 16 from Mighty Mo's website and Amazon.

Speaking of happy times, Vivi Melody and Family are ridiculously delirious. Or deliriously ridiculous. Their new CD, MORE LOVE, is 15 songs that practically club you into a cuddly coma. "All You Need Is Love" features her dad, Don "Poppy" Villemez, doing his best Willie Nelson-esque recital of the lyrics. An ancient favorite, "A Bushel and a Peck" emerges for the second time in a decade, after Randy Kaplan resurrected it for his shows.

As mentioned, MORE LOVE was a Kickstarter effort. Vivi, her family, and puppet (Goober) stay mostly in their Texas home base. But there's a universal appeal to her concept and whose family couldn't use more love nowadays?

Skewing towards the youngest youngsters (who would think "All You Need is Love" is an original composition), Vivi touches on "The Four Seasons" and includes the "Recycling Song" and a happy-everyone's-all-together singalong "Saturday."

There's a basic decency and clarity to MORE LOVE, without any undercurrent of sarcasm or pretense of adult asides. It's hard to promote a puppet through a CD (even Elmo is a tough sell if your kid doesn't see Sesame Street). But that's why Vivi has her YouTube channel.

MORE LOVE is available from Vivi Melody's website, CDBABY, Amazon, and iTunes.

Here is the video from Vivi Melody's song "We Can Still Be Friends," featuring singer Billy David Millican:

Andrew & Polly Polish Some Odds & Ends

What do you want to be when you grow up? Andrew & Polly have figured out that there's a future to be made in staying young. The married Los Angeles duo produce music for Nick's Wallykazam as well as film and television. But their passion is children's music, as they demonstrate with their nifty new kids podcast, Ear Snacks, and their second full-length CD, ODDS & ENDS.

Polly Hall and Andrew Barkan met in college and began a life partnership that includes the aforementioned projects (as well as one-year old Izzy). Their children's music is almost a distraction from the real world, however they've managed to squeeze in recording time in their home studio. It helps that they can play all the instruments (except banjo and trombone). ODDS & ENDS sprints along at a brisk 28 minutes with 10 tracks meticulously crammed into order. Highlights include a rousing kid chorus on "Ghostbusters" (which points out that in the Age of the Internet, it would help to have your phone or contact information in your theme song) and the lively summer single "Grapes," which is gaining momentum on SiriusXM's KidsPlace. A lilting version of Bob Dylan's "Forever Young" defines Andrew & Polly's mission statement to remain young at heart. The often-recorded "Here Comes the Sun" closes out the disc by whistling through a nostalgic note of optimism.

The challenge with all recording artists is to continue sounding fresh and new while mining for material in their own lives. As their careers progress (and their son matures), we'll see how well Andrew & Polly deal with the curveballs that inevitably come everyone's way. As Roger Day once told me, he started out with simple movement songs that amused his young children, evolved into a storyteller to keep their interest, and now records educational tracks that are used in junior and high school science programs.

The line of delineation for any children's CD is whether or not the original songs hold their own against the covers. By using George Harrison and Bob Dylan as their yardsticks, it's almost an impossible task for Andrew & Polly. However young listeners may prefer "Little Bitta You" and "Fruitphabit" to the loftier and philosophical messages from those classic rock icons.

The world can be a confusing, messy place and kids in general often find themselves messy and confused. Andrew & Polly get down in the trenches and deliver wholesome, friendly music to redirect them from kiddie chaos back to the structured, nurturing arms of their parents. Not to mention their parents' CD player or portable music device. Life through Andrew & Polly some curveballs and it took them five years to mount their second CD. Let's hope their son Izzy isn't old enough to producing their music the next time they get around to recording another collection of songs.

ODDS & ENDS is available September 25 from Andrew & Polly's website, Amazon, CDBABY, and iTunes. Visit the website for a link to grab their Ear Snacks podcast.

Here is the video for Andrew & Polly's song, "Please Be Mine":

Josh, Jamtones Get Symphony Space Jumping

So we went to a children's music concert this morning and a dance party broke out.

For the second time in three weeks, we were off to Symphony Space, this time for Josh and the Jamtones. Straight from Massachusetts, the band has developed a following through live performances and airplay on SiriusXM's Kids Place Live.


The six-person ensemble is a well-oiled bouncing machine that set out to grab the audience (a mostly full house in the Thalia Theater) and make them move. Well, except for my three-year-old, who sat transfixed for the entire show. When he got home, he proceeded to act out the set list, song by song. When my wife asked, "What did they sing next?" he replied with the correct title and added, "And Josh changed his guitar."

 The Jamtones are a family operation, including two-and-a-half people from Josh's immediate clan (himself, wife Patience, and a son-in-the-oven). So they are well aware of the dynamics of the typical kid's concert and tried to thwart parental expectations. "What holiday is coming?" Josh asked. Drummer Pat then threw back a number of incorrect suggestions, including Memorial Day. When Valentines Day was astutely named, a child in the audience yelled "Be my Valentine!" Josh replied, "That's sweet, we'll have to exchange information after the show."

Although their most recent CD was titled BEAR HUNT, the Jamtones did not engage in any bear-related activities, such as (but not limited to) trapping, stalking, skinning, or spoofing. To introduce themselves to the Upper West Side elite, they stuck with a 45-minute regiment of feel-good pop and reggae.

One could call the band "a group for all ages," as you can hear infants squealing on my video for "I Like to Move." That was one reason I reverted back to my primary position to grab one last video from the show.

As harmonica player Fred related after the show, "We like open source." And indeed, the Jamtones did go down the "old favorites" road, playing "Iko Iko" and "Monkey Man," as well as "Swing Lo Sweet Chariot."

Still, the kids didn't seem to mind. And their parents bopped their heads along with the tunes. For that short period of time, everybody forgot about the Super Bowl and what was for lunch. And that was enough, wasn't it?

You can get the schedule for upcoming performances at Josh and the Jamtones' website.

Just Joshin' – Time to Hunt Bear WIth Jamtones

Josh and the Jamtones are interested in "fun" with a capital "f."

If you're looking for lesson plans and well-intentioned meanings, go elsewhere. The band's second CD, BEAR HUNT!, has a clear message: If you set your mind on doing something, you'll feel great it you accomplish it. In the meantime, there's still plenty of time to dance (to songs like "Everybody Dance!" "Pirate's Life," and "Fill It Up."

The premise behind BEAR HUNT! is that Josh and company are going on a field trip. The expedition is to hunt a ferocious grizzly. They encounter many strange people and experiences along the way (did I mention there are skits among the 13 tracks?) and a surprise ending (no spoilers).

Like I said, if you weren't paying close enough attention, the Jamtones are not pushing an agenda of clean clothes, eating your veggies, and going to bed at a reasonable hour. If anything, the Jamtones want to keep your kids dancing until they drop. To that end, they've enlisted Father Goose (formerly with Dan Zanes) to funk up tracks like "Swing Low" and "I Love U."

If there's anything close to an ecological motif on BEAR HUNT!, it's the upbeat ballad, "Sunflower," with co-lead vocals from Josh's wife, Patience:

Sunflower sunflower grow so high
The rain helped you when it showered from the sky
Sunflower sunflower blossom bloom
I hope some friends grow around you soon.

The Jamtones came together in the late 00's as an outgrowth from Josh Shriber's Jammin' With You program for kids. The group recorded its debut CD (JUMP UP) and from there progressed on one of the most popular East Coast ensembles, spending 13 weeks as number one on SiriusXM's Kids Place Live's "13under13" countdown. In the spirit of full disclosure, I must admit that my niece is a huge fan of the group. In a twist of fate, she's also Josh's niece.

Josh and the Jamtones are making a push for wider exposure and a larger fan base. It's not an understatement to say that either thing would be undeserved. The band rocks out (for the younger set) and has plenty of time to deconstruct its future and determine if it wants a definitive "manifest destiny." Or perhaps they just want to continue having fun with a capital "f." As a popular sitcom once espoused, not that there's anything wrong with that.

BEAR HUNT! is available on Tuesday, October 1 from Amazon, CDBABY, and iTunes.

Here is the video for their song, JUMP UP: