A Quick Mention of Dan Zanes’s New Record

Sep 27

My life is particularly complicated right now, but I didn’t want to let the release date of Dan Zanes’s new record, Little Nut Tree, go by without at least a quick mention.

When asked about what makes for great family music, my answer is often centered on genuineness — the sense, as I said last week,  that the artists “are doing the only thing that they could possibly be doing” in performing music for families.  That has always been the fundamental appeal of Zanes’s music.  It’s not gimmicky or particularly complex (though there’s more going on musically than might meet the ear), but it is simply real.  The guests don’t feel like they were chosen strategically, but instead because they were right for the song (or maybe the songs are picked as being right for the artists).  The production isn’t flashy, but instead gets out of the way of the songs and the musicians.  When he’s had missteps (76 Trombones, say) it’s not because the CDs are bad — they just don’t feel like they were organic.  But those missteps are rare; the vast bulk of his family discography simply feels right.  And real.  And sincere.

Little Nut Tree continues that tradition of genuineness.  It’s just plain terrific.

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Playlist for 9/24/2011

Sep 24

Listen on demand at our page at WRSI.com!

Segment 1
TMBG – It’s Spare the Rock
-Ella ID
TMBG – I Can Hear You
Caspar Babypants – Spider John
Harmonica Pocket – Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
ID
Dean Jones – Baby In My pcoket
Lunch Money – You and Me and a Bottle of Bubbles
ID

Segment 2
Cat & a Bird – Cat & a Bird
Bob Marley – Three Little Birds
ID/prep to rock
TMBG – Don’t Spare the Rock!
Spoon – Underdog
Deedle Deedle Dees – Teddy Days
ID

Segment 3
Todd McHatton – Don’t Stop It Won’t Pop
Ozomatli – Can’t Stop
ID
Ethan Rossiter & the Hartwells – Jamberry
Rhythm Child – Bowl of Cherries
ID
Charity & the JAMband – Beach

Segment 4
ScribbleMonster – Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child
ID
Frances England – Charlie Parker
John Coltrane – My Favorite Things
Baby Loves Jazz – The Scat Song
Miles Davis – Bye, Bye Blackbird
ID
CandyBand – Blackbird

Segment 5
Mister G in-studio

Segment 6
Alastair Moock (w/ Anand Nayak) – Born to Dance
Sly & the Family Stone – Dance to the Music
ID/Book Time With Ella (Howl’s Moving Castle)
Jonathan Coulton – Princess Who Saved Herself
Jimmies – Every Day’s a Holiday
ID
TMBG – The Sun is a Mass of Incadescent Gas (Live)
TMBG – Spare the Rock

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Playlist for 9/17/2011

Sep 17

Listen any time at our page at WRSI.com!

Segment 1
TMBG – It’s Spare the Rock
-Ella ID
TMBG – New York City
Kimya Dawson – Happy Home (Keep On Writing)
Nick Cope – Grow Grow Grow
ID
Ella Fitzgerald – Don’t Fence Me In
Sweet Honey In The Rock – Shoo Fly
ID
Alastair Moock – Three Like Me

Segment 2
Weezer & Hayley Williams – Rainbow Connection
Israel Kamakawiwo’ole – Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World
ID/prep to rock
TMBG – Don’t Spare the Rock
Frank Turner – I Still Believe
ScribbleMonster – Stop!
ID

Segment 3
Royal Order of Chords & Keys In-Studio repeat

Segment 4
ScribbleMonster – Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child
ID
Mike Doughty – 27 Jennifers
Chip Taylor & the Grandkids – I’m Just Thinkin’ About What I’m Thinkin’ About
ID
Troggs – Wild Thing
Frances England – I Scream, You Scream
Billy Kelly – It’s Close Enough
ID
Segment 5
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo – Speak the Truth
ID
Dramarama – What Are We Gonna Do?
Dean Jones – Little By Little
ID
Yosi & the Superdads – Wake Up!
The Not-Its! – Freeze Tag
ID
Dressy Bessy – Electrified

Segment 6
Justin Roberts – She’s a Yellow Reflector
Dirty Dozen Brass Band – Feet Can’t Fail Me Now
ID
Bunny Clogs – Olive’s Olives
ID
TMBG – Sensurround
TMBG – Spare the Rock

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R.O.C.K. the Carle!

Sep 17

Today (Saturday, September 17) at 1:00, it’s the Royal Order of Chords and Keys kicking off our yearly series at the Eric Carle Museum!  Tickets are just $6 at the door, and the show benefits the tremendous work of the Northampton Community Music Center.  Note that ticket purchase doesn’t include museum admission — but you can go to the concert without going to the museum too.

Here they are, rocking out on a warmer day in 2010:

 

We’ll present their in-studio from 2010 in an encore presentation on the radio this morning, too.

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Playlist for 9-10-11

Sep 10

Listen whenever you like at our page at WRSI.com.

Segment 1
TMBG – It’s Spare the Rock
-Ella ID
TMBG – Birds Fly
Shannon Wurst – Farm to the Table
Trout Fishing in America – Rock and Roll Roosters
ID
Dean & Britta – Ginger Snaps
Mates of State – Jellyman Kelly
ID
Nields – Muffin Man

Segment 2
Caspar Babypants – Long Long Dream (w/ Al Yankovic)
Elizabeth Mitchell – Here Comes My Baby
ID/prep to rock
TMBG – Don’t Spare the Rock
Primal Scream – Movin’ On Up
The Not-Its! – Welcome to Our School
White Stripes – We Are Going To Be Friends
ID

Segment 3
Super Furry Animals – (Drawing) Rings Around the World
Lunch Money – I Love My Library
ID
Steve Lee – Wake Up
Mr. Richard – Our Rocketship
ID

Segment 4
ScribbleMonster – Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child
ID
Toy Trains – Little Toy Train
Jayhawks – Smile
Mister G – Grilled Cheese
ID (Carle 10/2)
Weston – La, La, Love You (Where Is My Mind?)

Segment 5
Blitzen Trapper – New Shoes
Paolo Nutini – New Shoes
ID
Waco Brothers – The Fox
Luv Clowns – K I D S
Telephone Company – Panda Brain
ID
Andrew Bird – Bein’ Green

Segment 6
Hipwaders – Time In Time Out
The Clash – Rock the Casbah
Baron Von Rumblebuss – Ooh La La (Play Me That Song)
ID
Jimmies – The Hook
Recess Monkey – Your Favorite Book
ID
TMBG – We’re the Replacements
TMBG – Spare the Rock

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