Opening Day!

Baseball is finally, and officially, here today (forget that 2 game set in Japan and last night's bizarre 1 game set in D.C. - today is the start of the 2008 season). Opening day should be a national holiday but until it is declared as such, I will continue to take this day off each year and pull the Bear out of school to revel in our nation's pastime. The Mouse will join in the fun starting in '09. This tradition will continue into grade school and beyond...truant officers be damned!

Instead of burgers on the grill this year, since it is 40 degrees and raining (typical opening day weather on the East Coast despite last year's beautiful early-April opening tease), I threw in a pork shoulder at 7:30am and made BBQ pulled pork for lunch on soft hamburger rolls...yum!

Here's that handsome little shoulder before it's morning in the oven. It was almost cute enough to snuggle!











I forgot to include this picture on my post this weekend. I snapped a quick photo of the Phillies v. Blue Jays on deck game Saturday...look at that immaculate green grass!


The Bear is asleep next to me on the couch, she should wake in time for the first pitch of the Phillies season, scheduled for 3:05 pm, although a rain delay seems inevitable. Play Ball!

OWTK NCAA Kid's Music Tournament - Rebecca Frezza vs. Suzi Shelton

Today we have the final game from The American in Paris Region #1 seed Rebecca Frezza and Big Truck are taking on the 6th seeded Suzi Shelton (try saying that out loud 10 times real fast).
I just couldn't help myself with this pairing..."Special Kind of Day" vs. "No Ordinary Day"...I mean, c'mon that was just screaming to be put together!

After the voting ends on this contest, we will move into the final round which will actually leave just three records (as opposed to a "final four") because, well, I suck at math and I didn't extend out a 12 team tournament ahead of time to realize that ending up with 4 was impossible. Ha! What I will do is throw in one of the non-Final Three records to the lucky winner. While I won't reveal which disc, I can tell you it will be a good one that will surprisingly not advance into the next round.

(1) Rebecca Frezza and Big Truck "Special Kind of Day"
"Special Kind of Day", Rebecca's fourth album, and is a rousing work that shows what having an eight-piece band (yes, that's right...a kid's band with nine total members...a sort of kiddie Polyphonic Spree or, for my older readers, P-Funk) can do for you. Every artist has a story, but Rebecca's journey to the kiddie rock world is a rather interesting one. She has spent time as both a music teacher and as a "showbiz gypsy", as she puts it, in traveling productions of EVITA and A Chorus Line. Clearly no stranger to the stage it should come as no surprise that her live rock show is an energetic and splashy affair with dancing and theatrics.

"Special Kind of Day" opens with the pleasant sounds of birds chirping then quickly kicks into the terrific ode to the greatest season - Spring. "Come on Out", along with Justin Roberts' "I Chalk" from "Meltdown!", is one of the finest lead tracks on a kid's album I've heard in a long time and is timed perfectly with this new disc's April 8th release date...just in time for the ducks, squirrels and birds to begin appearing again in our backyards and, deep in the woods, bears to wake up from their long winter slumber.

Rebecca's voice is lovely. She shows off her technically-sound singing style all over "Special Kind of Day" but especially on the tracks such as "Sidewalk Chalk" and "Birthday Song". Many of the cuts feature some real-life white noise at the top which is really cool - not obnoxious like what Bright Eyes does on his records - and pretty unusual in the kid's genre.

"So Nice To Meet You", much like the title track of Brady Rymer's new effort, is screaming to be that all important first song during a live concert. It would shock me if this happy, salutory (yes, I know that is not a real word) tune is not the one Rebecca Frezza and Big Truck kick off their upcoming shows with.

Rebecaa Frezza and Big Truck's "Special Kind of Day" has a clever, seasonal arc to it. As I mentioned, the disc starts with a springtime ode, then it moves through the seasons. Sidewalk chalkin' and carnival fun in the summer, spooky dancin' at Halloween, leaves fallin' in Autumn, ending with a snowy winter. Brilliant composition of a true album in a digital/singles world - I love it.

"Special Kind of Day" is a wonderfully written and well executed record from start to finish. The instrumentation and vocals are mixed perfectly. The flutes are up front and prominent when needed, the backup singer's harmonies are full-bodied and integrated very nicely. It's rare that this kind of technical detail gets mentioned in a review here but this disc is so perfect in that regard that I couldn't not give it precious space here on the digital pages of OWTK.

Sample tracks from this fine album right here.

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(6) Suzi Shelton "No Ordinary Day"
Was there an artistic ordinance to draft songs about road trips this year? First Ellis Paul, then Brady Rymer and now Suzi Shelton...they all have travelin' songs on their new records. How funny. Check out Suzi performing "Goin' on a Road Trip" live at Southpaw in Brooklyn:



And speaking of tremendous opening songs, "Lift Me Up" - the lead cut on "No Ordinary Day", is a wonderful tune featuring Suzi's cheery voice along with what sounds like a handful of kids providing backup vocals. The track, like the whole album, is put together so well and serves as the ideal introduction to the music of Suzi Shelton. "No Ordinary Day" is akin to a ray of sunshine after a few days of clouds and rain - the songs are welcoming, bright and sure to put a smile on your face.

Suzi, a mother of two and a former pre-school teacher, is going to be a force to reckon with on the kiddie rock circuit if she keeps churning out tunes like "Jump", "Lift Me Up" and "Scooter Boy" - a sort of kiddie take on Avril Lavigne's old hit "Skater Boy" .

"No Ordinary Day" is no ordinary record. Suzi Shelton has tapped into something exciting here and her growing fan base is testament to her wide-scale appeal. She is an artist that both kids and parents will sing along with and will be able to call their own. She is poppy and fun but also breaks things down and gets all sentimental with the gorgeous lullaby-ish song "My Favorite Moon" complete with sweeping strings and the sweet tickling of the ivory. A lovely number.

Where Rebecca has the perfect opening song, Suzi has the ideal closing tune in "Makes Me So Happy" in which she essentially thanks each of us for listening, dancing and enjoying her music. See I told you this was a match made in heaven. Not that kid's shows have opening acts but she would be perfect playing in front of Rebecca Frezza, oddly enough. Someone needs to put these two talented ladies together on one bill.
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Vote for either Rebecca Frezza or Suzi Shelton by midnight ET on Wednesday 4/2. Your comments will help decide the winner. Everyone that leaves a comment during the Tournament will have a chance to win the Final Four CDs.

Rock-n-Roll and Baseball

My gang saw Brady Rymer and The Little Band That Could yesterday morning at World Cafe Live in Philly and came away more than impressed. The Mrs. and I turned to each other after the final chord stopped reverberating and said "that was the best kid's show we've ever seen".




Brady brand of kid's music is straight up rock-n-roll from the word go. No act, no ancillary silliness...just fun, sweaty upbeat rock. T'was awesome. OWTK totally recommends that you and you family get out and see Brady and his band sometime soon.

The band played mostly new tunes, from the excellent record "Here Comes Brady Rymer and The Little Band That Could" released last week. Here is a little video of Brady performing the first verse and refrain of the instant classic "One True You" - a lovely song about the traits and characteristics we pass along to our children.





After the show we headed down the Schyulkill for the Phillies spring training "on-deck" game against the Toronto Blue Jays. To enter the ballpark and see that immaculate green grass almost took my breath away.

If there is anything better than rock-n-roll and baseball back-to-back I have no idea what it is.

I heart Record Store Day

While I write a lot about kiddie rock these days, my true undying passion is for independent rock and roll. I often credit The Afghan Whigs, June of '44, Fugazi, Built to Spill and Silkworm along with scores of other lesser known acts, for shaping much of who I am today. One of the joys of my young-adulthood was hanging out in record stores, discovering new music and talking with fellow audiophiles about bands, shows and albums. Back then I was really involved in the scene - booking shows and running a record label. Today I'm removed from the "business" but I still cherish those few remaining bastions of great indie music. Stores like AKA Music in Philadelphia and Other Music in New York are still around providing this sort of safe haven for hardcore music lovers to interact, learn, listen and discover new sounds. While digital downloads of music has made it possible to easily find and listen to bands from all over the globe it has negatively impacting the real-life community that record stores had fostered over several generations.

Fortunately, there are still folks that care about the fate of brick and mortar record stores, the "mom-n-pop shoppes" as many refer to them. I count myself as one of those people, making it a point to stop into AKA Music on 2nd Street each and every time I'm within spitting distance of Philly, often coming away with one (or three) new CDs. I will always take the Bear in an effort to pass the torch, if you will, to a new generation of music lovers. She immediately flocks to one of the listening stations, slips on the oversized headphones, pushes a few buttons and grooves out to whatever comes on - often dancing in place. It's important for me to make sure she knows what a real record store looks like and show her that you don't ever have to buy art (music) along side dishwashers or digital cameras in big box stores where the "help" has no relationship with the music their peddling and has probably never heard of a band like Handsome Furs...let alone know the full lineage of the numerous Wolf Parade side projects.

On April 19, 2008 hundreds of record stores will ban together, feature special events, giveaways and other activities in what the organizers are calling Record Store Day. I could go on and on about the importance of locally owned independent record stores in neighborhoods, but let me allow Brett Netson of Built to Spill to sum it up better than I ever could (taken from the Record Store Day Artist Quote page):

“The local record store is a cultural event. Every purchase you make , every day, every year, it is a rich cultural history in the making. Go down to your favorite shop and grab some coffee, a nice pastry and then head in to the record store for the ultimate recorded experience. Maybe see some friends. Next thing you know you just had a nice afternoon.

Go to one of those big box stores and get the full assault.

Bright sterile fluorescent lights and all that fake, old timey crap on the walls that drives home the point that this is an approximation of an experience. You are one of a million cattle herded in and out of those crapholes. This history can easily be rewritten. And you sure as hell won't talk to anyone there, cause everyone else is just as annoyed, alienated and lost as you are. And, as you get trapped in that endless parking lot it really seals the deal. I have precious memories of my favorite shops and so do many of my best friends. That's shared history man. And buying my first Velvet Underground record or Love's "Forever Changes" , or seeing my first "punk show" flyer, takes that whole experience deep into you. That lasts forever. That's powerful stuff.”

Damn right Brett.

Please please please go out and support a local record store. If none exist near you find a local coffee shop, bakery, butcher, fishmonger, drug store or pizza shop and tell them you appreciate their presence in your community...and while there - buy something!

OWTK NCAA Kid's Music Tournament - Astrograss vs. Bari Koral Family Rock Band

Just two games left in the American in Paris region. Today we have an all-NYC affair as the #2 seed Astrograss and their newest release "Let Me Stay Up All Night" does battle with the 5th seeded Bari Koral Rock Band.

(2) Astrograss "Let Me Stay Up All Night"
Astrograss is incredibly intriguing. From the decidedly modern logo/font they use for their band name to their clever, very indie-looking (if that makes any sense) album art they do not appear on the surface to be a straight-up bluegrass band. But truth be told, despite their modern look and feel, Astrograss would sound more at home gigging outside of the Boone, North Carolina General Store then the rock clubs of Manhattan. While Astrograss toe the line between kiddie and adult music (in fact, on the surface it is not 100% clear that this new record, their 2nd full length, is indeed meant as a "children's" album) their sound is universally appealing to all people - big and small. Their take on "Drunken Sailor" is superbly cool as is the Celtic vibe of the title track and "Irish Ice Cream" - the best song of the bunch. "Let Me Stay Up All Night" is a highly original kid's album but I feel as though the recording doesn't do Astrograss' sound justice. Much like my beloved hometown rock heroes Dr. Dog and their friends Hoots and Hellmouth - the studio recording falls short in the energy department and the CD proves incapable of capturing the live show experience (keep in mind this is just a hunch as I haven't seen Astrograss live...but I'd love to as I imagine a very upbeat and slightly raucous affair.)

Sample all the tracks from their CD Baby page...heck, why not buy the record while your there!

Check out their Astrograss for Kids site and a live video.

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(5) Bari Koral Family Rock Band s/t EP
What would Norah Jones sound like if she decided to up the tempo a bit and make music geared towards young people? My guess is that she would probably emulate the music The Bari Koral Family Rock Band is making right now. What a lovely original six song effort from this college rock veteran who at one time was considered a peer of Jeff Buckley, Joan Osborne and even Norah Jones. Unlike many kid's acts, Bari has no children of her own but rather soaked up inspiration for the family rock concept from her six year old niece. Bari's voice is serene and soulful while the rootsy music seems effortless and classic in nature. The final track "I Wanna Play in a Rock and Roll Band" is terrific as is the hand-clapping splendor of "A Day At The Beach". The music on this six song CD is anything but corny (despite the questionable cover art) and certainly isn't your typical kiddie rock record (the same can surely be said for Astrograss making this such a cool pairing, don't ya think?)
Your gang will, without a doubt, be rockin' and groovin' to the Bari Koral Family Rock Band.

Listen to samples here or on the band's Myspace page.

Vote for either Astrograss or Bari Koral by midnight ET on Friday 3/28. Your comments will help decide the winner. Everyone that leaves a comment during the Tournament will have a chance to win the Final Four CDs. Comment on as many "games" as you wish, including the "Very Helpful Songs" vs. "Mr. Oscat Says...", Thaddeus Rex vs. Gunnar Madsen and Brady Rymer vs. Stardust Lullaby contests and increase your odds of winning. Thanks!

The Bear's 1st Camera

Some of you may recall, from this post, that we purchased the Bear a non-kiddie digital camera for her 4th B-Day. I wanted to share a couple shots from her first few "rolls" (we still have the GE supplied memory card in there which holds a whopping 16 photos). The flowers were also a B-Day gift and that is, I'm pretty sure, the 1st picture she took with the cool red camera.


These other two are from the park this past weekend. Baby Josie was stuck in a tree and then was levitating a bit.

This little $80 camera takes pretty sweet pictures, even with a 4 year old's not-always-steady hands at the controls. If you're in the market for a relatively affordable device for your camera-lovin' kid you could probably do a lot worse for your dollar (for example, you could buy one of those clunky plastic things with a TV character splattered across it for the same price or more).

OWTK NCAA Kid's Music Tournament - David Tobocman vs. Mr. Oscat

Things are really heating up now! Today, we stay in the Singin' in the Rain Region for the 3rd and final contest in the group, the #3 seed "Very Helpful Songs" vs. the #4 seed "Mr. Oscat Says...".

(3) David Tobocman "Very Helpful Songs"
I have to be perfectly honest here, ten days ago I had never heard of David Tobocman or his CD of rather helpful tunes for kids. So how, you may be wondering, did he go from unknown to me to a #3 seed in this here tournament? Easy, he has made one of the most refreshingly funny, cute and touching records I've heard in some time. I had a good idea how fantastic this record is from the audio samples available on his website and my thought was confirmed when the disc arrived this past week. Tobocman has made one of the finest little kiddie rock records of the year. It has been playing in our house constantly since showing up in my mailbox.

Tobocman has taken an interesting road to this, his first children's album. He has numerous musical notches in his belt, including composer for a number of television programs, engineer and producer for recognizable artists and studio musician for everyone from Cher to RUN D.M.C. to Danzig (how's that for range?).

On his first kiddie album he has managed to compose several gems including the sweet "Home", the hilarious "Buttons and Bows", the Grandmaster Flash-inspired "Favorite Son (Every Day)" and the drop-dead gorgeous "To Love You". To hear the Bear singing the chorus of "To Love You" to her baby sister has been amazing. His voice is versatile and his lyrics are clever without ever being corny. "Very Helpful Songs" is one of those sweet lil' records that come out of nowhere, much like Frances England's debut, and is one of the best children's albums I've heard in a long time. This record will be tough to beat in the tournament.

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(4) Mr. Oscat "Mr. Oscat Says..."

Mr. Oscat is the musical moniker of Olen Taylor, a dad of two daughters who, with the help of Apple's Garageband, set out to prove that he could make music equal to, if not better than, what his family was hearing on Noggin. While the listener can tell this disc was recorded with the help of a computer it doesn't distract from the overall quality of the music. Taylor's debut full length includes 11 songs, most of which are quite pleasant but two of which are terrific. The single, if you will, "Ducks in a Row" and "All You Wanna Do Is Play" are fabulous examples of upbeat, fun kiddie rock. The later really shows the upward abilities of Taylor slightly nasally vocal style which can at times limit the other songs. These two cuts are the cream of the crop on this collection of original tunes. "The Summer Song", another quality diddy, is an enjoyable ode to the end of the summer in which Taylor relies heavily on the under-appreciated kazoo and his daughters' vocals in the chorus. "Mr. Oscat says..." is a real family affair and is a very nice effort that should be applauded. The Taylor's should be very proud of the record they made together.

Sample each song on CDbaby

Watch the video for the great tune "Ducks in a Row"

Vote for either "Very Helpful Songs" or "Mr. Oscat Says..." by midnight ET on Wednesday 3/26. Your comments will help decide the winner. Everyone that leaves a comment during the Tournament will have a chance to win the Final Four CDs. Comment on as many "games" as you wish, including the Harmonica Pocket vs. Dixieland Jazz for Children CD and the Brady Rymer vs. Stardust Lullaby Collection, and increase your odds of winning. Thanks!

OWTK NCAA Kid's Music Tournament - Brady Rymer vs. Stardust Lullaby

Today we head back to the Singin' in the Rain Region for the #1 seed's first round game. Brady Rymer, one of the star's of the kid's music scene, is taking on an upstart double disc set of lullabies from Gene and Cher Kosner.

(1) Brady Rymer "Here Comes Brady Rymer & The Little Band That Could"
I've been listened to and enjoying the fantastic new Brady Rymer disc "The Little Band That Could" for the past few weeks yet when I try to tell others about this record, words continue to fail me. I haven't the slightest clue how to describe the band's straightforward, not-quite classic but certainly not pop-rock sound...so this should be one hell of a review!
What keeps coming to mind, even as a recoil in horror, is Hootie and the Blowfish. Yeah, I know....fairly pedestrian sounding. The thing is, Rymer and his Band That Certainly Can do sound a lot like a mid-nineties mellow rock band that could have been seen gigging at parties, playing the ESPY awards pre-show and appearing on stage at the Peach Pit in a 90210 episode...and you know what? None of that should be seen as a negative...and yes, I'm as surprised as you about that!

This album marks my introduction to Rymer's music so I'm not 100% sure what his records sounded like before he brought his live band into the studio. I can tell you that there are a few gems on this disc, namely "Road Trip", "Pie" and the absolutely charming "One True You" a song that will surely make a parent, especially a new one, tear up a bit. "One True You" should be the runaway favorite for the most used kid's digital picture slideshow background music, should Soundscan ever develop the ability (or need) to track such a thing.

To be perfectly honest, it surprises me how much I enjoy this record. Having my musical roots in sounds far more discordant and, to many around me, stranger than the thirteen mellow gold tunes on "Here Comes Brady Rymer and The Little Band That Could" I would not have thought that this disc would have been able to stick but it certainly has. That fact speaks volumes about the power of obviously-passionate, well-written and well-performed music to transcend musical boundaries and resonate with individuals and, in this case, families. With that said, Rymer and his band have done something pretty remarkable on this album. "Here Comes Brady Rymer and The Little Band That Could" is a wonderfully classy rock-n-roll album for kids and is destined to be included on many year-end Best-Of lists.

Check out Brady's video for "I Found It" from the 2004 CD from the same name:

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(6) Gene & Cher Klosner "Stardust Lullaby Collection"
The Stardust Lullaby Collection is a double disc set of sweet and timeless lullabies for babies and young toddlers. The collection is strong throughout but is especially good at the top of the first disc (where a gorgeous version of "Wynken, Blynken and Nod" can be heard)...which is important for parents as those are the tunes you'll be hearing while you put your little one down each evening. Stardust is the product of brother/sister duo Cher and Gene Klosner. Cher has a lovely voice and is the primary vocalist on this set of 42 tunes (half instrumental versions of the songs allowing moms and dads to "take the mic" and sing to their children themselves...a sort of crib-side lullaby karaoke). Amazingly enough, the Klosner's and their Stardust 2xCD was featured on MSNBC's "The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch".

Listen to samples of every single song (all 42 of 'em!) here.

Check out the splashy Stardust Lullaby website for some cool extras, including a neat trio of games for kids to play while listening to this soothing music.

Vote for either Brady Rymer or Stardust Lullaby by midnight ET on Wednesday 3/26. Your comments will help decide the winner. Everyone that leaves a comment during the Tournament will have a chance to win the Final Four CDs. Comment on as many "games" as you wish, including the "Very Helpful Songs" vs. "Mr. Oscat Says..." and Thaddeus Rex vs. Gunnar Madsen contests, and increase your odds of winning. Thanks!

Justin Roberts Pop Fly Pre-Order Special

With opening day just a week away, Justin Roberts has announced an excellent offer for his die-hard fans. A mere $30 gets you the new record, a t-shirt, a pop-fly baseball sticker and an autographed postcard...not too shabby! Having heard a few tracks from this disc live, I can tell you that it sounds as good, if not better, than his previous releases. Justin is once again at the top of his game on "Pop Fly".

Look for a big featured review and contest on OWTK next month, in time for the official April 15th release date or... Pre-Order it today!

OWTK NCAA Kid's Music Tournament - Thaddeus Rex vs. Gunnar Madsen

Today we have our first contest from the American in Paris Region. The 3 vs. 4 is expected to be a close contest (much like an 8 vs. 9 basketball game). This matchup features two of the more "indie rock" kid's records, one drawing on the literary rock of Mountain Goats and the Decemberists while the other recalls the Talking Heads.


(3) Thaddeus Rex "Shakin' in Chicago"
Maybe it's the heavy focus on literacy, but Thaddeus Rex may be the most "indie" sounding kid's act going right now. I hear the best of The Decemberists, The Mountain Goats and a dash of Alec Ounsworth's (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah) vocals throughout his inventive, high energy album "Shakin' in Chicago". This comes as a rather substantial surprise considering the presentation (ie: the cover art) is incredibly corny (keep in mind the Joe McDermott record "Everyone Plays Air Guitar" had a similar hurdle to overcome, but did so remarkably). "Shakin' in Chicago" (available 4/1/2008) continues Thaddeus' noble mission of encouraging kids to read, write and be creative. He is the sponsor of a very unique online kid's poetry contest, the winner of which is awarded the chance to co-write a song for a future Thaddeus Rex album. The youngsters who have won in the past receive songwriting credit (and royalties...how cool is that!). "Shakin' in Chicago" features a trio of famous guest artists in the form of Pinetop Perkins, Koko Taylor and Alan Gershwin (as, that Gershwin family). They all lend their consider talent to this polished and fun children's record. Through is website, liner notes and songs is becomes quite clear that Thaddeus values the role that books and the arts play in the development of our kids into smart, interesting people. I happen to share that passion and belief with him and I'm very grateful for his presence in the kiddie rock world.

Thaddeus is always touring and is coming to Philly next month (w/ Alan Gershwin). Look for pictures and a review of the show right here on OWTK.

Because "Shakin' in Chicago" isn't out for ten more days I don't have any music to share from it, but you can listen to the title track of his last disc "We Wanna Rock" here.

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(4) Gunnar Madsen "I'm Growing"

Modern day Renaissance man Gunnar Madsen is back with another album full of quirky, offbeat tunes spanning a variety of musical styles. "I'm Growing" is unlike any other kid's release...for example, have you ever heard a song in three quarters time about a man with an uncontrollable urge to waltz? Never, right? It is whacky collection of songs that are goofy & clever but not always completely enjoyable to listen to. The record does not flow well enough for the Bear or the Mrs. tastes. I like the songs in chunks but have not once been able to listen to "I'm Growing" from start to finish - it just doesn't feel like a unified piece of work which is surprising considering Madsen talent for scoring films and video games. The one thing I did expect here is a complete work but "I'm Growing", while fun in spots, does not feature enough musical depth (despite some interesting time signatures) to be considered consistently intriguing and not nearly enough hooks to be thought of as fun for kids. Overall, this one disappoints.

Judge for yourself, click here to sample each song from "I'm Growing"!

Vote for either Thaddeus or Gunnar by midnight ET on Wednesday 3/26. Your comments will help decide the winner. Everyone that leaves a comment during the Tournament will have a chance to win the Final Four CDs. Comment on as many "games" as you wish, including the Harmonica Pocket vs. Dixieland Jazz for Children CD and the Brady Rymer vs. Stardust Lullaby Collection, and increase your odds on winning. Thanks!

OWTK NCAA Kid's Music Tournament - Harmonica Pocket vs. Johnette Downing

Here we have the first game from The Singin' in the Rain Region. This first contest pits two very different albums against each other, which is always fun to watch in the NCAA basketball tourney.

(2) The Harmonica Pocket "Ladybug One"

A common misconception among many parents and other adults with kids in their immediate family is that children's music is bland, formulaic and generally mediocre (at best). For these poor souls, kid's music brings to mind only the gimmick-filled antics of Barney and The Wiggles and that being the case, it's no wonder they look down on the genre. Of course this assertion is utterly preposterous. There are more quality kiddie acts (successfully) working today than ever before - just think about the names one could spit out without even thinking too hard about it...They Might Be Giants, Dan Zanes, Justin Roberts, Elizabeth Mitchell, Gustafer Yellowgold just to name a few...it is a great time to be a music loving kid and parent. While most of us know modern kid's music is anything but vanilla and cookie-cutter, it is not every day we come across a record like The Harmonica Pocket's "Ladybug One". This record is a trippy, mellow affair from start to finish that is best enjoyed in your pajamas while eating a big bowl of cereal (or a granola bar) on a Sunday morning. That is the essential vibe of this quiet album of insect-themed originals and reworked favorites such as "Twinkle Twinkly Little Star" and "O Susanna". The gem of the disc is "Ladybug 123" which is featured on "Ladybug One" twice, once acoustic and again as a dub version (listen to it here!) - you don't see that every day on a kid's release!

The Harmonica Pocket employ terrific artwork and cover layout on "Ladybug One" (love the font and text positioning, the weathered/wood-worn look of the background and of course the lovely ladybug) which, along with 50+ minutes of excellent music that was recorded "green" in a solar powered studio, complete a very cool package. Anyone who digs the Jack Johnson soundtrack to the Curious George movie will love this album. Listen to "La Luna" here.

Pick up a copy of "Ladybug One" from The Pokey Pup!

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(5) Johnette Downing's Dixieland Jazz for Children

Johnette Downing's music, while new to me, is certainly not new to the global kid's music industry. Rarely do you see someone bring to the table more awards, reviews and accolades than Ms. Downing does. Her new release sees her teaming up with Jimmy LaRocca's Original Dixieland Jazz Band (established 1916!) to produce an ode to Dixieland Jazz featuring original tunes and lyrics written especially for children. The disc is meant to serve as a child's introduction to the musical traditions and dances, like the Charleston, of jazz - Dixieland style. With a song about the Charleston, it is fitting that this disc would be in the Singin' in the Rain region. The Bear loves this track (link to listen below) and dancing the Charleston around the house. While this record is tailored for kids, "Dixieland Jazz for Children" is truly an authentic jazz record with an upbeat, happy spirit that will surely have any toddler or older child strutting around the house. A really fun collection of tunes!

Listen to "Got To Have That Swing" and "Do The Charleston" from "Dixieland Jazz for Children". You can also get a good feel for Johnette Downing's music here.

Vote for either The Harmonica Pocket or Dixieland Jazz for Children by midnight ET on Wednesday 3/26. Your comments will help decide the winner. Everyone that leaves a comment during the Tournament will have a chance to win the Final Four CDs. Comment on as many "games" as you wish, including the "Very Helpful Songs" vs. "Mr. Oscat Says..." and Thaddeus Rex vs. Gunnar Madsen contests, and increase your odds of winning. Thanks!

OWTK NCAA Kid's Music Tournament Selection Show

Late on Thursday, OWTK will begin a Children's Music Review Tournament that will last for a couple weeks. I have compiled a field of twelve new/newish releases that will be pitted against each other along with brief reviews and a song or video sample (if available) of each. Oh, there's also a big basketball tourney starting tomorrow...

Here are the two regions:

The Singin' in the Rain Region
(1) Brady Rymer "Here Come Brady Rymer & The Little Band That Could" vs. (6) Gene & Cher Klosner "Stardust Lullaby Collection"
(2) The Harmonica Pocket "Ladybug One" vs. (5) Dixieland Jazz for Children
(3) David Tobocman "Very Helpful Songs" vs. (4) Mr. Oscat "Mr. Oscat Says..."

The American in Paris Region
(1) Rebecca Frezza and Big Truck "Special Kind of Day" vs. (6) Suzi Shelton "No Ordinary Day"
(2) Astrograss "Let Me Stay Up All Night" vs. (5) Bari Koral Rock Band
(3) Thaddeus Rex "Shakin' in Chicago" vs. (4) Gunnar Madsen "I'm Growing"

I awarded Rebecca Freeza and Brady Rymer the top seeds as they seem to be the "biggest" acts of the bunch. From there I just looked to create interesting matchups. I welcome comments/votes and will take your opinions to heart when deciding who advances.

There will definetely be a nice giveaway at the end...no details yet as I'm still putting that together.

Stop back tomorrow for our first matchup!

Eyeball Cake and Mouse Steps

The Bear's birthday will be observed officially this Saturday evening at my folks' house. The "event" will piggyback onto our family's Easter feast. We ordered a pair of 7" cakes from a cool little mom-n-pop bakery on the Main Line with instructions to decorate one with Maggie and the Ferocious Beast (customer-supplied image as they have no idea who or what that is). The other cake will sport a pair of eyeballs made by hand with different colored icing. I figured it would be rather humorous to present the Bear with an eyeball cake since she's still quite found of using the word eyeball as a silly adjective (eyeball coat, eyeball blanket, etc). After Saturday, she can add eyeball cake to her lexicon.

In other news...

The Mouse, just 10 days shy of 10 months of age, took her first step - four of 'em actually. She left Mommy to come to Daddy, naturally, as we sat playing on the family room floor last night. The Bear was surprisingly unimpressed. She was too consumed with playing teacher and the Mouse's feat (get it?) only served to steal away her pupils' attention during story hour.

When forced to be a student again I find myself reverting back to the kind of juvenile behavior I would not exactly want the Bear to replicate. I just can't help myself. I'll tickle the armpit of the Mrs. when she raises her hand to ask or answer a question and deliberately act flighty, absent-minded...in general I'm frustrating to deal with. Maybe it's just my way of seeing what the Bear's response would be while role-playing as the adult. Maybe her response will show me how she sees her Dad as an authority figure. Maybe I want her to serve as a mirror to see how I look when reacting to a child that's teasing, not listening or being kind of annoying (not that that EVER happens in my house!!!!). Yeah, maybe but I'm pretty sure I don't kick anyone in the shins! That's how the 4 year old teacher put her 32 year old student in his place last night! Haha...what the hell is going on in that pre-K classroom!

Frances England's Family Tree - Cover Art!

Frances England's sophomore record is set to be released this spring. OWTK is giddy about this album as her debut, "Fascinating Creatures", is our favorite kid's record ever. Check out the cool cover art for "Family Tree" - handmade by Frances herself. I think OWTK is the first site to show off this beautiful artwork (I won't go as far as to call this an exclusive, but ya know).

Much more about this exciting release in the coming weeks/months.

Later this week, OWTK will unveil the bracket for the our very own NCAA Tournament (that is the New Children's Audio Amusement Tourney). I have nearly a dozen new discs on my desk and figured it'd be fun to seed them and pit them against each other college basketball style with brief reviews attached to each. No bubble teams (or bands) here, everyone is in and has a chance to win. Hopefully I'll do a giveaway with this, maybe giving the final four discs to a winner or something like that. Clearly, as I do with most everything else, I'm making this up as I go along. Anyway, stop back on Thursday for the start of the Tournament!

Stay-At-Home-Dad and The Justin Roberts show

That is my goal...and it's also one of the new Justin Roberts cuts on his forthcoming record "Pop Fly". He played that awesome song along with the title track and a rockin' assortment of older diddies such as "Imaginary Rhino", "Meltdown!", "I Chalk" and "Way Out" at a SOLD OUT! World Cafe Live show this morning. The gig featured just Roberts and Liam Davis (Justin's producer and multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire) but Justin promised me that the next time they come through Philly (Fall '08) that the full band, the Not Ready For Naptime Players, will be there as well (now that they are selling out in Philly, the travel costs for an extra couple band mates can be absorbed.)

"Pop Fly" will be released on April 15th but look for an internet pre-sale (with discount) to start a week earlier. Be sure to sign up for JR's email list to get all the details. Oh! and if you get the chance to pick up one of the new JR t-shirts be sure to do so as they're a cool baseball jersey style (from American Apparel, nice) with '08' on the back in a varsity-letter font. Very cool.

The gig today was the best thing that happened over the past few days. On Thursday afternoon, I was in my first car accident. I rear-ended a couple of college girls on the way back from lunch with a couple of guys from work. We were out watching the crappy 'Nova vs. Georgetown game. After that I came down with some bizarre strand of the stomach flu that The Mrs. had earlier in the week. That caused me to be weak and in bed for much of the beautiful 60 degree Saturday. Add to that a frustrating Michigan State Spartans Big Ten Semifinal game vs. Wisconsin (we blow a 12 pt lead with 8 minutes to go and then lose) and another Red Wing loss and you get one big pile of poo. Yeah!

I Have Three Wives

The Bear is really into getting married. Her beau? That'd be me. The ceremonies (that's plural as we renew our vows most every night) are brief affairs without the fanfare of most modern weddings. She will be dressed in a leotard, tutu, tiara, feather boa, plastic dress up shoes, and quite possibly 4 to 6 necklaces (sort of a 3ft female version of a gay Mr. T). I throw on a suit jacket and a tie over top of a t-shirt and one of The Mrs' cool way-too-small-for-my-head hats. It's quite a scene. The Justice of the Peace changes nightly, sometimes it is our plush Gustafer Yellowgold, sometimes it's a piece of American cheese but most recently it was the Mouse. The Mrs. worked her lil' jelly arms like a master puppeteer as she hysterically pointed and waved for us to say "I Do" and then kiss.

After the wedding, we dance! I spin the Bear and tilt her backwards and we kinda do a bastardized version of the Charleston.

Right after marriage #1 last night, I learned there was an arranged union between myself and the Mouse so we wed in another quickie ceremony. Between you and me, that makes a total of three wives...just don't alert the authorities or Elliot Spitzer.

March-y March

March is traditionally my favorite month of the year for the following reasons:

• the NCAA basketball Tournament

• Spring Training/Opening Day (on the 31st this year!)

• the Bear's birthday

• Spring weather

• Snow

(yes, March usually brings the best snowfall of the year in this part of the country AS WELL AS the first signs of those lovely 60 degree Springtime days - weird, no?)

This March is cooler than most thanks to the stack of super cool tunes on my desk, the Justin Roberts show in Philly one week from today and Brady Rymer's gig in 3 weeks.
We are really enjoying the following CDs (all of which will be reviewed here in the coming weeks as part of OWTK's March Musical Madness):

• the terrific new Brady Rymer record (amazingly this disc marks my introduction to Brady)

• the new effort from Rebecca Freeza and Big Truck (featuring the great Springtime tune "Come on Out")

• the 2nd record from the trippy The Harmonica Pocket (featuring the awesome "123 Ladybug")

• Hayes Greenfield's "Music for a Green Planet" (featuring a top 5 song of 2008 in "The Things We Throw Away")

• the funny Queen/Talking Heads-ish record from Gunnar Madsen

In other news, the Bear has been introduced to another Gene Kelly classic, "An American in Paris". She loves it but it hasn't taken hold of her like "Singin' in the Rain". A couple things about these old films - the on screen casual smoking (something so bizarre to watch these days since we rarely see actors lighting up) and looong kisses. The Bear now likes to hold her closed-mouth kisses-on-the-lips for uncomfortably long stretches.

I've been pretty absent from OWTK over the past week or so as the day job is driving me into the ground. Hopefully I'll emerge from the nightmare in the next week or so.

Oh! Great news... we have booked a trip to Sarasota, FL - our favorite Southern beach destination. We will be spending Memorial Day weekend relaxing in the warm Gulf waters, the Mouse's 1st trip to the Beach!

The Kiddie Rock Hold Steady

So there's this Dad in Atlanta who, with the help of his sons, has been pumping out good old fashion rock and roll for the kiddie set for nearly a decade. John Boydston is his name and Daddy-A-Go-Go is his musical moniker. John's story is an interesting (and inspiring) one as he abandoned the corporate TV news biz to be a stay at home dad. Now he hits the road with his rock and roll boys and a family friend playing Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits and other shows across the country. Talk about a cool dad!

Daddy-A-Go-Go's new disc "Rock of All Ages" (clever title playing homage to The Band's classic live 2-disc collection) blends surf, punk and classic rock but reminds me of two acts: The Hold Steady and George Thorogood. The music is familiar because who hasn't heard that classic rock three-cord guitar riff, but it is very refreshing in the kid's music space because it's truly not a sugary-sweet or dumbed-down version of the guitar rock genre. Rather, it is a true recreation of a classic sound with lyrical content that is slightly goofy and accessible for kids of all ages while containing a few 'wink-wink' phrases just for us older folks.

"Rock of All Ages" contains two terrific covers, neither of which you would probably ever expect to find on a kid's rock and roll record. Boydston and his "boy band" (sorry, I just couldn't help myself) breath new life into "What a Wonderful World", one of the best songs ever. The track is very cool, the band does a nice job with a legendary tune. The other cover is their rockin' take on "Snoopy vs. the Red Baron".

What makes Daddy-A-Go-Go's "Rock of All Ages" work so well is that Boydston portrays the corny rock and roll dad, you know the 40-ish guy playing air guitar around the house, but he does so without making you cringe. In fact, his speaking/singing vocal delivery and story telling style will surely put a smile on your face from start to finish and his sing-along choruses and catchy hooks will have the songs stuck in your head all day.
It is fun rock music for, like the title says, All Ages. Buy it now directly from the band.

Last Night as a Three Year Old

Come Sunday morning, the Bear will be 4 which means, by nature, that she'll never again be 3. I said this out loud to her at bedtime tonight, something like "this is the last time you'll go to sleep as a 3 year old" and I almost started ballin' my eyes out. This is not a new emotion for parents, for sure - the heart breaking understanding in those reflective moments brought to the forefront by a casual glance, a phrase spoken by a child, or a comment like this - that your little girl is, little by little, not so little anymore. Tears want so badly to fall from my eyes as I internalize the words I just typed.

She ensures me that she will always be my baby girl, even as she puts it, when she is 27. I want to freeze her right then, with that loving "don't worry Daddy, I love you" look on her face and tone in her sweet voice. I can't help but remember that I told my Dad I would stay 6 years old forever. I imagine he looked at me, in awe of my wide-eyed innocence and ability to love so simply and unconditionally, a lot like I look at the Bear.

Happy Birthday Sweetie...may I always be worthy of your beautiful, awesome love.