Category Archives: Dadnabbit

Father’s Day gift ideas

imageYou could give any of these items as gifts and you’d probably have a pretty happy father.

10 hand crafted gifts for under $50.
Or if you’re willing to splurge on dad.
iGrill2 – Bluetooth® Smart grilling thermometer.
If he’s a child of the 80’s he’ll appreciate this: LEGO Ghostbusters Ecto-1 21108.
A book of laughs: This Is Ridiculous This Is Amazing: Parenthood in 71 Lists.
If your dad is a fan of a good fish story: All Fishermen Are Liars.

But want to know the best gift to give your father? It’s time spent with him.

Do something that gives you a chance to talk with him. Go to a vintage baseball game. Go on a bike ride. Walk around the block. Go to a concert. Go to a book store. Go to a record store. Go anywhere that will allow for you to have a conversation with him.

It’s a Father’s Day gift that can’t be returned, misplaced or lost.

Record Store Day 2014 – Sugar Free All Stars

What does Record Store Day mean in the Kindie world? Sadly, not much. The cost of vinyl isn’t exactly the cheapest thing in the world to produce and the family genre isn’t exact a cash cow. Dan Zanes has done a Record Store Day release in the past, Justin Roberts Lullaby was released on vinyl and the lovely new Walter Martin record We’re All Young will be released on vinyl next month. So in short, there is not much vinyl in the Kindie world.

I grew up on music and a heavy dose came on vinyl (or 8 track.) But here’s why I want more Kindie records for families. The records I listened to were mine. My older siblings had their records, my parents had their records. But I had my own. The Muppets record, the Pete Seeger Sesame Street record, Larry Groce’s Disney records. I liked my parents music, but I couldn’t connect to it. I did with my records. We need to create that environment for our kids today.

Fear not vinyl enthusiasts, at least one* Kindie artist is putting out a release this Saturday at your favorite record store, Sugar Free Allstars. They’re releasing a 45 of “My Daddy’s Record Collection” which you can listen to right here.

Can’t make it to record store day? That’s OK. You can pre-order the 45 on their website. Those who do buy the record will also receive a download card to receive the digital version of the songs. The songs will also be available via the iTunes store and various streaming services.

*It’s not listed on the Record Store Day website, but according to this interview, Caspar Babypants will be releasing some vinyl this Saturday too.

Review: Lishy Lou and Lucky Too Radio Hour

My first love was radio. I still love radio. I have old 1950’s microphone tattooed on my right arm. (Probably not one of the wisest choices in my life, but still.) While in high school I interned at local radio stations and jumped at the chance at college radio when I arrived on campus. Radio was all and everything I ever wanted to do. I got my first real radio job while still a college student and I was in heaven. I spent the next 10 years of my post college years working in radio.

Years have passed since I stopped working in radio, because everything became automated and humans were no longer needed. My dream to be Johnny Fever or Venus Flytrap or even Les Nessman, was dead. Which in a long winded way, brings me to Lishy Lou and Lucky Too Radio Hour. It was a reminder of why I fell in love with radio in the first place. Radio can be engaging. Radio allows for ‘Theater of the mind.’ (as Steve Allen once said ‘and TV is theater for the mindless’) Radio can let your imagination run wild.

The new album from husband & wife team Lucky Diaz and Alisha Gladdis (and now GRAMMY award winners), is the reason why I love the Kindie music scene so much. There are no walls. It is creative freedom at it’s finest. Albums are made out of pure love. Not because a record label needs to sell a certain number of downloads. The Kindie scene allows for artists to make beautiful art.

The Lishy Lou and Lucky Too is an ode to times past, yet sounds as fresh as tomorrow. It’s campy, clever, and smart. Its a little bit Laugh-In, a little bit Pee Wee’s Playhouse, and a whole lotta fun.

Now, I’ve never been a fan of skits, I just want the music. However, my 4 year old wanted to hear them over and over again. And then the light bulb went off in my head. The skits reminded me of my old Muppet and Sesame Street records that I grew up on. I’ve been pulling those records out lately and I remember word for word exactly what is said by Kermit, Fozzie, Statler, Waldorf or Oscar the Grouch in between the songs.

With any luck my kids will be doing the same thing with Lishy Lou and Lucky Too 30 years from now.

Oh, the songs are pretty damn good too. But they need to be experienced with the whole album. So, no teases about which songs are best, just a big nudge from me to you to get the whole album and let your kids experience ‘Theater of the mind’ themselves.

Buy the album here. Find out more here. Enjoy for years to come.

*my apologies, I’ve been so off the grid I thought I hit publish on this in November*