So August 8 is going to be pretty great.

Not to undersell tomorrow's show -- Jay Mankita in-studio! Tor Hyams guest DJ set! -- but I'm pretty psyched for the August 8 show. Why?

Well, first of all, we've got a pretty sweet in-studio from Lunch Money, including that new song I posted the video for a few days ago.

But also, we'll have an exclusive song from none other than Billy Bragg! He's playing Northampton tonight (Calvin theater, tickets still available) and did a Riversound Cafe for the station. Most of that will air at 5:15 today (you can stream it, or the podcast of it will be up on the website soon), but one song he did will be just for Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child. Ella requested it and got to chat with him for a little bit afterward.



Also, Billy mentioned that he wrote some new words for Ode to Joy, related to a play he's working on, in an attempt to make the ideas accessible to school kids. Here's a little bit of that (this isn't the song we'll play on the show):

This week...

This week we've got two special guests.

First, Jay Mankita will come by to do an in-studio; he'll be playing a Picnic Playground show at the Eric Carle Museum on Saturday, celebrating the new Putumayo release of the same name.

Second, Tor Hyams will be guest DJing for a couple of segments, celebrating the August 7-9 Kidzapalooza festival in Chicago, Illinois.

Lunch Money!

They rocked. The Iron Horse had a great, enthusiastic, and fun crowd, and we recorded an in-studio that will air on August 8. You can see photos of both at our Facebook fan page, and here's a video of a brand-new song, "Original Friends," you will hear nowhere else:



The video I took at the actual show didn't turn out great - some odd lighting.

Remember, the next No Nap Happy Hour show is in just under a month - Sunday, August 23, Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Trio come to town!

Update: Forgot to mention that you can hear another new Lunch Money song over at Gooney Bird Kids.

2009-07-25 Playlist

Thanks to Lunch Money for their guest DJ set (remember: Iron Horse tomorrow [Sunday] at 2:00, 1:30 doors!) and to Charlie Hope for coming by the studio!

Listen any time at WRSI.com.

Segment 1
TMBG - It's Spare the Rock
-Ella ID
TMBG - Alphabet Lost and Found
Frances England - Firefly
Charlie Hope in-studio

Segment 2
Buddy & Julie Miller - Ellis County (Written in Chalk)
Steve Weeks - Professor Poindexter... (Alphabet Songs Vol. 2)
ID/prep to rock
Sippy Cups - My Angry Voice
Key Wilde & Mr Clarke - Big Pet Pig
ID

Segment 3
Beck - Funky Lil Song
Jim Noir - Eanie Meany
Los Straitjackets - Cal-Speed
ID/book time with Ella
The Not-Its - B.A.T.H.

Segments 4 & 5
ScribbleMonster - Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child
Molly set:
Rock N' Roll Band - Shel Silverstein
Flying a Plane - Douglas Chay
Superball - Aimee Mann
Wyoming - The Lucksmiths
Smokey - The Floor Pillows (Jay & Molly)

Jay set:
Batman - The Jam
Destination Venus - Man or Astroman
Survival Car - Fountains of Wayne
People Get up and Drive Your Funky Soul

J.P. set:
Quiet - Jump. Little Children
Everybody to the Limit - Homestar Runner
From the Tops of Trees - Danielle Howle

Segment 6
Johnny Bregar - Shoo Fly Pie (Picnic Playground)

ID
Lunch Money - I Love My Library (Dizzy)
ID
Michael Franti - Say Hey (I Love You)
Baby Loves Jazz Band - Ears Hang Low
Kaiser Cartel - The Season Song (Park Slope Parents)
ID
TMBG - Alphabet Lost and Found
TMBG - Spare the Rock

Not to distract from the Lunch Money weekend...

But the River's Meltdown Family Music and Book Bash will take place on Saturday, March 27, 2010.

All details to come. But mark it on your calendar; as with this year's extravaganza, this is an event not to miss.

Lunch Money Sunday!

Just as a note, I realized today that I had the Lunch Money show listed wrong on that little thing over to the right -- it is in fact this Sunday (not Saturday). 2:00, Iron Horse, 1:30 doors.

2009-07-18 Playlist

Thanks to Recess Monkey for coming by, and to Adam Levy for the guest DJ set!

Listen on-demand any time at WRSI.com!

Segment 1
TMBG - It's Spare the Rock
-Ella ID
TMBG - Where Do They Make Balloons? (No!)
Nikolai Moderbacher - Papa Can I Help You
Justin Roberts - Dad Caught Stars (Not Naptime)
Barenaked Ladies - Things
ID
Lyle Lovett & Randy Newman - You've Got a Friend in Me (Songs From the Movies)

Segment 2
Okee Dokee Brothers - Wiggle Worm (Kids With Beards)
Kimya Dawson - Bobby-O (Alphabutt)
Pascal Parisot - Mes Parents Sont Bio (Picnic Playground) (Carle 8/1)
ID/prep to rock
Hold Steady - Take Me Out to the Ballgame
Hipwaders - Spoil the Rock
CandyBand - Time Out (Lollipunk)
The Not-Its - When I'm Five (We Are the Not-Its)
ID

Segment 3
Adam Levy of the Bunny Clogs Guest DJ Set

Segment 4
ScribbleMonster - Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child
ID
New Ps - Twin Cinema
Mr. Leebot - It Wasn't Me (Robot Dance)
Pianosaurus - Ready to Rock.
Dream Jam Band - Nicky Nicky Knock Knock (Kidzapalooza Vol 1)
Board of Education - 8 Is a Number
ID

Segment 5
Recess Monkey In-Studio

Segment 6
Baby Loves Jazz - Make Me Want to Scat (Baby Loves Jazz)
Michael Franti & Spearhead - East to the West
Peaches & Herb - Shake Your Groove Thing
Lunch Money - Tiny Dinosaurs (Dizzy)
ID
TMBG - One Two Three Four
TMBG - Spare the Rock

A Little Overview of the No Nap Happy Hour Series

Just stepping back for a little bit, let's look at the lineup we've put together with the fine folks at the Iron Horse (their official announcement is here):

7/26 Lunch Money
8/23 Justin Roberts & the Not Ready for Naptime Trio
9/20 Deedle Deedle Dees
10/18 Uncle Rock & the Playthings
11/8 Brady Rymer & the Little Band That Could
12/6 Bill Harley

Wow. That's a heck of a lineup. Tickets are available at IHEG.com. Every show is at 2:00 (1:30 doors), and tickets are $10 in advance, $13 at the door.

And, again, go enter to win Lunch Money tickets from Hilltown Families!

Want to win tickets to Lunch Money?

Sienna can hook you up.

Recess Monkey Visits Punk Farm/Lunch Lady Author

Jarrett has a little more, and reveals that he'll be on the next Recess Monkey DVD. (That'll be the one after Field Trips with Recess Monkey, which will be out in September.)

Recess Monkey Rocked the Carle (Or So I Hear)

Alas, we had to miss the Recess Monkey show at the Eric Carle Museum, as we were off taking Ella to camp (sleepaway camp for the first time!). But we hear it was great, and we did get to chat with them for a segment we'll air this coming Saturday. Here are a couple of teasers:

Sunday's Recess Monkey Show!

All the details are here. Rock!

2009-07-11 Playlist

Thanks to the Mudcakes for stopping by the studio. And remember, Recess Monkey tomorrow at the Eric Carle Museum!

Listen any time at WRSI.com!

Segment 1
TMBG - It's Spare the Rock
-Ella ID
TMBG - C is for Conifers (Here Come the ABCs)
Liz Mitchell - Down in the Valley
Renee & Jeremy - Three Little Birds (It's a Big World)
Uncle Rock - Picnic in the Graveyard
Frances England - Charlie Parker (Fascinating Creatures)
ID

Segment 2
Charlie Hope - I'm Me! (I'm Me!)
Johnny Bregar - Ice Cream Man
ID/prep to rock
The Not-Its - The Great Compromise (We Are The Not-Its!)
Waterboys - Fisherman's Blues

Segment 3
Justin Roberts - Day Camp (Way Out)
Brian Waite Band - Off to Atlantis City (Neptune Theater)
Moey's Music Party - I Always Sit When I Eat
ID
Egg - Flip Flops (Sunny Side Up)
Wee Hairy Beasties - Animal Crackers (Animal Crackers)
ID

Segment 4
ScribbleMonster - Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child
ID/in-studio with the Mudcakes
Monkey Boy
How Many Teeth?
Don't Poke the Baby

Segment 5
Son Volt - Windfall
ID
Recess Monkey - Fort (Field Trip)
Harmonica Pocket - Firefly (Ladybug One)
Ziggy Marley (w/ Willie Nelson) - This Train
Michael Jackson - Rockin' Robin
ID

Segment 6
ID
Jonathan Richman - New England
Dog on Fleas - Give It Away (When I Get Little)
Lunch Money - Are You a Rabbit?
ID
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo - Family Tree (Easy)
White Stripes - Rag & Bone
ID
TMBG - Robot Parade

Hello Hello, Wal-Mart

So, evidently there's a new Wal-Mart ad featuring Dan Zanes & Friends' "Hello Hello," perhaps a new version recorded just for the ad, which also promotes Coke. (I haven't yet seen the ad but have heard about it from several people who have.)

I was mildly cranky back when Paul Westerberg released a guitar that was largely sold at Wal-Mart. And DZ has been down the advertising road before, with the Del Fuegos' beer ad drawing some criticism back then.

I have to say I'm surprised to hear about this, given Zanes's focus on social justice issues and the fact that Wal-Mart is at least controversial on that front.

Still: I don't know much about the ad or the story behind it yet, so I'm not sure yet what I think. Certainly want to know more, though, that's for sure.

This week...

The guest DJ set from Adam Levy from the Bunny Clogs has been delayed, just due to technical issues (i.e., I screwed up). But we'll have a great in-studio from the Mudcakes (who played a terrific set at Cup & Top Cafe on Tuesday), new music from the Not-Its, and much more. It's good to be back in the studio doing that radio thing!

2009-07-04 Playlist

This is an encore presentation from May 30, due to our travels being extended longer than expected. But it never aired on WRSI due to technical errors, so it's new if you're listening over the air! (And it's a great show either way.)

Listen on-demand any time you like on our page at WRSI.com!

Segment 1
TMBG - It's Spare the Rock
-Ella ID
TMBG - Birds Fly (Then)
Tom Freund - Seashells (w/ Victoria Williams)
Victoria Williams - Moon River
Jayhawks - This Little Light of Mine (Down By the Riverside)
ID
Asylum Street Spankers - Don't Turn Out the Light (Mommy Says No!)

Segment 2
Lamar Holley - Parts of a Plant (Classroom Pop Vol 1)
Johnny Bregar - Dragonfly (Dragonfly)
Liz Mitchell - You Are My Sunshine (You Are My Sunshine)
ID/prep to rock
Uncle Rock - Rock Out! (Plays Well With Others)
Paper Moon - Your Attitude Towards Cuttlefish (For the Kids Too)
ID (backsell River Rack)

Segment 3
Baby Grands - Why Is It W?
Go Team - Doing it Right
Yosi - Let's Get Cookin' (What's Eatin' Yosi?)
ID
Mike Doughty - More Bacon than the Pan Can Handle (Golden Delicious)
Bzots - Workin' the Assembly Line (Powered Up!)
Moby - Anchovie (Mary Had a Little Amp)

Segment 4
ScribbleMonster - Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child
ID
AudraRox - I Like to Pretend (I Can Do It By Myself)
U2 - Discotheque
Strange Kidz - Rocket Croc' (Kidz Album)
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo - Luck (Easy)
ID/book time with Ella

Segment 5
Tom Waits - New Coat of Paint
Pianosaurus - Sun Will Follow (Groovy Neighborhood)
Deedle Deedle Dees - Aaron Burr (Freedom in a Box)
ID
Sharp Cookies - Let It Rain
Mary Lou Lord & Semisonic - Sugar Sugar
ID

Segment 6
Mudcakes - Cave Baby (Cup & Top, Tuesday July 7, 4;00)

Recess Monkey - Centipede Pirate (Sunday, July 12)
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - This Land is Your Land (Green River Festival July 17-18)
Lunch Money - Ate Too Much of My Favorite Food (Dizzy) (Iron Horse July 26)
ID
TMBG - Fake Believe (Type B)
TMBG - Spare the Rock

This week...

For I think the first time since we started on the River, we won't have a new show this Saturday, as we will still be traveling. But we will broadcast the May 30 show (that, due to technical issues, didn't actually air that day). So anyone who listens to the broadcast will hear a new-to-you show -- and it is a great one.

We will return the following week with a new show.