Justin Roberts' Jungle Gym: Sarajo Frieden's Album Art

I've been trying not to publish album art and tracklists unless it's a really big deal.

Well, a new album -- Jungle Gym -- from Justin Roberts is a really big deal. I know, Jeff already published the tracklist (which you see also there to the left), but I also wanted to be able to share some album art, which Roberts was kind enough to do. The lovely cover art (as always) from Sarajo Frieden, along with a story from Justin about recording one of the tracks, follows...
1. We Go Duck
2. Sleepoverland
3. Trick or Treat
4. Sign My Cast
5. Gym Class Parachute
6. Obsessed by Trucks
7. Cardboard Box
8. Snow Day
9. Never Getting Lost
10. New Haircut
11. Fire Drill
12. 2 x 4

Regarding "Gym Class Parachute," Roberts notes:

We were [all] recording the snare hits in Gym Class Parachute because Liam [Davis] wanted to get the sound of several people hitting the snare simultaneously. Since some of us had no business being anywhere near percussion instruments, it sounds like a giant marching band which is really perfect for the track."

Jungle Gym is out on Carpet Square Records on June 8th.

Let's Hear It For the Midwest Kids Music Festivals

Well, Kansas City's KC Jiggle Jam holds the title for the best kids music festival anywhere, and this weekend's Kidzapalooza will again rock Chicago's Grant Park with a stellar lineup, but there's always more room for additional family music in the midwest. Des Moines, a city I have a soft place in my heart for (seriously, folks, sweet city there), joins the club on Sunday, Sept. 27 with their Every Family Rocks festival. Any lineup that features not only big names Dan Zanes and Justin Roberts, along with regional stars like Funky Mama and Truckstop Honeymoon (featuring Mike Ward, who's recorded folks like Randy Kaplan and Laura Freeman), to go with their local acts, has got me on board. All that for just $8 (in advance).

Now to start working on the Upper Midwest (or the Southwest).

New Justin Roberts Video: "Stay At Home Dad" + Excellent Mustache

As we move our way through KidVid Tournament 2009, I realize that I passed over Justin Roberts' video for "Pop Fly," introduced during last year's tournament.

Justin, stop doing this, 'cuz I'm gonna forget next year, too.

The latest Land of Nod's Nodcast Podcast is up and it features Justin Roberts' latest video, one for "Stay At Home Dad" from Pop Fly. It features Brady Bunch-like boxes, Dave on puppet (you'll recognize him if you've seen Justin live) in the prelude/postlude, and Justin rockin' the stache as the titular dad. See the video here.

(Or now here in YouTube:)

Concert Recap: Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players (Phoenix, March 2009)

One of the things you don't really appreciate if you've spent time putting on small shows or Family Music Meltdowns (Austin division) is how much time it takes to set up a Big Show. I'm not just talking about the all the work leading up to the day of the big event -- I'm talking about the big day itself. Sure, I've been to the Austin Kiddie Limits stage a couple times, but that was always after everything was set up (and before everything was taken down).

So I spent basically a good part of 4 hours helping to get Church of the Beatitudes ready for the Justin Roberts concert this past weekend and another 2 hours after it ended. Bringing in the backline (drums, amps, additional speakers, etc.). Setting it up. Welcoming the band (hi, guys and gal!). Getting the instruments and voices warmed up. Running through sound-check which, for a band which has as many singers and multi-instrumentalists as Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players has, takes a while, even with a pro running the soundboard. All the other little things and then...

Showtime!

As I would have expected, the band sounds great in concert. They ran through a set of song selections from every Justin album, including all the big hits ("Pop Fly," "Our Imaginary Rhino," "Yellow Bus"). No "Cartwheels and Somersaults" or "Fruit Jar," but I wasn't really expecting them to do the latter (nor was I surprised by "Cartwheels'" absence. Show was only an hour long, after all.) And Roberts is good at getting the healthy-sized crowd (for Phoenix) involved with a lot of the songs -- I never would've expected "She's A Yellow Reflector" to lend itself to crowd participation, but there it was...

And just like that, it was over. Good time.

Justin Roberts - "Pop Fly" (Live)

More live video and pictures after the jump.

Justin Roberts - "My Brother Did It" (Live)

Justin Roberts - "Willy Was a Whale" (Live)

That Was Great. Tons of Fun. Can I Sleep Now?

Well, on Friday night I was on NPR.

Then on Saturday I saw Gustafer Yellowgold in concert, something I helped put on.

And I just got back from being Justin Roberts' roadie. (Seriously, unloading and setting up, then taking down and loading, the sound system.)

It's been a blast, and a great weekend of family music -- pictures and video to come -- but I'd like to rest now. I probably didn't need to have all that beer last night, either, but it went great with all that Iranian food I ate.