Can you hear the beat? The fresh beat, that is. If your kids are tuned into Nick Jr., chances are they know the guys and girls who make up this singing/dancing quartet and star on their own TV show. Marina, Kiki, Twist and Shout are four best friends who go to music school together and have their own band. These kids are never at rest, and are either trying out new dance moves or crooning a little ditty. We confess that you just can’t be in a bad mood when watching these modern-day Mouseketeers. And when we learned just how accomplished each of these ensemble players really are, we were duly impressed.

Shayna Rose (“Marina”) has been performing and singing professionally since she was 8 years old. While her background is largely in regional children’s theatre, she brings a steady beat to the show as the Fresh Beats’ resident drummer.

Yvette Gonzales-Nancer (“Kiki”) is a face you may recognize. She starred in TV’s “7th Heaven” and brings her dancing and guitar playing expertise to the band.

Jon Beavers (“Twist”) may be a rapper/DJ with the fresh beat, but he actually trained as a Shakespearian actor. Just a handful of years ago, he was part of the Seattle Shakespeare Company’s production of “Romeo and Juliet.”

Thomas Hobson (“Shout”) graduated from Yale with a degree in theater before going on to play parts in a variety of 90s TV sitcoms. Now he plays keyboard and sings a mean “Go Bananas” solo.

How lucky are we that a band we actually enjoyed listening to in the 80s and 90s is now a favorite of our own kids? Yes, the duo who left us “Twistin’” in the wind in 1990 has fully entrenched itself in the kids’ music arena. As a follow-up to the Grammy-winning “Here Comes the 123s,” They Might Be Giants released the “Here Comes Science” animated DVD/CD last fall. And to top it off, John and John have even ventured in the world of children’s books with their recent picture book/DVD entitled “Kids Go!” If you’ve got the makings of a little couch potato in your house, then this is for you. As if these guys weren’t busy enough, they’re touring across the country this spring and summer. Here’s the rundown of where they’ll be performing:

• May 23: Arlington, MA – Family Show – Regent Theatre (All Ages)
• May 23: Arlington, MA – Family Show – Regent Theatre (All Ages)
• May 30: George, WA – Sasquatch! Music Festival – The Gorge Amphitheatre
• Jun 11: Asbury Park, NJ – The Stone Pony
• Jun 12: Baltimore, MD – Family Show – Rams Head Live (All Ages)
• Jun 13: Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo
• Jun 26: London, LO – Family Show – Royal Festival Hall (All Ages)
• Jun 26: London, LO – Rock Show – Royal Festival Hall
• Aug 21: Napa, CA – Uptown Theatre (21+)
• Aug 22: San Francisco, CA – Stern Grove Festival / FREE SHOW! – Sigmund Stern Grove (All Ages)
• Sep 24: Providence, RI – Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
• Sep 26: New York, NY – Family Show – The Town Hall (All Ages)
Posted by Pamela Brill