They're Baaack: New Fresh Beat Band Episodes Start Monday; Season 2 On Its Way

It's been awhile since I've talked about The Fresh Beat Band, Nick Jr.'s live-action show with music that couldn't be more different from its other live-action show with music (Yo Gabba Gabba!).

But they're back, with four new Season 1 episodes running next week (January 11 through 14). And bringing joy (and probably some pain) to families worldwide comes news that Viacom's ordered 20 new half-hour episodes for Season 2. (Oh, and apparently you'll be able to buy "Great Day" and "The Fresh Beat Band Theme Song" on iTunes soon.) So, yeah, folks, they're not going away.

The network's summaries of the four premiere episodes from next week presented (mostly) without comment after the jump. They're pretty amusing read aloud, but I suppose so would a summary of a Lost episode....

Monday, Jan. 11 – “March Our Way”
The Fresh Beats are leading the school parade, but they can’t seem to march in a straight line. Instead, they march in different directions, crashing into each other. So, they decide to lead the parade Fresh Beat style, transforming into a dancing, hip hopping marching band!

Tuesday, Jan. 12 – “Glow for It”
The Fresh Beats are performing at the moonlight block party, but as soon as their performance begins, all the lights go out, and the Fresh Beats need to figure out a way for the audience to see them. Taking a cue from Marina’s glow-in-the-dark drumsticks, the band makes glow stick costumes and the party becomes a glow-in-the-dark extravaganza. Ed: Safest. Rave. Ever.

Wednesday, Jan. 13 – “Rock to Sleep”
Shout finds a bugle inside a box of his favorite cereal and he can’t stop playing it, even refusing to go to sleep at night. The Fresh Beats try all sorts of things to get him to sleep – they rock him in a hammock, walk his bed around the neighborhood and even sing him a lullaby, but Shout is still wide awake and intent on playing the bugle. Finally they decide to rock out, Fresh Beats style, and Shout is so exhausted from playing that he promptly falls asleep.
Ed: The idea that cereal boxes still have toys in them -- and a bugle to boot -- puts a stupid grin on my face. Really, it's kinda cool in a retro way.

Thursday, Jan. 14 – “Rhyme Time”
Twist is rapping at the picnic, but when he can't find a word that rhymes with music he loses his voice. The others make up silly words that rhyme with music and Twist gets his voice back just in time for the picnic.

Video: "Smile For the Camera" - Datarock (from Yo Gabba Gabba!)

Sorry for another YGG post so quick, but I thought the dancing in the last video I posted from Yo Gabba Gabba! needed more pep and thought this track from Datarock's appearance on the "Super Music Friends Show" fit the bill nicely.

Datarock - "Smile for the Camera" (from Yo Gabba Gabba!) [YouTube]

Video: "Use Your Mind" - Ladytron (from Yo Gabba Gabba!)

The latest (as yet unreleased) Yo Gabba Gabba song is from Ladytron, who lend their electronica stylings to a little ditty I have named "Use Your Mind." That's a(n) (educated) guess of the title, because all the band says on their YouTube page is, "No it's not our song..." as if they wanted to wipe their hands of the thing. While it's not an instant classic, it's not half bad, either. As a dance-inspiring video, though, it's no Beyonce. [Update: That video was taken down, and posted on Nettwerk's page. No disparagement any more, but confirmation of the title.]

Ladytron - "Use Your Mind" [?] from Yo Gabba Gabba! - [YouTube]

Yo Gabba Gabba! Gabba!: Season Two Ends Oct. 12th-16th

In advance of the Yo Gabba Gabba! album being released on Oct. 20th comes word that Season Three the last episodes of Season Two of the TV show will debut the week of October 12th. Musical guests that week include the Roots (yes! "Lovely, Love My Family" finally gets airtime in an actual episode), MGMT, Renee Oliver, Lady Tigra, and Little Ones. And of course Biz Markie and Mark Mothersbaugh return.

Beyond that, you've got Andy Samberg doing whatever it is he does. Gufffaws will ensue. Presumably.

A list of episodes (all episodes are at 1 PM Eastern time) and a behind-the-scenes video featuring MGMT after the jump.
Monday, Oct. 12 --“Family”
Tuesday, Oct. 13 -- “Art”
Wednesday, Oct. 14 -- “Boat”
Thursday, Oct. 15 – “Band”
Friday, Oct. 16– “Dress Up”

Video: "The Ballad of Daykitty" - Lou Barlow (Pancake Mountain)

It is now possible for folks to promote their album for adults by appearing on a show for kids. Exhibit A: Lou Barlow, who's got a new album, Goodnight Unknown, coming out October 6 and a bunch of videos on the cutely-titled LooTube. (Wonder how many hits they get from folks looking for bathrooms in England?)

But he also recently made an appearance on the venerable (if scrappy and underground) TV show Pancake Mountain and while this song is miles away from the bouncier, dancier stuff you normally hear on the show, the song, "The Ballad of Daykitty," from his album Emoh, works awesome for the young'uns. Rufus dug it, too.

Lou Barlow - "The Ballad of Daykitty" (Pancake Mountain) [YouTube]