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)

Concert Recap: Gustafer Yellowgold (Phoenix, March 2009)

Again, before it gets too far past the event, wanted to throw out a few thoughts about the first-ever Arizona appearance of Gustafer Yellowgold this past weekend. Morgan Taylor and Rachel Loshak performed a couple brief sets at the Children's Museum of Phoenix. Little Boy Blue and I attended the first set, which we enjoyed, except when I wouldn't let him use my tiny camcorder, at which point he pitched a fit. (Which is why you won't be seeing "Butter Pond Lake.")

In any case, it was a good show, and what was interesting for me was seeing the DVD translate to a live setting. I mean, the insertion of between-song banter was something I'd never really considered while watching the DVDs (for obvious reasons). Taylor's a funny guy, which comes through in the videos, of course, but the concert confirmed the fact.

We chatted a bit after the show (and before the noon show) and we bought a Gustafer doll. Now to figure out where to pose him for a picture...

Gustafer Yellowgold - "Your Eel" (Live)

One more picture after the jump...

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.

Live in Phoenix: Justin Roberts (March 8, 2009)

I already told you what I'll be doing on March 7, but I mentioned I had something else to announce for the weekend.

It's going to be a busy weekend, because on Sunday, March 8, Justin Roberts will be coming to town for his first-ever Phoenix concert. Justin and the Not Ready for Naptime Players will be playing at Phoenix's Church of the Beatitudes at 2 PM that afternoon. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for kids, and just $30 for a family of four. The show is part of a kids series I'm coordinating for the church, which was kicked off by Randy Kaplan late last year.

Tickets are available at the door, or call the church office (602-264-1221) to purchase tickets in advance.

Tell one, tell all. (Tucson folks, he's playing the Rialto Theatre Saturday the 7th.)

Photo copyright Todd Rosenberg 2006. Used by permission

Live in Phoenix: Gustafer Yellowgold (March 7, 2009)

The weekend of March 7 and 8 is going to be, hands down, the biggest in Phoenix kids music history. I'll announce the March 8th thing shortly, but today I'm talking about the first Arizona appearance of Gustafer Yellowgold. Morgan Taylor will be bringing his Gustafer show to Phoenix on March 7, as part of the concert series I'm organizing at the Children's Museum of Phoenix.

They'll be playing two 25-minute sets -- one at 10 AM, one at noon -- on the 7th. I don't think they're bringing the vine-covered set, but I'm guessing you won't care about that. The show is free with Museum admission.

I am very excited.

(Oh, and if you're in Arizona but for some reason can't make it the 7th or are the world's biggest Gustafer fan, there will be a Gustafer Yellowgold show Sunday the 8th at 3 PM at Tucson's Loft Cinema.)