Dino O’Dell, the musical alter ego of Kansas City native Kevin Dolan, has been entertaining children all around the metro with his lively original kids’ tunes for a while now. You may have been able to catch a Dino O’Dell show over the summer - it seemed like he was EVERYWHERE! And for good reason. Dino can really entertain a discerning crowd of munchkins.

Dino plays solo shows but also occasionally takes the stage with his band, the Veloci-Rappers. It was with the band that Dino released his first CD, Dino O’Dell and the Veloci-Rappers. More recently, he released a solo CD called Itty Bitty Monsters. Both CDs are great fun. How can songs like “Swimmin’ with Piranha” and “Smoochin’ with a Giant Squid” be anything but silly and entertaining? And I dare any parent out there to NOT tap their toes to the very sweet, acoustic “I’ve Got A Friend.” Wrap things up with covers of the traditional “The More We Get Together” and “The Wheels on the Bus” and you’ve got a totally solid kids’ CD.

You can check Dino out LIVE around town too - his website always has an up-to-date schedule. (more…)

If you’ve spent any time on the Kansas City kids’ festival, fair or storytime circuit over the past few years, you’ve surely had the fantastic opportunity to experience a Funky Mama performance. Krista Eyler, a.k.a. Funky Mama, is a local mom (and former television reporter) who knows how to get your kids moving, singing and laughing!

Funky Mama plays a cherry red electric guitar and her music really has a bluesy rock and roll feel - but it’s all geared to the kids. Her third and most recent release is the full length CD “Moo Juice.” It came out in late summer and I was lucky enough to get a copy to test drive. Things have been so busy here on KC Kids Fun and with school, sports, dance, church - you know the drill - that I haven’t gotten around to talking about it yet!

The CD is good - it’s really good! (Not that it’s a big surprise that it’s good!) Songs like the title track “Moo Juice” -about milk - and “Pop ‘n Hop” - about making popcorn - took my kids by surprise though. I don’t think they thought it was “their kind of music” until they really started listening to the lyrics. And then the smiles broke out.

My favorite songs on the CD are “Sippy” which has a great shout-out, sing-along chorus, perfect for annoying my children in the car and “Ooo, Aah, Ow!” (about hair-brushing) which just causes my daughter to roll her eyes while I laugh. It’s not just funny lyrics though - the music is really solid. And Krista has such a full, soulful voice - so easy to listen to.

The kids swiped the CD from the car and it has now disappeared into the abyss of their bedrooms. I can report though that I regularly hear them singing some of the songs around the house, especially “Down, Down Baby” (a fabulous a cappella song) and “Freeze Dance.”

So, we’re big Funky Mama fans at our house. We highly recommend “Moo Juice” and we highly, highly recommend catching Krista live around Kansas City. She’s playing this weekend (September 27, 2008) at the Plant Hope for Hearts fundraiser at English Landing Park in Parkville. And at the Johnson County Museum on October 1, at a shopping benefit for Abby’s Run in Overland Park on October 4 and at Wonderscope on October 8! Check the KC Kids Fun Events Calendar for more details.

If you love Kansas City’s kids’ music scene, check out these KC Kids Music articles:

• Jim Cosgrove (a.k.a. Mr. Stinky Feet)

• The Terrible Twos

• Rock Daddy Rock

• The La La’s

(You can buy CD’s from lots of Kansas City’s kids’ musicians at the KC KIDS STORE too!)

The La La’s–also known as Jill Simpson and Whitney Coulson, are two lifelong friends-turned singers-turned mommies! The two are creating songs for kids with positive messages. Song titles include, “I’m A Happy Me” and “My Giant Friend.”

In their former lives, Jill was a preschool music teacher and also worked in radio and television. Whitney was a professional actress and singer, and in addition to her work with the La La’s, she now directs musicals at Lenexa’s St. James Academy. Give them a listen and support KC’s local childrens’ music scene!  Or better yet, check them out live on September 27 at the Lee’s Summit Oktoberfest.  The La La’s will take the stage at 5:00pm and again at 7:00 pm!   Lee’s Summit Oktoberfest and Fall Festival runs September 26-27 in historic downtown Lee’s Summit, MO.

Around here, new kids’ music CDs usually get tried out in the car. I mean, really, it’s basically where we live anyway, right? So, I received a copy of Rock Daddy Rock - Silly Short Songs for Silly Short People a few weeks ago from the man behind the music - Kansas City-based children’s musician and producer Chris Bihuniak. It went straight into the Suburban’s CD rotation. Within moments of hitting “play”, my 5 and 6 year old were in giggle fits in the backseat.

I’ll cut to the chase. Silly Short Songs, just released within the last month, is a winner. There are 18 tracks - all pretty brief and all very entertaining. The song topics alternate between downright silly and gross (songs like Boogers, Don’t Pass the Gas and Diaper) and life lessons taught with humor (songs like Turn It Off, The Lecture and Because I Care). Each tune is very catchy and lots of fun. My kids especially liked hearing the voices of Bihuniak’s own children chiming in on many of the tracks.

My husband and I don’t often see eye to eye on kids’ music. He usually switches the radio immediately upon getting into my car. No Radio Disney for him. He can’t bear to listen. Since I am most often with the kids, my attitude is more “if they like it and it keeps them quiet, I like it.” But Rock Daddy Rock? This is a CD that even parents will like. Our first listen was on the way to church one Sunday morning and I have to admit that it had me laughing out loud and grinning by the time we turned into the church parking lot. And my husband also appreciated the music (all recorded by Bihuniak himself - a true one man band). Rock Daddy really rocks! I caught myself smiling at a few ’80’s inspired guitar solos and some retro beats in a few songs!

So, here’s my advice (not that you asked) - buy Rock Daddy Rock - Silly Short Songs for Silly Short People! And catch or book a performance too. Rock Daddy Rock will be at the Midwest Baby & Kids Fest this weekend at the Overland Park International Trade Center at 115th and Metcalf. He is also available to perform for parties and events. Not only does Chris perform his Rock Daddy Rock music live, he also is available as a kids’ music DJ! How fun!!

Check out Chris’ website - www.4boysinc.com - for more info about this awesome LOCAL children’s musician (as well as his other award-winning kids’ music - The Blankies and Teacher and the Rockbots).

Only a few more weekends until SCHOOL STARTS! There’s still lots to do with the kids around the Kansas City metro. A few things to check out this weekend - August 9 and 10, 2008:

• Worlds of Fun is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Mamba roller coaster. To commemorate the birthday, admission to the park is rolled back to 1998 prices for August 9 and 10. Only $26.99 instead of $39.99 (regular gate admission).
• Johnson County (KS) Fair Parade on Saturday morning, August 9th, at 10:30am - Gardner Fairgrounds, 136 East Washington, Gardner, KS
• Kids Aviation Adventure Day - FREE - Saturday, August 9th from 9am to 3pm - Wheeler Downtown Airport
• Also on Saturday, OPEN HOUSE at the Ford Learning Center at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art - 1 to 4pm - learn about all of the great educational offerings at the Nelson!
• StoneLion Puppets presents Bubba & Trixie at the Kansas City Public Library, Central Library - 2pm on Saturday - click the link to RSVP!
• Saturday is also the LAST DAY AT KANSAS CITY CHILDREN’S MUSEUM IN KCKS! Jim Cosgrove will perform and MORE!
• Straw Hat Saturday at Shawnee Town - Saturday from 10am to 2pm - $1/adult and 50 cents for kids
• Sprint Family Fun Day in the Power & Light District, downtown KC - Saturday, August 9th - check out Wonderscope LIVE! and Funky Mama
• KidFest at Zona Rosa, Kansas City north, 12pm to 4pm on Saturday - Back to School with High School Musical 3!
• Festival of Butterflies, Powell Gardens, Kingsville, MO (east of Lee’s Summit) - Saturday AND Sunday
• Funky Mama & Mr. Stinky Feet, Music in the Park, Santa Fe Commons Park, 81st & Santa Fe, downtown Overland Park, 7:00-8:30pm, Sunday August 10th
• A Celebration Honoring the Gant Sisters, Hallbrook Country Club, 2pm to 5pm on Sunday, August 10th

So…LOTS to do this weekend! Get out and enjoy the city with your kids before they head back to school!



 

Okay, this isn’t really a KC Kids-specific happening, but who can resist new Laurie Berkner music?! You and your kids know Laurie from NOGGIN and Jack’s Big Music Show.

Her newest CD came out TODAY! Check out Rocketship Run immediately!

We’ll be back to our regularly scheduled Kansas City kids’ activities programming tomorrow - if it’s not raining, don’t miss the $2 special at the Zoo (Wednesday, August 6th). If it is raining, go have some fun at the Kansas City Children’s Museum or at Wonderscope or any of the great Indoor Activities in our Directory on the right side of the page!  Don’t miss the great listings in our Events Calendar either!

You can’t discuss fine arts for children in Kansas City without mentioning The Gant Sisters. The Sisters, also known as Elizabeth and Katherine Gant, have been laughing, teaching and loving their way into the hearts of children and parents alike for over 40 years. Many recent students are the children of Gant students from the 1970’s! This is a true testament not only to their staying power, but of the high quality music education and life lessons these lovely ladies have been giving children over the years.

The Gant Sisters’ curriculum includes basic music theory, knowledge of composers and experimentation with different instruments. Of equal importance are the lessons on self-esteem, having good manners and loving one another. Elizabeth and Katherine’s non-stop, high energy style immediately grabs the attention of their 3, 4 and 5-year-old charges and keeps them entertained (and learning) throughout the entire class.

The Gants write and record their own children’s music. They have sheet music and CDs–all are incorporated into their childrens’ classes and are available for purchase from Borders Books as well as Toon Shop in Prairie Village, KS.

Alumnae, family and friends will gather on Sunday, August 10, from 2 until 5pm, at Hallbrook Country Club to honor the Sisters, on the occasion of the sale of their Music School. Leawood Mayor Peggy Dunn will proclaim August 10 “Gant Sisters’ Day” in Leawood, and Congressman Dennis Moore will be on hand to make some remarks. As a former student and the mother of a recent student–I am sad to see this wonderful chapter of KC history come to a close. I have no doubt that their music will live on in the hearts of the thousands and thousands of children they have taught over the years…and in the musicians they have inspired and will inspire in years to come! Congratulations, Elizabeth and Katherine! THANK YOU!

Buy Local! If you’re young enough or hip enough and have been around Kansas City for a while, you might know of local boys-gone-relatively big The Get Up Kids or The New Amsterdams (same guys, different bands). Matt Pryor - a former/current (?) member of those bands - is behind this new, smart entry into the world of contemporary children’s music.

Matt is based out of Lawrence but plays all over the country, both with bands and solo projects. A new father, Matt has two CDs out as “The Terrible Twos.” This is real, beautiful music that adults will love to listen to as much as the kids. Take a minute to listen to the sample tracks available on Amazon.

Check out If You Ever See an Owl…, released last year. Then pre-order Jerzy the Giant, coming out July 29th!

And then be sure to check out The Terrible Twos LIVE at:

July 26, 2008 - 1:00 p.m. - The Reading Reptile (Brookside, Kansas City, MO)

July 27, 2008 - 4:00 p.m. - The Replay Lounge (Lawrence, KS)

Buy/Listen Local! Probably the most well-known of Kansas City’s children’s music performers, Jim Cosgrove - known to his littlest fans as Mr. Stinky Feet - is a seemingly tireless musician. He is everywhere! All the time!

Mr. Stinky Feet’s music (and Jim Cosgrove himself) makes you and your kids get up and MOVE! We in Kansas City are so blessed to have him - in our schools and libraries and parks and festivals. If you haven’t caught Mr. Stinky Feet and the Hiccups yet this summer, there are still plenty of opportunities.

Mr. Stinky Feet’s upcoming performances:

• July 12 & 13 - Worlds of Fun (Kansas City, MO) - 12pm, 1:30pm, 3pm
• July 14 - Mid-Continent Public Library (Lee’s Summit, MO branch) - 9:30am and 11am
• July 15 - Mid-Continent Public Library (Claycomo, MO branch) - 10am
• July 17 - Mid-Continent Public Library (Liberty, MO branch) - 10am
• July 17 - Mid-Continent Public Library (Blue Springs North branch) - 7pm
• July 19 & 20 - Worlds of Fun (Kansas City, MO) - 12pm, 1:30pm, 3pm
• July 22 - Bonner Springs City Library - 11am
• July 24 - Mid-Continent Public Library (Parkville, MO branch) - 9:30am and 11am
• July 26 & 27 - Worlds of Fun (Kansas City, MO) - 12pm, 1:30pm, 3pm
• July 28 - West Wyandotte Public Library (KCKS) - 6:30pm
• July 31 - Leavenworth Public Library - 7pm
• AUGUST DATES AVAILABLE ON JIM’S WEBSITE!

And if you’ve caught the bug and want to take him home with you - don’t despair, he has several CDs released. Check out these CDs, pop one into your car’s CD player and keep the kids in giggles during your carpool!

Some of Mr. Stinky Feet’s CDs:

Upside Down (2008) - available for download at www.jimcosgrove.com

Stinky Feet

Mr. Stinky Feet’s Road Trip

Pick Me! Pick Me!

Bop Bop Dinosaur