Music

I received a yellow envelope in the mail the other day. Not knowing what was inside and feeling like a kid at Christmas I tore it open and to my excitement pulled out the brand spankin' new Princess Katie & Racer Steve DVD "Revved Up & Ready to Rock".

Super awesome, uber-cool and way too hilarious kiddie music show Pancake Mountain has landed in LA. To wake up the neighborhood, show us they're here and shake things up a bit they're hosting a TV Dance Party with non other than The Melvins.

Just in time to get us all revved up about the fast-approaching Thanksgiving holiday the Music Center in Los Angeles presents another wonderful morning for families to enjoy high quality, free performing arts as part of their popular World City series in their W.M. Keck Foundation Children's Amphitheatre.

This Saturday, November 8th from 11am to 4pm families can enjoy a free day dedicated to the art of drumming at the Japanese American National Museum. Sponsored by Target the event will include special performances by traditional drumming ensembles Progressive Taiko, an artistic group focused on sharing and educating communities about Japanese culture through the use of music in traditional and cutting edge ways, and UCLA's Poongmul group, an ensemble of traditional Korean drummers.

And this is why I love living in LA. It doesn't get much better than a free Yo Gabba Gabba! show at Amoeba Records in Hollywood. Come out November 1st at 12pm and prepare to "jump, shake, shimmy" them sillies out between aisles of delicious vinyl while watching your best TV buddies pump up the jams. Oh so cool to the extreme. It's like the H.R.

The gods of kiddie music site Zooglobble posts news confirming the making of They Might Be Giants' new children's album "Here Comes Science." And as the title suggests the album is all about...science. A topic I'm sure the Johns have vast knowledge of and will bring extra-added geeky goodness to their songs on science.

The Music Center brought back their popular and super-cool World City series. World City is a series of free family events showcasing renowned artists. Each event in the series is themed around geographical locations. The series returned last month with an event celebrating the Armenian arts. And this Saturday, October 11, families will be whisked away to South America.

It's one thing to have Gwendolyn and the Good Time Gang played in a constant loop on your car CD player to please those picky tot ears and another to see this gang of kiddie music goodness live. To experience Gwendolyn and the Good Time Gang live with your mini rocker is to finally understand why your kid rocks out so dang hard to songs about stingy crustaceans and veggie gardens. And what better venue than McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica?

If you're household is anything like ours it wakes promptly at 7am each morning without fail. Oh and that includes weekends. Which is why the kids' concert series Wake Up with the Waves held at the Santa Monica Pier is such a welcome Saturday morning treat. And we couldn't be happier to see it's return this weekend with the twangy sounds of uber-cool folk children's band The Hollow Trees.

Well blow me down, September 19th is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. In order to properly honor the pirate way we've complied a few pirate ditties to help you shake yer booty.

Pirate-y Delicious songs for families:

What would we be thinking if we didn't begin this list with a song from the founders of "International Talk Like a Pirate Day?" For your listening pleasure enjoy Cap'n Slappy and Ol' Chumbucket and friend singing "I'm a Pirate Song".