Coming Up This Week

The show is here. Enjoy!

We're off for my parents' 45th anniversary this weekend (anyone in Fayetteville, Arkansas, want to hang out?), so we have a pre-recorded show. It's three guest DJ sets - two you might have heard, and one is new. First up is the legendary guest DJ set from Andy from the Quiet Ones (er, Quiet Two).

Then it's an all-new set from Sippy Cup Rudy, and I've gotta tell you, it's one of the best we've ever had.

And then we finish up with most of the recent phenomenal guest set from Hipwader Tito.

Mingled among the musical tastiness is me asking (nicely!) for you to contribute to Valley Free Radio, our station. It is an all-volunteer station - not a paid person among us - and we presently take no underwriting, only individual contributions. Even if this show is the only thing you listen to, throw us a few bucks - we'll appreciate it. (And if you do, if you think to drop me a line to let me know, that'd be great. I might even find something from our Mysterious Box O' Random Stuff to send you as a thank-you.)

Hey, It's Another Story about Kids' Music.

Mostly about Dan Zanes, but I note it because it quotes me and the lovely Amy. It's a wire story; I understand that it showed up in my parents' paper in northwest Arkansas in addition to the International Herald Tribune.

Playlist for 7-28-07

Big day here in the Valley. Hope lots of folks came out for Uncle Rock's show, and we sure had fun having him on the show!

The archive is here.

Legal ID
They Might Be Giants - It's Spare the Rock
They Might Be Giants - Wake Up Call
Ella Fitzgerald - Isn't This a Lovely Day (to be Caught Out in the Rain) (Irving Berlin Songbook)
Robbi K - Favourite Things (Music Makes Me Happy)
Justin Roberts - Little Raindrop (Great Big Sun)
Daniel Lanois - Under a Stormy Sky (Acadie)
Milkshake - Rainy Day (Bottle of Sunshine)
Sharp Cookies - Let it Rain (Muddy Water...)
--song ID
--Uncle Rock live in-studio
-Elephant in the Room
-There's Love in My Food
Uncle Rock - Superhero Medley (Uncle Rock U)
REM - We Walk (Murmur)
--song ID
CandyBand - Spiderman (Lollipunk)
Sweet Diss and the Comebacks - Rainbows & Onions (Elinora)
Hipwaders - Art Car (Educated Kid)
Danny Adlerman & Friends - It's Raining, It's Pouring (One Size Fits All)
Lesley Gore - Sunshine, Lollipops & Rainbows
--legal ID (9:00)
ScribbleMonster - Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child
Apples in Stereo - Theme Song
Princess Katie & Racer Steve - It's Not Mine (Songs for the Coolest Kids)
Chris Colbour - V for Verlaine (Coochicoo Rock and Roll Revue)
Paul Simon - You Can Call Me Al (Graceland)
Parker Bent - My Little Big Brother (Charlie Davidson's Tricycle Club)
-song ID
Andre 3000 - The Crayon Song (Class of 3000)
Figureheads - Windows (The Movement)
Happy Monster - The Face (Rhythm with Rhymes)
Mr. David - I'm a Fish (Great Adventures...)
Little Mo McCoury - My Friend, the Guitar (s/t)
Josephine Cameron - Anna's Bed a Silver Moon (Close Your Eyes)
Renee & Jeremy - It's a Big World (It's a Big World)
Elizabeth Mitchell - What Goes On (You Are My Little Bird)
-song ID
Ellen & Matt - Side by Side (Best Friends)
Steve Weeks - Xavier Xerxes Xenophanes X (Alphabet Songs Vol. 3)
Mr. Richard - Spare the Rock
Mr. Richard - Airplane Jane (Might As Well Sing)
-song ID
They Might Be Giants - Spare the Rock
They Might Be Giants - Why Does the Sun Shine? Live (Severe Tire Damage)

TV Doesn't Always Have to be Evil

That's more or less the theme for my newest column, up now at Hilltown Families, and soon in Minnesota Parent, Albemarle Family, and Little Rock Family. (Valley Kids alternates with Hilltown Families.)

One Legend, Coming Up

August 11, we'll be talking live (via phone) with Ella Jenkins.

She's been recording children's music for Smithsonian Folkways for fifty years. That, friends, is a long time.

Announcing the Insert Clever Name Family Music Extravaganza

If you listened to Saturday's show, you might have gotten a hint of it, but now it can be told:

We and Stefan are presenting an amazing lineup of family music at Ruta Maya in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, September 15, at 6:00 (doors at 5:00 or so).

The lineup:

Laura Freeman
The Telephone Company
Joe McDermott
The Deedle Deedle Dees

How much would you pay for that lineup? $100? No! $50? No! $25? No!

It's just $5. Five bucks, people! And infants are free!

Posters and such to come. Tell your friends, tell your acquaintances, heck, tell your enemies as long as you can all behave while you're there.

You won't miss anything from the Austin Kiddie Limits stage (the last set ends at 4:00 that day), and, importantly, Spoon and Bjork are both Friday night, so you won't miss them either.

(Also: Have a clever name so we don't have to call it "Insert Clever Name Family Music Extravaganza"? Please, please share.)

Playlist for 7-21-07

Morning.

I really enjoyed some of these sets, I have to say.

Archive is here.

Legal ID (8:00)
They Might Be Giants - It's Spare the Rock
They Might Be Giants - Microphone (Cast Your Pod to the Wind)
Enzo Garcia - Hello (LMNO Music Pink)
Rocknoceros - Get Up (Dark Side of the Moon Bounce)
Steve Lee - Wake Up (What Did You Do Today, Stephen Scott Lee?)
-song ID
Ber Ber & the Bumm Kinns - Travelin' Show (Starry Skies & Lullabies)
Little Mo' McCoury - You've Got a Friend in Me (s/t)
Gourds - The Education Song
Laura Freeman - Indigo & Violet (Color Wheel Cartwheel)
Telephone Company - Handshake (The King's Surprise?)
Joe McDermott - Roller Coaster (Everybody Plays Air Guitar)
--song ID
Deedle Deedle Dees - Rancher Ants (Freedom in a Box!)
Visqueen - Centerfield (Play!)
Robin Vaughan - What Do You Like More? (Coochicoo Revue)
Erin Flynn & the Co-Op Band - Miss Mary Mack (Dreamers of Dreams)
Danny Adlerman - In the Future (Listen Up!)
Sugar Free All Stars - Banana Pudding (Dos Ninos)
Mates of State - Goods (All in Your Head) (All Day EP)
Apples in Stereo - Energy (New Magnetic Wonder)
--legal ID (9:00)
ScribbleMonster - Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child
-song ID
Fuzzy - Flashlight (s/t)
CandyBand - Octopus on My Head (Calling All Kids)
John Carlin - Eliza (Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child, Live at Jalopy)
Teacher & the Rockbots - Electricity (Science)
AudraRox - I Like to Pretend
Uncle Rock - Disco Nap (Plays Well with Others)
-song ID
Opus Ditty - Folsom Preschool Blues (Opus Ditty and the Joyride Jet Engine Bus)
Farmer Jason - The Forest Oh! (Rockin' in the Forest)
Trout Fishing in America - Proper Cup of Coffee (Family Music Party)
Hipwaders - Spare the Rock and Spoil the Child
Ralph's World - The Coffee Song (At the Bottom of the Sea)
Dog on Fleas - Green Grass of Summer (When I Get Little)
Frances England - Charlie Parker (Fascinating Creatures)
Ella Fitzgerald - Air Mail Special (Live at Newport)
Baby Loves Jazz Band - Scat Song (Baby Loves Jazz)
Andre 3000 - Banana Zoo (Class of 3000)
Dan Zanes - Choo Choo Ch' Boogie (Catch That Train!)
Seth Decker & the Missing Piece - Open the Door (Intergalactic Tour)
Parker Bent - Scooch Back (Charlie Davidson's Tricycle Club)
--song ID
They Might Be Giants - Spare the Rock
They Might Be Giants - Edison Museum (No!)

T-Shirts and Uncles Who Rock

Hey, just as a reminder, one week from tomorrow (that'd make it July 28), our friends at Hilltown Families and we are presenting Uncle Rock at the Children's Art Museum in Shelburne Falls. He will, no doubt, rock. I'm hoping we'll have him on the show that morning too.

And speaking of Hilltown Families, check out their T-Shirt Review thingy and if you're an artist/PR person/whatever, send 'em your shirts.

Clean shirts.

Related to kids' music.

They're not looking for your mangy old Metallica shirts.

Should be a fun show tomorrow - we've got some new music and fun stuff to talk about.

Playlist for 7-14-07

Another beautiful day in the Valley with a nice walk to the station with our little red wagon (filled with CDs, natch).

Archive is here.

--legal ID (7:59)
They Might Be Giants - It's Spare the Rock
They Might Be Giants - The Alphabet of Nations (Here Come the ABCs)
Timmy Abell - Little Red Wagon (Little Red Wagon)
Wilco - What Light (Sky Blue Sky)
Billy Bragg & the Blokes - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Woody Guthrie - Riding in My Car (Car Song) (Smithsonian Folkways Children's Music Collection)
Ella Jenkins - Day-O (Sharing Cultures with Ella Jenkins)
--song ID
Robbi K - Legend of John Henry (Music Makes Me Happy)
Lead Belly - Red Bird (Sings for Children)
Michael Jackson - Rockin' Robin
--song ID
Throwing Muses - Counting Backwards (EP)
Tanya Donnelly - Laluna the Loon (Coochicoo Revue)
Great Lake Swimmers - See You on the Moon (See You on the Moon)
Pixies - Bam Thwok
Danny Adlerman - The Dozsins (Listen Up!)
Uncle Rock - Shoe Bandit (Plays Well With Others)
Hipwaders - Spare the Rock and Spoil the Child
Hipwaders - Educated Kid (Educated Kid)
Sugar Free Allstars - Bathtub Boy (Dos Ninos)
Monty Harper - Paws Claws Scales and Tales (Paws Claws Scales and Tales)
--legal ID (9:00)
ScribbleMonster - Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child
--song ID
Vandals - Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Sgt. Major - Nellie the Elephant (Play)
Ernie & Neal - Best Friend (Friends, Family & Pizza)
Weezer - My Best Friend
Bzots - Workin' the Assembly Line (Powered Up!)
They Might Be Giants - Turtle Songs of North America
Recess Monkey - Trading Squirrels (Aminal House)
The Elbows - There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly (The Elbows)
Roger Day - I Like Yaks! (Dream Big!)
Laura Freeman - Purple (Color Wheel Cartwheel)
-song ID
Constant Wonder - Who Lays the Eggs? (Walk with Wonder)
Gwendolyn & the Goodtime Gang - Red Means Stop (Get Up and Dance!)
Smoosh - But Now I Know
Shins - They'll Soon Discover
Doctor Noize - Banana (Ballad of Phineas McBoof)
Ralph's World - Red Banana (Green Gorilla, Monster and Me)
Chris Kenner - I Like it Like That (New Orleans Playground)
Joe McDermott - Everybody Plays Air Guitar (Everybody Plays Air Guitar)
-song ID
They Might Be Giants - Spare the Rock
They Might Be Giants - Au Contraire (Indestructible Object EP)

Hi, NPR Listeners By Way of Zooglobble

Hey, check it out - Stefan was on NPR again. Cool! (And thanks to him for linking to our little show.)

Make yourself at home. Listen to some archives, read through the playlists, and read some of my columns, linked to over there in the right-hand column.

Austin, Here We Come

Well, we're actually flying into Houston, and won't even get to stay for much if any of the Sunday shows. But still! We're going to Austin City Limits Festival and will be hoveringly awkwardly around the stage with a mini disc recorder and bizarre historical questions!

My first draft schedule is here. I am aware that (a) there are schedule conflicts and (b) it shows us going to Sunday shows when we're heading to the airport probably at noon and thus will see nothing that day. What huge errors have I made in the first whack?

Playlist for 7/7/07

What a great day we've had with Audra and her family! Yummy food, hanging out at the Look Park, and a great time at Cup & Top!

Archive is here. Enjoy!

Legal ID (8:01)
They Might Be Giants - Spare the Rock
They Might Be Giants - Particle Man (Slow)
Parker Bent - Lucky Day (Charlie Davidson's Tricycle Club)
Psapp - Everybody Wants to Be a Cat
Telphone Company - I Don't Want to Shop (The King's Surprise?)
Renee & Jeremy - Three Little Birds (It's a Big World!)
Deedle Deedle Dees - Nellie Bly (Freedom in a Box)
Dominique Dimy - Clic-Clac OPh C'est Beau (French Playground)
--song ID
Poi Dog Pondering - Toast and Jelly
Muckafurgason - Dictionary
Dirty Sock Funtime Band - Big Head, Little Head
Clash - Lost in the Supermarket
Toxic Muffin - Jimmy Axl
-song ID
Quiet Two - You Can't Hide Your Bike
AudraRox - All My Toys are Broken
Velvet Underground - I'm Sticking with You
Deedle Deedle Dees - Major Deegan
--legal ID (9:00)
ScribbleMonster - Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child
Van Halen - Jump
Beatles - All Together Now
Dee-Lite - Groove is in the Heart
They Might Be Giants - Dead
Men Without Hats - Safety Dance
Squirrel Nut Zippers - Got My Own Thing now
Astrograss & Friends - Drunken Sailor
Blues Brothers - Shake a Tail Feather
Nouvelle Vague - Dancing With Myself
-song ID
AudraRox - Don't Wake the Baby
White Stripes - Rag & Bone
Young Fresh Fellows - Picnic (Play)
Terrible Twos - When I Get to Eleven (If You Ever See An Owl)
Kool & the Gang - Jungle Boogie
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - This Land is Your Land (Naturally)
Wilson Lake & the Rock Bass - Walkin in the Woods (s/t)
--song ID
They Might Be Giants - Spare the Rock
They Might Be Giants - The Guitar (The Lion Sleeps Tonight) (Apollo 18)

New Music

No clever theme, just new music in the new column, right now in Little Rock Family.

Festivalia

Okay, so, we won't be at the very cool Summer on Southport (ScribbleMonster, Lunch Money, Justin Roberts and more!). (Update: Gwyneth points out that Ralph's World is on that lineup too. More painful still to miss, but I'll be seeing TMBG again, which I'll grant you is a close question.)

Nor will we be at Kidzapalooza in person (we will instead be at my parents' 45th anniversary party, which seems worthwhile, no?), though we will have roving reporter coverage from various ScribblePeople. (We'll be out of town that weekend, and Monty Harper has kindly agreed to fill in again.)

But we will be at the Austin City Limits festival, rocking, talking with folks backstage, eating Tex Mex, etc.

Hooray!

I was thinking that for some of our absences this fall, we should do two or three of the favorite guest DJ sets. Any nominations?