Concert Review: The Wiggles (Phoenix, July 2009)

I promise, this'll be the last Wiggles post for awhile, but since I went to the show and wrote a review of it for the Phoenix New Times, I thought I'd at least note it -- you can read the review -- with 10% extra snark -- here.

I'll try to update this post with a few slightly grainy photos later, but for now, here's some cheap front-row cellphone footage from a drumline Anthony and Captain Feathersword performed during the show. This was kinda cool, actually...

And if you want to see the "Waltzing Matilda"/PVC acrobat thing (mentioned in the review -- not one of Anthony and Captain Feathersword's finer moments), here you go...

Concert Recap: Todd Baio (Phoenix, July 2009)

I never got a chance to mention the next show in the Children's Museum of Phoenix series I helped put together, a show featuring Phoenix musician Todd Baio, who's a little bit Pete Seeger and Dan Zanes, and a lot ukulele master. Why? Because by the time I was ready to send out an e-mail a day or so after the show hit the CMOP calendar, the free tickets were already sold out.

So you'll just have to make do with a couple videos from the concert. First up, Baio's opening medley, featuring four great renditions of "Down By the Bay," "Skip To My Lou," "Polly Wolly Doodle," and "Ain't Gonna Rain No More."

Todd Baio - Kids Song Medley (Live)

and one more...
Todd Baio - "Jenny Jenkins" (Live)

Concert Recap: The Deedle Deedle Dees (Phoenix, April 2009)

It was a whirlwind weekend for Brooklyn's Deedle Deedle Dees here in Phoenix and the Valley of the Sun. On Friday they played 3 shows at local elementary schools. Then on Saturday they visited the Children's Museum of Phoenix and played a couple sets in the gorgeous first-floor atrium. Nice mix of the history stuff and sillier, slightly younger stuff. But all I got is new stuff. Remember the "Have the Dees write a song" contest? Here is the winner:

The Deedle Deedle Dees - "Little Red Airplane" (Live)

One of the things I noticed about the show, both at the Children's Museum and at Church of the Beatitudes, where the Dees played a show Sunday afternoon, was just how much more active Lloyd Miller (Ulysses Dee) was than the last time I saw him play (at the Family Music Meltdown Bill and I put on in Austin in 2007). To be sure, the fact that Lloyd was without his standup bass was the primary facotr, but they interacted much more with the crowds I saw. Yay for between-song banter! Yay for band-assisted dinosaur feet!

The Deedle Deedle Dees - "Vegetarian Tyrannosaurus Rex" (Live)

Anyway, the shows were a blast. Look for the Dees' new album (from which 4 of the 5 videos' songs are drawn)sometime in September.

More video and photos after the jump.
The Deedle Deedle Dees - "¡Sí, Se Puede!" (Live) -- About Cesar Chavez, natch

The Deedle Deedle Dees - "Growl Growl" (Live) -- yet another suggestion from the "Have the Dees write a song" contest, this one about a 13-year-old kid who designed the Alaskan state flag.

The Deedle Deedle Dees - "Put On The Dress" (Live) -- Inspired by the true story of Bill Childs and his boyhood report on Susan B. Anthony. Warning (or promotion): punk rock ahead.

More pictures from the weekend:

Phoenix-Area Reminder: The Deedle Deedle Dees (and Record Store Day)

Don't forget, folks, The Deedle Deedle Dees are playing all over Phoenix this weekend. They already rocked a couple Valley of the Sun elementary schools today, and Saturday they play at the Children's Museum of Phoenix at 10 AM and 11 AM (no reservations necessary -- they're playing outside!). And Sunday they play at the Church of the Beatitudes (7th Ave./Glendale in Phoenix) at 2 PM.

And I'll even try to get to Stinkweeds' Record Store Day event. I'll probably miss the kids' music they'll have starting at 10 AM or so, but I'll stop by around 11 AM.

And I'm going to the symphony with Miss Mary Mack Saturday afternoon, but I have nothing to do with organizing that.

Live in Phoenix: The Deedle Deedle Dees (April 18 & 19)

I'm a little late spreading the news here on the website, but I've been looking forward the first appearances of the occasionally raucous Brooklyn band The Deedle Deedle Dees in Arizona next weekend. Ulysses, Booker, Innocent, and Otto will be playing no less than 3 shows open to the public. On Saturday morning the 18th they'll be playing 2 shows at the Children's Museum of Phoenix in downtown Phoenix, one at 10 AM, the other at 11 AM. The shows are free with admission to the museum. Then on Sunday afternoon the 19th at 2 PM, the Dees will be playing a show at the Church of the Beatitudes. Tickets are just $4/person, $15/family. The Church is at the corner of 7th Avenue and Glendale in Phoenix.

Long time readers will know that I've helped put on a show with the Dees, so I'm very excited to have 'em make it all the way out here...