Tag Archives: video

View This: “Rattling Can” – Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke

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61SWz4FRpXL._SL500_AA280_Although, Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke just released the adventurous Pleased to Meet You, I couldn’t wait to post this video once I read a portion of the bio from their site. From their 2010 release, Rise and Shine, “Rattling Can” deconstructs a bottle of juice right down to the quarks that make up its composition.

Usually I like to add my own commentary, but I think reading about the song, in KWMC’s own words, really sums up the energy of it all.

“They had seen it all before. An overzealous fan rushes the stage, grabs a microphone stand and begins rocking it back and forth in wild abandon. Mr. Clarke, no stranger to pain, continues to sing and play without missing a beat as the microphone smacks him repeatedly in the teeth. But the year is not 1983 and the setting is not a dark basement club on the Lower East Side. A new millennium has dawned and Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke are performing their first official kids concert at the Garden Preschool Cooperative in Jersey City. The enthusiastic fan was a five-year-old preschool graduate carried away by the energy and rhythm of the “Rattling Can”. The show was an unqualified success and Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke felt they had finally found their true audience.”

Learn more about this dynamic duo at their official site and purchase Pleased to Meet You through Amazon and iTunes.

[Video courtesy of wildebor via YouTube]

View This: “Middle of Nowhere” – Elska

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Elska-with-geysirElska is back with another video from her debut album, Middle of Nowhere.  “Midnight Sun” is all about the natural phenomenon that occurs during the summertime in arctic places like Iceland.  The live action video was shot on location, which means that all the gorgeous colors surrounding Elska are truly how they appear at midnight.  I particularly love how the midnight sun casts a golden glow on her face.  Simply gorgeous.

[Video courtesy of islandofelska via YouTube]

View This: “Seventeen Years (a cicada love song)” – Lloyd H. Miller

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Lloyd Miller of The Deedle Deedle Dees released the first video from his upcoming solo album (set to be released in the fall).  “Seventeen Years (a cicada love song),” is an homage to the those interesting chirpers.  I particularly love the line “We’re not the kind of band that comes back once a year.  We’re the magic kind/ You have to wait a little bit longer to here/ So when we at last appear you’ll know it’s the big show/ One you might not see again.”

I happen to live with a bug lover who is going to be overjoyed with this video, although she might be disappointed when she realizes that they only come out every 17 years.  I may have to create one of those homemade cicada costumes from the video as a backup plan.

[Courtesy of Lloyd H Miller via YouTube]

View This: World Premiere – “Here Comes My Friend” – Underbirds

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Underbirds_Edited

I am pleased to present the world premiere of the first Underbirds video for the song “Here Comes My Friend” from their self-titled debut.

Like a modern day Simon and Garfunkel, Todd McHatton’s and Morgan Taylor’s intuitive harmonies give the endearing “Here Comes my Friend,” a breezy feeling as they sing about the fulfillment of a “scientifically, very naturally paired” friendship.

The video was filmed in beautiful Ojai, California, by the very talented stop motion animator, Caden Ghen, who made a killer trailer for the movie Man of Steel with Legos.  Ghen does a fine job of syncing the images surrounding McHatton and Taylor with the words of the song.

[Courtesy of Underbirds via YouTube]

View This: “Fish Sticks” – Recess Monkey

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handsAttention deep sea divers, exotic creatures and all other friends of the ocean! Check out this new video from Recess Monkey’s upcoming Deep Sea Diver and this time it features a sea creature like no other. They call him “Fish Sticks,” and he can put together some serious beats.

The video for “Fish Sticks” is simple yet impactful. To start, it makes a point of showcasing Recess Monkey’s new drummer, Korum Fishoff, er, I mean Korum Bischoff whose percussive skills just might blow you out of the water. Ranging from Vintage Rock to Disco (and everything in between), Bischoff doesn’t miss a beat. And, although Drew Holloway is not in any sort of costume per se (see: Sack Lunch), he plays a highly entertaining promoter for the Coral Club in this video.

“Fish Sticks,” aptly displays what makes Recess Monkey so much fun: great sense of humor, clever lyrics and energetic beats.

View This: “Hippie Mom” – Big Bang Boom

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photo-fullEven though Mother’s Day has past, North Carolina’s Big Bang Boom manages to keep the spirit of the holiday alive with a new video from their most recent release, Because I Said So!.  “Hippie Mom” is a whole lotta fun.  There’s singing, dancing and hula hoops.  Woo hoo!

View this: “Tambourine Submarine” – Recess Monkey

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Recess_Monkey_Tambourine_Submarine_Video_93791348_thumbnail Monkeynauts take heed!  Recess Monkey just released the first video from their upcoming album, Deep Sea Diver. I would say that the album is highly anticipated but I think, in general, any album from this enthusiastic troupe is typically highly anticipated.

In “Tambourine Submarine,” the Seattle trio takes to the deep blue in a blinged out u-boat powered by rhythm and propelled by a spinning tambourine.  Although I hesitate to use the word “cute” to describe what the guys refer to as a “mean green rhythm machine,” I cant help but want to sling one on my keychain and jingle jangle it all ’round my hood.

“Tambourine Submarine” is a fantastic voyage filled with creativity and humor. Check it out!

Concert Re-Cap: Underbirds Premiere Live Performance & Release Party

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I recently attended Kindiefest, an annual family music conference that took place in Brooklyn, NY. The conference sought to provide helpful information about the industry while showcasing some amazing talent. I am going to write a separate post that provides a little more detail about what went on at the conference but one thing I clearly remember hearing about is that collaboration can be extremely useful.

One fine example of how collaboration can produce something pretty spectacular is the Underbirds.

The Underbirds consists of Morgan Taylor from Gustafer Yellowgold and Todd McHatton, who not only has released some wonderful kindie albums of his own, but is also the creator of Marvy Monstone’s Mysterious Fun Time Dream Band, and the wildly popular single “I Think I’m a Bunny.” Together their music sounds like a mix of the Flaming Lips, the Beatles and a little bit o’ Queen.

TheUnderbirds had their official world premiere live performance/release party at Symphony Space in New York City on Saturday, April 27, 2013 as part of Symphony Space’s Just Kidding series. I was more than lucky enough to catch it. Although it meant leaving the Kindiefest conference for a bit, it was an easy trade-off as these guys are at the top of our list when it comes to quality music and performances!

Standing in front of a screen with projected images of the outdoors, Taylor and McHatton sang original songs from their self-titled debut, which were filled with warm, joyful harmonies that reflected upon the beauty of nature and companionship. The duo also premiered a few new songs and each played a single from their own kindie catalogue. Taylor sang one of our favorite Gustafer songs, “Wisconsin Poncho” and McHatton brought his daughter, Hazel, up for “I think I’m a Bunny.” Seeing her sing live was so fun. She’s a natural just like her Dad!

It really was a treat for both grown-ups and kids. And for a world premiere performance, it didn’t take very long before everyone in the audience started to sing along.

I’ve spoken of the wonderful sounds coming from these two highly talented kindie artists before, but seeing these two sing together in a live setting was a real gift.

You can sample, download and purchase the Underbirds from CDBaby, Amazon and iTunes. Highly Recommended!

Underbirds – “Trail of Hearts” live at Symphony Space via YouTube

Underbirds – “Brilliance” live at Symphony Space via YouTube

View This: “High 5 Your Shadow” – Ratboy Jr.

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Ratboy-JR-TOYS-PRESS-300I still remember the first time I introduced my daughter to her shadow. It was on the swings and I told her that her shadow is swinging just as high as she is. She thought it was the most amazing thing and her shadow continues to be part of our pack today.

Tim Sutton, frontman for Ratboy Jr., was inspired in the same way when he wrote “High 5 Your Shadow.” Upon seeing his own son giving a high five to his shadow on the wall, the song was born.

“High 5 Your Shadow” hits the nail on the head with the lyrics, “your shadow/ is your friend/ and your friends are friends with your shadow,” because whether it’s real friends or a wooden dog that my daughter pulls on a string, everyone has a shadow and we can all dance together.

From their most recent release, Champions of the Universe, Ratboy Jr. presents the video for “High 5 Your Shadow,” which so accurately conveys the joys of shadow play. There’s even a little science wedged in their for extra credit.

Check it out and then go find your shadow. Or make one of your own.

View This: “Snail Mail” – Dean Jones

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home-When_the_World_Was_New_Cover_JPGDean Jones, multi talented kindie wonder man, is putting out his second children’s album on May 14th called When The World Was New.  It’s going to be quite fantastic, although I wouldn’t expect any less from the recent Grammy winner (Dean won a 2012 Grammy for producing Can You Canoe? by The Okee Dokee Brothers).

“Snail Mail,” directed by Tim Sutton from Ratboy Jr., is a funk filled motivational piece (or as Sutton describes it: funk with a disco sweater on) that reinforces the benefits of being a good pen pal.  It’s got a nice groove, a crazy catchy hook and some great lyrics, including my favorite in which Jones suggests doing “a little doodle direct from your noodle.”

How do you not want to get all creative, slap a stamp on an envelope and boogie on down to the post office right this minute?