Trailer Choir

Proceeding down the path of laugh out loud videos, this one is a freebie on iTunes this week - Rockin' the Beer Gut by Trailer Choir. Totally funny!

No More Rice Krispies

So today during the opera favorites marathon, Don comes into the kitchen for more spaghetti and correctly identifies Vesti La Guibba from Pagliacci as the rice krispies song. Impressive. After emailing my mom about our afternoon operatic drumming session in the kitchen, she sends back "what is the rice krispies song?" I told her the rice krispies thing was a commercial where the guy came into the kitchen and the cereal box was empty and so he was tragically singing "no more rice krispies..." to the Pagliacci tune. Naturally, I figured I could google this. And what do I get third on the google search, but Drew Carey tweeting about the same thing. So I followed the link Drew posted and here you have it, the original rice krispies song. Classic! Hysterical!

Bugs Bunny Music, Part 1

The playcount on Con Te Partiro, Andrea Boccelli and Sarah Brightman, since I bought it for 99 cents 3 days ago, is at 91 and heading up.

A little nuts? Yes, but it got me to put together a fantastic playlist of my opera favorites, some of them spunky enough to lead to a fabulous drumming session on all surfaces in the kitchen with the kids:

Largo Al Factotum from the Barber of Seville (Rossini)

La Donna e Mobile from Rigoletto (Verdi)

Libiamo (the drinking song) from La Traviata (Verdi)

and of course Funiculi, Funicula thrown in for extra liveliness.

Also on the playlist (entitled Bugs Bunny Music, after an old flame who worked at a juvenile facility and got the kids to listen to classical music by calling it Bugs Bunny music) is much from Boheme, plenty of Verdi my all time favorite composer, and some old favorites from my 3 tenors cd's, including Pavarotti singing O Sole Mio. I consider myself very lucky to have seen the 3 tenors in concert at Ohio State about 6 years ago, and also Pavarotti solo at the Shark Tank in San Jose, close to 12 years ago. Both stunning performances.

Threesome Times Two

What got repeated today: Melody Gardot followed by Ben Harper's lullaby from Curious George followed by Counting Crows' Anna Begins. A lovely trio. If there's any one song to define why Counting Crows is worth your ears, it's Anna Begins.

Rough Day

But this was a good one for getting it out of your system - Monster Magnet.

Ben Harper and Relentless 7

I'm not together enough to have any idea why they're not the Innocent Criminals anymore. But I love this song: Fly One Time.

Curious George Soundtrack

Wow! Jack Johnson can make any day better with these songs. With My Own Two Hands, Ben Harper on this gorgeous lullaby. The Sharing Song, leading right into the 3 R's. Some seriously groovy tunes. And Upside Down... time to change my ringtone back from C is for Cookie, to this happy tune.

Discussion about the Kinks

and You Really Got Me. For whatever reason it's fixed in my mind as a staple of the 80's, which likely means a staple of that particular period in my life, because I don't mean the cover by an 80's hair band. Don thought it was a 60's song though it's fixed in his mind as a staple of the 70's. The end result of the discussion was a google search which dated it to 1964. So the fact that we each consider it part of our core teenage musical experience is fascinating. Some classics are truly classics.

Creedence

I could listen to them all night.

TMBG Friday Night Podcast for Kids

Last year They Might Be Giants was publishing a free podcast for kids. Every Friday evening there was a new video with one of their songs from their upcoming album about abc's and 123's. I don't know if this podcast is still available on iTunes, but a few of the videos are out there on youtube. This is the link to our favorite, Never Go To Work, which I realize is somewhat contrary to the theme of music to lighten your load and cheer your attitude for work, so I'll just say this is a lighten your load for that vacation day song. It's fantastic, and my kids still get hysterical and giggly over the cat and mouse in the bathtub. If your little ones are under 6 this is totally worth checking out. And for those who are just young at heart - enjoy!

Dave Grohl Alley

Last weekend, Warren, Ohio renamed a grungy alley after Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters, born in Warren and with family in the area), the alley "picked on purpose to reflect the rocker's personality", according to Ed Runyan of the The Vindicator. Grohl's performance at the ceremony of a couple of songs included a dedication of "My Hero" to Sgt Joe O'Grady of the Warren Police Department, who had asked the city council to rename the street.

So for a local feel good moment, here's a link to Times Like These, played at the ceremony, and to his acceptance speech. There's more on youtube if you're interested.

The Wall Street Journal

... on Radiohead and Harry Patch.

and the song...

Venues

The venues list is new. Just last month I missed a free show in Millcreek Park in Youngstown - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. What is wrong with me?? Free music on the grass, picnic with kids, dancing around in your barefeet, and did I mention it was free? If it weren't for friends who buy t-shirts, I'd never have known what I missed.

So the venue list is starting. House of Blues in Cleveland is up there because it's always a great place and has some excellent shows. Small and friendly. I saw Ben Harper there, Collective Soul, and have tickets for Alice in Chains next month. Diesel in Pittsburgh is on the list not because I've ever been there or heard anything about it, but because Buckwheat Zydeco is coming. Any place that hosts Buckwheat Zydeco gets on the list. On that criteria, I'd better add the Grog Shop in Cleveland. Which also gets points for having hosted Owl City. And I'm being tempted by the 3 hour drive to Columbus to go see Michael Franti and Spearhead at the Newport Music Hall. Never been there, but if I go the show will get reviewed and the hall might make the list.

Feel free to comment with your favorite music spots - I'm a newbie to the area and the best shows always turn out to have come on recommendations.

What's Your Favorite Rush?

The Rush fans are coming out of the woodwork! Steve inspired more commentary than anything else yet.

I came to the realization that I know nothing of Rush, though I've known many die-hard Rush fans over the years. Why is this? I'm angling to borrow a bunch of cd's for a marathon listen, so...

What's your favorite Rush? Songs, albums, shows, stories. Share with us!

The Spirit of Radio

From Steve - a great one!!

"begin the day with a friendly voice"/"the magic music makes your morning mood"- Neil Peart.

Look for the links and the updated iMix tomorrow.

Lovely!!