Dan Zanes is here THIS SATURDAY!!!

In a town (Chicago) filled with great kids music we are truly blessed with the variety and quality of the acts that play in the neighborhood.  Laura Doherty, Little Miss Ann, Istvan and his Imaginary Band, Human Tim+Robot Tim, Miss Jaime, Mister Singer, Jeanie B! and national acts  Ralph’s World and Justin Roberts (two time Grammy nominee).  So the fact that my family and I are excited to see Dan Zanes and friends this Saturday is a bit of a big deal.  He is  referred to as the founder of the modern Kindie (kids independent) movement and one of the first to play great all ages  shows.  He is also an artist that inspired me to get into the kindie movement when I heard my band mate (pre-Poochamungas) Pete play Wagon Wheel.  A song I profiled on the blog earlier this year in my Song and the Process  series (see article here).  I’ve seen Dan play solo and with Elizabeth Mitchell but never with the full band so this is a treat. We’ve probably listened to the Catch That Train CD a thousand times. Watched the Jump Up video just as much.  My daughter is a big fan and I’m sure my son is about to become one as well.  The thing about Dan’s music is it’s all rooted in Americana. Whether rock, traditional, folk it’s always got terrific roots. Dan’s secret is simple. Play great music that everyone can enjoy.   So head to the Harris Theater this Saturday, November 15^th at 2pm. It’s gonna be a whole lot of fun for the whole family. Now go out and support an Independent artist today!

Istvan at Fischman’s Rocking

Yesterday Fischman Liquors on Milwauke threw a huge party (450+) called Kegs for Kidneys with many, many breweries bringing great brews to drink. I hear it was a great time. Today they had a family event raising money for the National Kidney Foundation in the same space raising money for the same foundation called Jammin in the Lot.   Table games, spin art with 45th Ward Alderman Arenas and his wife Jill pedaling the art…Literally!   Giant Jenga, arts and crafts and all sorts of fun stuff… Oh yeah they had my buddy Istvan and His (very rocking) Imaginary Band. The family is big fans of the songs – Things I Like and Mama Said and we’d been wanting to see them live.  Did I mention 2 industrial bubble machines, balloons and kids jammin’ on the therimin?  That has to be one of the coolest things I’ve seen in show. The kids playing (the theremin) were totally owning it!  Istvan and company were a great band to see and catching them at this event was a bonus. I shall do my best to bring the family next year. I hope the event was a great success because we certainly had a great time!

Next week and tomorrow is the Big Day

Next week here at A Man, A Band and A Plan I will have a couple of bonified super duper interviews.  First I have a talk with Drew Holloway of Recess Monkey discussing the musical growth of the Recess Monkey who play some pretty darn cool music.  Then it’s a  return to the Song and the Process and an interview with Dan Zanes and one of my all time favorite songs Wonder Wheel!  Stop on by next week it’s gonna be a lot of fun.

Human Tim and Super Stolie!

Tomorrow the Poochamungas take the stage at Lincoln Hall.  many of Chicago’s finest kindie rockers will be there playing a couple of songs and acting all kinds of silly.  The rehearsal on Thursday went well and was really a lot of fun.  Getting to hang out and play music is the whole idea anyway.  There was food, beverages and a whole lot of good music. The show looks to be a great time so go and get your tickets today! Remember it’s SATURDAY, MARCH 8 AT 3PM.

 

Saturday is the BIG DAY!

I know I have mentioned it a few times this week but in case you missed it the BIG SHOW is happening this Saturday, March 8 at 3pm.  The venue is Lincoln Hall and the doors open at 2 and the show starts at 3.  It’s gonna be a really fun time with lots of great music, dancing and silliness.  Every ticket purchase includes a FREE download of the Band Together CD.  The event supports The Music Intonation Workshop (IMW) their mission is to

• Empower children to become rock stars on every stage of life through innovative music education. IMW’s in-school, after-school, and summer programs provide year-round access to instruments, instruction, performance opportunities, and mentorship to youth age 6-17 in Chicago who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity. Through the process of learning to play instruments and working together with their peers, IMW students have the chance to get involved, learn new skills, express their creativity, and find their niche by playing in a pop band.

A good cause, great music and they even serve up some tasty food.  Stop on by you’ll be glad you did!

Special Guest Guitarist this Saturday

When the Poochamungas take the stage this Saturday, March 8th, 3pm at Lincoln Hall they will be doing so with special guest guitarist Mike Flemming!  Poochamungas regular guitarist Pedro is unavailable so Mike is stepping in which means if your at the show you may see him play with two bands.  Mike is the regular guitarist for Istvan and His Imaginary Band.  Let me tell you his guitar playing is anything but imaginary.  It’s gonna be a great time. Come on out and dance the afternoon away and raise money for a good cause!!!

Music worth purchasing

Christmas is less than a week away and some folks will still be looking for gifts.  I highly recommend the gift of music for your kids from the kindie world. While I am always biased for the Poochamungas  if your reading this your probably already a fan.  Fortunately there is a lot of great kindie rock music for kids these days.  Here is a link to my top ten for this year.  Also recent post about Istvan and his Imaginary Band, Human Tim/Robot Tim, Songs I wish I had written and the many other artists talked about on here during the year.  If you have just started reading here awhile back I posted about some CD’s to get you started on a path of excellent kindie music.  Here they are with some updates

Grenadilla – Grenadilla This is a fantastic vocal journey that amazes me to this day.  The whole album is full of happiness and joy.  This is the hidden gem of the bunch.  One of the best  CD’s I have ever heard. The are re-releasing it with new CD art!

The Boogers-  Let’s Go.  If Punk Rock is your thing you and your kids will be rocking for hours with this one. The best at what they do…. This year they released Extractum Victoris which has my all time favorite Booger song’s Pandas are Dangerous.

Justin Roberts – Pop Fly.  There’s a reason why he was Grammy nominated for Recess this year.  Still Pop Fly is our fav and filled with great, tight pop songs.

The Verve Pipe – A Family Album.  This is the best kindie CD ever made.  Just great songs and a great band.  Great stuff!  Haven’t had a chance to listen to their newest CD but the few songs I have off of Are We There Yet?   have been excellent,

Okee Dokee Brothers – Take it Outside.  Who knew bluegrass made for such great family music?  The Okee Dokee Brothers did and this CD is pure energy!… They followed this up with the Grammy winning Can You Canoe?  One of the best kids CD’s ever

The Hipwaders – The Golden State.  Nothing new this year but this is one the best CD’s ever released with a great California pop sound and lyrically sharp.  It’s for the whole family.

So that concludes a few of the CD’s I think great music gifts for the holidays.  Go support your local kindie artist and buy some today!

That ain’t a sneeze…

Ah yes.  Those are the words spoken in my children’s most favorite song of recent days.  It’s off of the Istvan and His Imaginary Band EP called Things I Like.  It is in fact spoken on the title track itself.  Lucky for me it’s a pretty rocking country flavored tune.  The line in question is spoken when the lead singer implies that he likes food that makes him sneeze. A bandmates start to sneeze but instead of the sneeze comes unexpected flatulence.  When Istvan states “That ain’t a sneeze” the band member replies “Nope”.  The whole band then reacts accordingly and my kids crack up every time. My son runs the dialouge as one sentence

 Uh..Uh..Uhh..Bllzzurt..Thatain’tasneezenope..ahhhhhhman.  

It’s pretty funny the first 500 times.  I’m still amused.  I may need to change it out of the car so as not to wear out the fun.  I already talked about how good Istvan’s lastest CD release is (SWEET) and his first EP is pretty darn good too.  Right after you make a Poochamungas purchase for Xmas stop and get some Istvan and His Imaginary Band CD’s. Imaginary or not this band is rocking it out!

A couple quick CD reviews

Last week I went to the first ever Chicago Kindie artist meet-up. We had pizza and discussed venues, a collaborative show and CD, etc.  Some of us swapped CD’s as well.  My favorite way of getting new music.  Today in my car I was playing two of the CD’s I received.  First up was Human-Tim+Robot-Tim You are an Astronaut.  This is a CD already shown props by ZooGlobble and Mr Jeff2000.  It’s an joyous effort by a man who’s been rocking the Chicago scene for a few years now.  The quality of the CD is excellent and noticed it was mixed at the same place the Poochamungas use, Kingsize Sound Labs in Chicago.  The stand out tune for me is Little Bob’s Big Day. You immediately recognize the homage to Bob Dylan and it’s just a great song written from a kids perspective. My Friend Paul  is a quirky little pop ditty about animal friends. Definitely songs that should be heard on Kids Place Live.  It’s a CD worth buying. Click the link below.

http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/HumanTimRobotTim

The other artist who swapped with me was Istvan and His Imaginary Band.  I had read abut them playing local venues but had never crossed paths with them.  The Rock Father (James Zahn’s review is here) had asked me about them and was impressed with one of their CD’s but I had not heard them at that time.  Well their was no disappointment in listening to their Sweet! CD either.  The rock it with both kinds of guitar (acoustic AND electric), relate-able lyrics and a rockin’  jump out of you seat rhythm thang!  I think I lived the second track Too Much Stuff.  That and Makes Me Happy are both songs deserving airplay as are all the tune on this record.  Fine work indeed. So go support this and buy it at the link below

http://istvan.bandcamp.com/album/sweet