A Block Party Day with Chillin and Grillin!

So the Poochamungas rocked the weekend away.  First we headed out to Frankfort on Saturday for “Chillin and Grillin for a Cure“.  The event is to raise money in efforts to defeat cystic fibrosis.  This is our second time playing the event and we brought a full band this time around (last year a three piece).  Well we had a good time, worked a new song into the set, played Train Rolls on twice at my daughters request and folks seemed to really dig the music.  In events like this not a lot of folks are dancing up by the band.  Kids are in the jumpy, riding scooters, bikes and big wheels, getting face painted and visiting the firetruck (they got a Tower Ladder this year).  But kids kept visiting the driveway we we’re playing and lot’s of heads boppin in the crowd is a good sign.  We took care of all public service announcements and even got to introduce the contestants in the rib competition (Alton rocked the organ intro!)  The folks that organize this do an amazing job.  Erin and Jim Burns along with their family, friends and  neighbors really make this a great event. I hope we raised lots of money and I hope they invite us again next year!

Poochamungas at Wonder Works in Oak Park, IL

Next we headed over to Oak Park on Sunday as part of the Parties for Pillars series.  We are one of many fundraising events that they are hosting this month. Wonder Works Children’s Museum in Oak Park hosted our concert and what a fun space they have.  Lots of interactive exhibits for your kids to have fun and learn at the same time (double win!)  Well we had a really fun and interactive set.  The energy of the crowd was great and everyone had a good time.  After the show people attendees got to use the museums facilities for another hour. Way cool.  We also sold 4 CD’s and split the profit with Pillars.  Some might laugh but 4 CD sales at a show is pretty good.  10 is amazing but 4 is good indeed!  Many thanks to Michelle Halm for inviting us to play and to the Pillars organization and Wonder Works Children’s Museum.  We had a great time! Thanks for having us!

Today we not only have a rehearsal we also have to take photos for the upcoming CD release.  Not my favorite thing to do but necessary to promote the materials.  I have hired a professional photographer instead of the usual DIY photos we usually use.  So today he’s gonna take pics during rehearsal and then after as well.  I hope to get some good stuff given he’s taking photos of me… But I digress.  The big day is only 3 months away and lots to do before the “Official Release.”  No worries.

We have six great shows this summer.  Make sure you come on out and enjoy one of our live gigs.   We venture out of state a couple of times as well.  Like us on Facebook and keep up with our travels and gigs.

A pretty good day

So I have been going through a bunch of my CD’s that were in a stack in the living room drawer and have been ripping them to my laptop.  A couple of the songs that stand out for me are about slice of life.  Small stories about lifes happenings with a bit of a nostalgic feel. Similar to a few songs I have written.  One of them got a lot of airplay here in Chicago, was featured in the movie 13 going on 30 and Wilkepedia says  peaked at #39 on Billboard.  The other one is by a very talented local artist who if you haven’t heard of I am happy to make the introduction.

The first song is “Good Day” by the band Luce  (click for live version.) This song just always puts me in a good mood.  This is actually a day in the life song to be specific. Lyrics like
“So I lace my boots up and step outside
Catch a cab because my car died
And I go to work with my friend Dan
Paintin’ houses the best we can”    What I like best of the song is the easy, rolling feeling of the day.  Things happen and you just keep going whether they’re bad or good.  About appreciating the moment and moving forward.  Plus a killer horn section complimenting the musical groove.  One of my favorite songs of the last 10 years.  Tom Luce the author really did an excellent job penning this tune.  Have a listen and I promise your day just got a little better.

The other song I learned about when the band was recording over at Kingsize Sound Labs.  I was going through the John Abbey CD collection when I found Daytime Fireflies by Emily Hurd.  He had produced it and offered me a CD to take home.  The first song on the CD blew me away called “Kids in Red Wagons” (song and lyrics at the link).  It’s about remembering youth which is a lot of what I do in my writing.   The refrain perfectly captures a moment that repeats in time always reminding the author of what was.                                                                                                                       “When the sidewalks are flowing and the windows are open,
Then nobody feels like they are lonely.
When the time starts a-draggin like the kids in the red wagons,
Then we’ll always have Chicago, won’t we?  Emily is a very talented songwriter and it is well illustrated within this song.  Go check out her new band as well Stone Blind Valentine

That’s all today.  Just a couple song examples I think exemplify the craft.  Feel free to make suggestions for other songs to listen to in the comments section below.  Band schedule and CD update’s the next time I visit here!

]]> http://poochamungas.wordpress.com/2013/05/31/songs-i-like-but-you-may-not-have-heard/feed/ 0 poochamungas A pretty good day red wagon http://poochamungas.wordpress.com/2013/05/26/hard-to-explain-part-3/ http://poochamungas.wordpress.com/2013/05/26/hard-to-explain-part-3/#comments Sun, 26 May 2013 20:50:24 +0000 Poochamungas http://poochamungas.wordpress.com/?p=92 Continue reading →]]> It was two years ago this month that my  father-in-law passed away.  I had held off on the third post because my wife asked me too.  It was too close and personal at the time and I respected that.   I tend to write mostly about the music and my kids but this helped me work through the grief back then and my daughter was amazing.  It is also a tribute to my wife’s father who had quite a remarkable journey himself. You can read the first two posts here in Hard to explain part 1 and part 2.  It seems appropriate to publish this in Memorial Day weekend. We will return to our regular programming later this week.

Saturday we buried the Jaja.  My daughter was a troopper during the whole day.  She held her aunts hand, hugged her Bobcia and was as well behaved child as there ever has been.  She was also really, really sad.  She sat up front during the mass sitting quietly by her Aunt and Mom.  I was relegated to the crying room (that’s what it said on the door) as my son was a little needy this morning.  It seems a little attention and a baggie full of cheerios cured us of that problem towards the end of mass.  My sister and I talked during the ceremony and the little guy went back and forth between me and the aunt holding his cheerios.  But my daughter was a trooper.  She seemed to know who needed their hand held at any given time.  She would lean on her Bobcia when needed and she held her Aunt’s hand walking into and leaving the church.  She was giving the love as needed.  At the graveside she did both but then came to her Mom for some holding of her own and then to me as she needed some love as well.  When we came home she and her Mom vegged on the couches and watch some Create TV (PBS) and snuggled.  Then she and her Mom went through the old photos of her Jaja.  How vibrant and alive and movie star looking he was in black and white.    Here was a man that survived WWII on his wits in Germany. He used to tell a story of how he was told to get on a train and he felt that one was wrong and snuck on another train.  He said that decision saved his life.  He believed his original train was destined for a camp.  How after the war he signed up with the US army as a civilian police officer.  That for serving there he garnered US citizenship and made his way to America.  There is a nice pic of him in uniform with CP on the helmut and carrying a rifle.   By the time my daughter met him he was old and a bit fragile.  It was good to see pics of him vibrant and alive.  A man with a future ahead of him. To his credit he doted on my kids.  They loved him.  He used to sing silly made up songs in polish and they would dance and laugh and give him hugs.  My son said Jaja  the last time he saw him, my daughter kissed him on the head.  So goodbye Jaja and thanks for coming to America.  Thanks for my wife and thanks for loving my kids.  I hope to do so well in my life.

Cover of American Profile. Diane Guthrie photo.

Anyone who reads this blog know of my trials and successes as a kindie musician.  To promote my next CD I have taken the next step of hiring the services of Publicist Elizabeth Waldman Frasier of Waldmania (very excited.)  So imagine my surprise when I see my daughter has garnered the photo in American Profile (a national publication) in an article titled Jiggle Jam by Carol Crupper.   Sure it’s an article about Jim Cosgrove, Dan Zanes, Frances England and the Okee Dokee Brothers but there on the front page is my daughter singing along with Jim! (she’s the tall redhead)  Now Jim is a great guy, friend and Jiggle Jam is a festival worth making the trip to if you get the chance.  Really the best family festival I have ever been to… Twice!  But I’m thinking maybe I hire my daughter to do the PR?  After all she just made the cover of a national publication…

It’s been three weeks since I attended Kindiefest and we have been working our way thru all the music we received while in attendance (By we I mean my two kids and I.)   A few CD’s have been really separating themselves from the rest.  First is The Hipwaders – Golden State.

One of our new Fav’s!

The hit on Kids Place Live (KPL) was a groovy cool sounding Hey Josie.   But The Ramble (been stuck in my head for a week in a good way) is my favorite.  If you like California surf guitar licks with a driving backbeat this CD is for you.  Next is Johnny Bregar – My Neighborhood.  I define this as American Music.  Rock, Blues, Country and all cool.  We

Rocking CD with flavors of blues, country and all cool.

were big fans of Polly’s Rain Dance  (played on KPL) and  the whole CD is just a continuation of great sounding music.  To call this kiddie music or label these CD’s as just for children is a disservice.  As we in Poochamungas land like to say.  Good Music Knows No Age.   The third CD which is not a “kids” CD (the band closed kindiefest.)  is David Wax Museum – Knock Knock Get up.  It’s defined as Mexo-Americana but WOW!  To try to categorize the music limits what this album really is.  While you can hear the Mexican and Americana influences the music is it’s own definition and it totally blew me away.

Amazing music.

The title song is amazing as is the rest of this wonderful music.  There is a very deep musical pool on this CD and I suggest you jump on in.   I shall be voting for them come Grammy Time (The other two artists CD’s released in 11′ and 12′ so no voting for them.)  I still have a few more CD’s to listen and will report as I do.  But these will all be in rotation for weeks to come.

Johnny Bregar and Danny Adamson

Bill Childs got his swag bag.

After a full night the day before I awoke at 7am looking at the ceiling.  No kids, no place to be till 10am and I awake at 7am!!!  I was not happy.  So I headed down to the lobby for breakfast that is offered by the hotel.   One of the better continental breakfasts I have ever seen. Not just scrambled eggs and sausage but make your own waffles and fresh Brooklyn bagels!!! So after a low carb breakfast of eggs, sausage, a couple of potatoes and water. I headed over to the treadmill to continue working on #alittlelessfat.  While the competition is over the battle is not yet won (I have a ways to go.)   So after 25 minutes on the hamster wheel, a trip to the new man machine I was off to kindiefest.  Arriving at BAM I realized what I had left in Chicago.  My kindiefest badge.  So after registering and getting a replacement my 3rd kindiefest was officially started!  I could go into the different panels I saw and didn’t see.  Or how I missed the Lion and the Bear during showcase because I forgot my wallet back at the hotel (a very big moment of panic).  The was also the feet so sore syndrome affecting many after hours of standing, talking, walking and laughing.  But mostly I came away with two things.  One was “find your own Mississippi River.”  Molly Ledford said this in a panel referring to the Okee Dokee Brothers Grammy winning album Can you Canoe? (we loved it too!)  Stefan Shepard talks about this in his blog better than I can.  Go read it here.   The other thing that I got was MAKE GREAT MUSIC.  This was repeated during a few panels and ties in with “find your own Mississippi River.”   The music has to inspire you before it inspires others.  Which is what I imagine most of us artists try to do.  I use my kids and my childhood to write my music.  This was mentioned on a few panels.  My motto for the band has become Good Music Knows No Age.  I don’t try to write age or kids specific songs.  I try to write good songs and hope kids like them.  Since I have two kids I tend to write about things they are interested or things from my childhood they can relate to.  So I could ramble on about all the great people I got to talk too, drinks shared, empanadas eaten and weary, weary feet.  I will not.  I will thank Melissa Levis and Bridget Rymer for sharing their piece of wall with me Friday night as I sat and rested weary feet.  A very enlightened conversation.

David Wax Museum were amazing!

The David Wax Museum for playing music that made me say wow during Sundays festival and the kindie community at large.  I know it goes without saying but the biggest fans of the kindie music are the artists themselves!  It is the generosity of others , their input and help and  makes it possible for me to do what I do.  So thanks to Bill. Tor, Mona and Stephanie for holding another festival.  The next post I will review some of the CD’s I garnered at the festival!

Stefan, a hidden Johnny,Jack and Ralph at the Empanadas truck for lunch.

Flying in on a beautiful NYC morning

My feet are finally feeling better.  Another whirlwind weekend in Brooklyn, NY will do that to them.  Walking to and from the hotel to venue (.6 miles) and talking to people while standing and more standing and talking and listening and standing and eating and standing.  Long day on the feet will do that to you.  But while you’re having fun you tend not to notice.  And fun I had!

Early morning transportation

Day one had nothing to do with the Kindiefest event except for checking in.  It started with me waking up at 4am to catch my 6:45am flight.  I grabbed a cab and off to O’Hare Airport.  After a quick, no frills, flight where we waited an extra ten minutes on the runway because of the sequester we headed off to NYC.  We then arrived ten minutes earlier than scheduled.  Moving fast were we.  I must say that air travel wise it was the easiest I have ever flown and I checked a bag both ways. (La Guardia Sunday night was 10 minutes from curb to gate, checked bag included!)  Upon arriving I called my friend and fellow Northeastern Illinois Alum Jennifer Tuttle (amazing actress and now college professor) who picked me up then off her place in Astoria.  I then met her husband Kip and we discussed making a Poochamungas video as he is a professional film director, editor, etc.  Very cool guy.  I am looking to working with him sometime this summer (as long as the planets align and our schedules allow).

Great guys in great hats who make great music and me!

Recording at KPL

Steve Songs, Kenny Curtis and Dean Jones.

We then had a great lunch at a Queens diner and then she dropped me at my hotel.  I had enough time to clean up, change my shoes, hook up with Jeff Bogle (Out With The Kids) and Dave (Saturday Morning Cereal Bowl) Loftin and take a subway to Manhattan  and Sirius/XM headquarters.  We were invited to the live taping of a future show involving many of my favorite kindie bands doing songs of other Kindie Bands.  (Mindy Thomas had an inspired idea for  show and talks about it here ).   I also handed out the first copies of the Poochamungas new CD Block Party!    In the building was a who’s who of kindie artists.  Recess Monkey, Lunch Money, Tim and the Space Cadets, Mista Cookie Jar, Charlie Hope, Sugar Free All Stars, The Pop-Ups, Dog on Fleas, Steve Songs, Okee Dokee Brothers, The Not-Its and Brady Rymer.  I had a great time and even got to sing backup on the big number at the end (Thanks Mindy!)  I’ll  be sure to report here when the show airs on Kids Place Live.

NFL Draft day as well!

After the show I joined Jeff and Dave for a dinner in Manhattan. I had no idea I was within a block of the NFL Draft headquarters as we walked by Radio City Music Hall on our way to meet the McHatton Clan along with Morgan Taylor.  The plan as outlined by the adventurous and technologically advanced Jeff Bogle was to have our paths intersect as we walked toward each other in NYC and the find a suitable eating place as well.  Well part A of the plan worked really well as Jeff and the McHattons did a great job of locating each other (technology is awesome).  Plan B took a bit longer but we finally did find a suitable place to eat for party of 10 as Mista Cookie Jar and the lovely Jenna joined us as well.  While the meal was OK it was great to talk with everyone at the table.  Lots of laughs and good conversation. Morgan explained to me the origin of Gustafer Yellowgold which was very cool ( My sons first concert other than Poochamungas was Gustafer. He’s a fan! You should check out The Underbirds as well.) Then it was back to the Subway and then bed somewhere around 1am after a very long but informational and enjoyable day.  Day two was only 9 hours away!