Kidrockers: Indie Rock Concerts For Kids
Posted on Mar 09
So you want to expose your kid to live music but you don’t want to have to sit through cheesy kid’s music concerts with songs about balloons and happy places. You can’t take them to most rock shows because, let’s face it, the sound is way too loud, the crowd too rowdy, and the second-hand smoke just may give them a second-hand high as well. What to do? Check out Kidrockers, which puts on all-ages indie rock shows that are kid friendly as well as cool. From their site: “These all ages shows are designed to bring families together to experience some of the most engaging and vital artists in indie music and comedy.” But be warned, childless music lovers: all adults must be accompanied by a kid (and vice versa)!
Past shows have included performances by Silversun Pickups (doing an acoustic set with kids storming the stage), Neon Indian and Nada Surf. There are upcoming shows in Chicago on March 13, Los Angeles on March 14 and New York on March 21. It’s a chance to introduce your kid to some great indie music about to go mainstream. You’ll enjoy it just as much as your children.
Gifts For Baby’s First St. Patrick’s Day
Posted on Mar 08St. Patrick’s day may not seem to be a holiday aimed at children, what with the whiskey spilling and the jigging and what not. But I’ve roamed through the St. Patrick’s day parade in New York City on more than one occasion and found countless kids perched on their parents’ shoulders swathed in green, sometimes even drinking an ominous green liquid from their bottle. While there’s no shortage of gifts to have your kid don for this joyous celebration, here are some great ones that will at least make you laugh.
Irish Fancy Pants Embroidered Diaper Cover
Because nothing says Happy St Patrick’s Day like a personalized diaper with the baby’s name on it. Made of cotton/poly blend with embroidered eyelet trim at leg opening. Includes soft elastic waist. Machine washable. Available in 3 sizes.
Irish Trouble – Bib
Another personalized piece, this bib pretty much sums up every parents’ thoughts on their child at one time or another, and thankfully it’s machine washable.
My First St. Patrick’s Day Sigg Water Bottle
While there may be a good chance you might need water more than your child by the end of the night, here’s a bottle that proudly displays the occasion.
First St. Patrick’s Day Infant Bodysuit
Ever notice that corned beef and cabbage has the same consistency as baby food? Well your kid won’t notice the difference either way, but think about it when you delve in this year. This bodysuit has a 3 snap bottom for those easy diaper changes.
Academy Award-Winning Best Songs: Oscar Favorites for Kids
Posted on Mar 05With the Oscars around the corner we decided to take a look back at some Academy Award-winning “Best Songs” that would be great for kids. To mix things up, we gave ourselves the challenge of not including any Disney or Pixar songs.
Let’s start with last year’s winner, “Jai Ho” from Slumdog Millionaire. I don’t know what the song means but if you’ve seen the last scene of Slumdog Millionaire you know this tune can get you up and dancing.
Take it back now to when you were a kid and have your own children listen to the 1987 winner “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” by Jennifer Warnes and Bill Medley from Dirty Dancing. Remember how this song was everywhere back then? The song always worked so well because of the contrast from verse to chorus and it still holds up today.
Finally, for some real 80’s dancing put on “Flashdance…What a Feeling.” You might as well break out the leg warmers for this track and get your kids running in place. I wouldn’t let them watch the movie because of the adult subject matter but the song is an inspiring piece that will have them dancing.
Prince VS Spell Check: War of the Words
Posted on Feb 16
Teachers complain that most teenagers today rely on Spell Check instead of learning proper spelling, but I would argue that the true culprit is Prince. Born Prince Rogers Nelson in 1958, the man is responsible for some of the greatest pop music of the last 30 years. He’s given us “Purple Rain,” “Let’s Go Crazy” and “When Doves Cry.” He also wrote “Nothing Compares 2 U” and “I Would Die 4 U.” For some reason Prince does not like to spell things out.
It began with his 1982 album 1999, with a track called “All The Critics Love U in New York.” Since then it has gone downhill, even calling his 1999 album Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic. The worst example of Prince reworking the English language was probably his latest album in 2009 which he called LOtUSFLOW3R. At this point it seems Prince has given up on letters altogether and is attempting to spell using numbers. Prince’s reach has spilled over to the next generation as Fall Out Boy took it to another level when they released “Thnks fr th Mmrs” off their 2007 album, Infinity on High. That doesn’t even sound correct.
It is safe to say that no other musical performer alive today is able to make a guitar do what Prince can make it do and for that reason alone it’s worth letting your kids hear his awesome music (but make sure it’s the clean songs.) Just try and keep them away from the track listings and album covers when listening to UR music.
3 Reasons Your Kids Will Dig Journey
Posted on Feb 12
The band Journey has sold over 75 million albums worldwide, had 18 top 40 hits and “Don’t Stop Believin’” is the top selling catalog track on iTunes. It goes without saying that arena rock like this is tailor made for young kids to dance to. It seems a little harder for the tykes to get into the ballads than the rock anthems but here are three reasons why your kid will dig Journey.
3. Haircuts
Check out any picture of Journey from the late seventies to the early eighties and your kids will ask why their hair looks like a shaggy lion’s mane. Even current pictures of the band’s line up prove that Journey are still rockin’ some awesome do’s.
2. Album covers
Get past the first three albums Journey released in the seventies and you’ll see a pattern emerge. Each album beginning with Infinity is multi-colored offering out of this world imagery on what seems like a psychedelic trip. The art work is cool for parents but fascinating for kids as well.
1. So What? – So let’s dance!
Now I am fully aware that you would have to be a derelict parent in order to let your youngster check out the rated-R Caddyshack. But it couldn’t hurt to let them check out the few seconds where Rodney Dangerfield cranks “Anyway You Want It” from his golf bag.
Stuff We Like: Vampire Weekend
Posted on Feb 05
The way the music industry works is if something hits then producers repeat that sound until even little kids grow tired and refuse to listen to it. But every now and then a new sound comes along that is so original and sonically pleasing that it doesn’t divide an audience and can be listened to by kids and their parents. If you’ve heard of Vampire Weekend then you know what I’m talking about. These four Columbia University graduates released their debut self titled album in 2008 and have followed it up with Contra which came out in January. They dress like preppy kids, but it is their sound that has really caught on. Described by the group as “Upper West Side Soweto”, Vampire Weekend is like nothing you’ve heard in the past ten years. Employing different tempos and foreign beats they manage to swing from mellow laid back vibes to hyper guitar licks to a percussion that sounds like the drummer has downed 10 Red Bulls in a row. It’s this fast paced tempo that gets my kids up and dancing. Throw in the fact that lead singer Ezra Koenig has such a distinct voice that he is able to alter perfectly depending on the song and trust me, your kids will be jumping all over the furniture listening to this group.
Check out their new single “Cousins” to get the little tykes dancing around:
Baby Shower Gift of the Week: Sweet Child O’ Mine Onesie
Posted on Jan 18
Need to welcome a sweet child to the jungle? Pair this with our newest release, Lullaby Renditions of Guns N’ Roses for the perfect baby shower gift. Sweet!
Find buying information here. Be sure to check out Rockabye Baby’s new limited-edition onesie line, available exclusively on our website. Take 10% off through 1/31/10. Learn how here.
Stuff We Like: Help For Haiti
Posted on Jan 15
When disaster strikes, many of us want to do something to help. But during an unstable economy it can be hard to find the funds to donate. Well yesterday we caught wind of a great fundraising effort for the victims of the devastating earthquake that recently hit Haiti. Money Saving Mom has pledged to donate $10 to Compassion’s outreach in Haiti for every person who blogs about this effort and leaves their link on her site! If you are looking for a way to help raise money for those less fortunate, please visit her site for more details.
Ways to donate:
American Red Cross
Baby Penguins
Posted on Jan 14
Want to see the cutest thing ever? Wildlife photographer David C. Schultz travelled to Snow Hill Island on the Antarctic Peninsula to take these amazing pictures of baby penguins. The original article and photo essay from the Daily Mail UK is perfect to share with the kids.
Wackiness Wednesdays: Bohemian Muppets
Posted on Jan 06We love a cover of Queen. We love the Muppets. We love inspired silliness. In case you haven’t heard this amazing rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody:
Can’t get enough crazy Queen covers? Try Rockabye Baby’s lullaby rendition! Listen here.
