SEATTLE—
Okay, parents, 'fess up. Do you crank up the radio when "Elmo's Song" comes on? Probably not!With Christmas coming up next week, imagine: what if you could get your kids some music that you would actually enjoy, too? As it turns out, there's a huge new kids music scene called "kindie rock" in the music industry. It's growing quickly because of one key factor: parents are into this music too.
The band is rocking, and the crowd can't get enough of it. But there's no cover charge here at the Seattle Library on this day, and no 2-drink minimum at this show. That is, unless you've got some extra juice boxes.
The stage has been overtaken by pirates, better known as the Portland "pirate rock" band Captain Bogg & Salty. The captain and his crew have been rocking crowds for ten years now, at the forefront of a new brand of music for kids that adults love, too. As the Captain puts it, "We're going to do this show in a library, and then in a few weeks, we'll probably do the same show in a tavern." Captain Bogg, or Loren Hoskins when he's not on the high seas, is happy to fire a few cannons at the concept that kids music is for kids, and grown-up music is for grown-ups. The Captain says, "So it really becomes more of a, instead of you kids, you go do that and I'll wait for you here, and i'll pick you up, they do it together."
And, parents are enjoying this music together with their kids quite a bit. Nielsen reports show so-called kids music album sales are doubling from year to year, as parents find more bands that can hook in the old and young. Parent and Captain Bogg fan Dave Noonan says, "I think there's definitely, actually more musicianship involved, both with Captain Bogg & Salty and I think, more broadly. And if you know where to look, you can find some children's music you can actually tolerate having in the CD player even after the kids have gone to sleep. But watch out. After listening to this music, your kids aren't likely to take a nap anytime soon.
For more information on Captain Bogg & Salty, please follow this link.
Also, consider some of these choices for parent-friendly kid music.
1. The "Curious George" soundtrack from Jack Johnson is a smooth album with some great sing along material on it.
2. "No!" from They Might Be Giants. It's a great dance album here if the kids need to get some exercise on a rainy day.
3. "For the Kids." It's a group of kids songs from the Muppets and Sesame Street sung by the likes of Barenaked Ladies, Cake, and Tom Waits.
4. "Bedtime With the Beatles," Jason Falkner. These are lullaby version of classic Beatles songs, and a great introduction for your young one to the Fab Four.
5. "House Party," Dan Zanes. Garage-rocker turned kids-rocker Dan Zanes has great lyrics, and he's joined by Sheryl Crow, Lou Reed, and Phillip Glass.
6. "Mary Had a Little Amp," Various Artists. These are children's songs covered by greats like R.E.M. and Bonnie Raitt.
7. "We Are the Not-Its!" The Not-Its. Great, danceable up-tempo power pop by a high-energy Seattle band. Check out their show in February at Town Hall Seattle.
8. "Here I Am!" and "More Please!" Caspar Babypants. Former Presidents of the United States frontman Chris Ballew heads up this Seattle group, which cranks out snappy, simple tunes and soft lullabyes, too.
