Gig Review: Circular Rhythm at Mt Ommaney Library, Brisbane

Circular Rhythm is the brainchild of Lucas Proudfoot a children’s entertainer and educator, specialising in interactive musical performances for children. These performances also incorporate musical demonstrations, and a historical background to a variety of instruments including the didgeridoo. He has a natural rapport with his audience, and the ability to create a musical workshop, which is great fun. Whether this is by incorporating musical games, or through his relentless wit, the show provides maximum entertainment for the audience.

Welcome to the Lucas Proudfoot show!

After paying his respects to the traditional owners of the land, Lucas begins with a blistering rhythmic guitar and a stomp box to get us under way. The children respond with great enthusiasm clapping along and nodding their heads to the rhythm. What is soon apparent is that Lucas is pretty much a stand up comedian in all but name. His ability to make the children (and the parents) laugh is impressive. This is achieved largely through a spontaneous wit, which takes full advantage of the unpredictability of children. Evidence of this is witnessed through the increasing numbers in the room, with punters eagerly filing in to discover what all the hilarity is about.

Throughout the show, Lucas performs on a variety of instruments with great dexterity. From the guitar to the stomp box to the didgeridoo, he moves effortlessly between each instrument providing a musical narrative to an appreciative crowd. He also readily invites children on to the stage to take part, distributing a variety of instruments, which the children seize with relish. His understanding of the importance of providing children with hands on experience of engaging with instruments is quite inspiring. Furthermore, an ability to remember every child’s name is another plus, along with his natural rapport with the kids revealing an impressive skill at working an audience.

Lucas, like an experienced conductor, is also able to direct this spontaneous children’s orchestra encouraging them to change the pace of the rhythm of the music for additional effect. This type of interactive demonstration through the intuitive guidance of children is really quite remarkable. Furthermore, his unique ability to demonstrate the type of circular breathing necessary to play the didgeridoo is fascinating to watch, as is his description of the way in which the diaphragm pumps the required air.

There is also an interesting historical aspect to the show, with lucid descriptions of the origins of many of the instruments on display.  Lucas illustrates how the didgeridoo was probably the world’s oldest instrument, made from live eucalyptus trees as a result of termites hollowing out the bark. The unique purpose of the boomerang is also explained, and in particular the way in which it is used for hunting, to scatter birds in order that they can be caught in nets. Clearly there’s a lot going on here, and despite the educational aspect of the show, still plenty of time left for some fun musical games, which the children enjoy immensely.

Lucas Proudfoot is an accomplished musician, teacher and entertainer. His shows are informative, imaginative and great fun. He has an easy rapport with the children, and a spontaneous wit. Perhaps this ability stems from his work ethic, as I’m reliably informed that he performs around forty shows a month - a number that makes me tired to even think about. The performance is almost an hour long, providing excellent value for money.  We finish with the artist asking the audience ‘hands up who had a good time today?’ Everyone put their hands up including the parents. Clearly a good time was had by all.  

Hats off to Lucas Proudfoot - children's entertainer extraordinaire!

Video Review: Prawn Crackers by Electric Lunchbox

Who would have thought Chinese food could provide the theme for a successful kids' song?  It has though in the form of “Prawn Crackers” by the highly innovative band Electric Lunchbox.  In fact the song was so successful that it nabbed a top ten spot in the 2011 Australian Songwriting Contest – no mean feat.  The song itself is taken from the band’s self titled debut album, featuring an eclectic mix of influences including fifties Rockabilly and Motown.

“Prawn Crackers” is not only a good song it is also a remarkably innovative video.  It begins with some percussive drumming accompanied by crunchy power chords to match the mood.  This is followed by a marching sequence, where a variety of food products seemingly float across the screen.

There is also no shortage of special effects used on the video.   Whether the band is swinging on noodles, marching on rice or being attacked by spring rolls, there is clearly a lot going on.  The facial gestures of lead vocalist Jayde Bond captures the almost child like longing for her favourite dish, so that when she says ‘yes please’ she looks like she really means it.  In fact the hand gestures and movements of key members Jayde and Steve, manage to replicate childish enthusiasm very effectively.

The inclusion of some delightful children’s backing vocals is another welcome addition to both song and video.  The way in which children pop up throughout the video, whether they are marching, spinning around the screen or dancing on prawn crackers flying through the air (yes this really happens), is very effective.  At around two minutes in length clearly a lot has been crammed into this video, and there is literally never a dull moment.

The video is highly entertaining and a must watch by a superb Australian kids’ band, who have played throughout Australia to great reviews.  I saw them perform at the Rhymes Kids Music Festival and they are a pretty formidable live unit.  They have also released a follow up album entitled Hey which I’m sure, judging by their earlier material, is well worth checking out.

Time to wake up to Electric Lunchbox!

Gig Review: Jelly Kids at Suncorp Piazza, Brisbane

What did you do on Australia Day? Well here in Brisbane, I was fortunate enough to be treated to some great music at Suncorp Piazza,on a sweltering summer’s day, courtesy of Brisbane’s very own Jelly Kids. The band hit the stage at 11 o’clock to an audience of around three hundred people. Fortunately the sound engineer really knew his stuff, and managed to get a great sound, rip-roaring loud and ready to go.

The band, looking sharp in their co-ordinated outfits, began their set with the lively opener “Eating Jelly with Your Fingers". Food, as you can imagine, is a key component of the lyrics, with many references to food throughout the set. Here a number of different approaches to eating are described, accompanied by some melodic keyboards and a clever reciprocal vocal technique. The song has a noticeable jazz influence, further cemented by an electrifying guitar that moved up and down the fretboard like snakes on a hot tin ladder!

“Funky Red” reminded me a little of The Jackson 5, with its seventies vibe and uplifting rhythm which really got the crowd going. Prizes were handed out to the most deserving dancers as the crowd began to increase in number. Children generally love to play musical statues, so the introduction of a freeze dance was another welcome addition to the performance. This set the show up nicely for “Dance Like an Emu”, another action song, where the children were encouraged to impersonate a variety of different animals. Incidentally the lead vocal on this song was performed by the keyboard player, revealing a further depth of vocal talent.

The kids were all now on their feet, as the band raised the tempo with the slightly country influenced “Fruit Salad”, as the delights of eating fruit were described to emphasise the importance of healthy eating. The audience were then encouraged to do an impromptu Mexican wave, as the sounds of the ocean introduced the next song “Beach Reggae” an appropriate song in the heat, with lyrics including sun safety advice for the kids. As education was now on the menu, “Alphabet Groove” was a well timed addition to the set from this jazz inspired eight legged groove machine. Next up the audience were treated to a game of Name That Tune, with familiar songs such as “Waltzing Matilda” tossed into the air, in an attempt to test the musical memory of the audience.

Despite a hefty half hour of performing in soaring temperatures, there was still plenty of bounce left in the set, as the band crashed through the remaining songs at a hectic pace. “Chocolate Now’”, a song apparently about a child’s request for chocolate at the dinner table was well received. Here bananas, spaghetti and pizza are all rejected in favour of chocolate, which left me wondering if it was sung from personal experience. We were then treated to a jazz influenced version of “The Hokey Pokey” which had everyone up and moving. The set finished as it began with another rendition of “Eating Jelly With Your Fingers” with the audience invited down the front for one last dance.

Jelly Kids really know how to work an audience, their set is varied in pace, and is highly interactive incorporating fun games and activities throughout. A major strength of this band is they recognise, when you perform for families, it is not enough to just stand there and play your instruments. The audience needs to feel involved and there needs to be diversity and activities that engage the kids, which is exactly what Jelly Kids do.

I am guessing that there must be at least one teacher in this band, as at times the show panned out like a fun music lesson. Another plus, is the majority of the set is made up of original songs, which is a refreshing change from the usual array of covers on offer. In short they are a highly entertaining outfit and a delight to watch. Having being suitably inspired, I left the concert with some of their songs still playing in my head, and a renewed interest in sampling some of the culinary delights that were on offer all around me. I couldn’t find any jelly and ice cream, so the veggie burger just had to do.

Look out for Jelly Kids coming your way.

Melbourne - Kindie Rock Capital Of The Universe

You may ask yourself what is kindie rock?  And the question this time won’t come in the form of a twenty-first century rewrite of the Talking Heads classic, “Once in a Lifetime”, but from the accumulated interest of an inspiring musical genre - namely kindie rock.  So what is kindie rock?  Salon defines it as a type of children’s music that ‘melds the sensibility of the singer-songwriter with themes aimed at kids under ten years of age’. Furthermore, it is a sound that brings music and families together, with the music often appealing to both young and old alike.  This has resulted in a shift from the time when parents would venture out to watch their favourite artists at night, unaccompanied by their kids, to a new paradigm where parents and children can now enjoy the same music together during the day.

Kindie rock is already well established in the USA with the likes of Dan Zanes and They Might Be Giants leading the way.  For many Australians, the dominance of the mighty Wiggles over many years has meant the Australian public is largely unaware of many of these innovative artists who operate outside the mainstream.  The reality is kindie rock is hip and happening throughout Australia, and nowhere more so than in Melbourne.

Everybody loves Melbourne, whether it is the Australian Open, the Melbourne Cup or the best coffee in the Southern hemisphere, Melbourne has always been the place to be.  From The Seekers to The Birthday Party, over the years Melbourne has provided the world with an array of outstanding musical talent that continues to expand to this day.  In the light of all this, perhaps it is about time we explore some of the artists currently embracing the kindie rock genre emerging right in the heart of this great city.

These include The Kazoos, Little Feet Music, The Mudcakes, The Mighty Buzzniks, The Rrrrrockets and Zucchini Clan.  All these bands share similar features, as they are great live, play original music, perform copious gigs and all offer something different from the mainstream.  Indeed they are part of an organic movement, which is actively growing, and inspiring children and families in ever increasing numbers.  Consequently, they have given a new collective voice to the Melbourne music scene, but this time for families.  Despite the similar strengths of these bands, they all have their own unique and individual approach, an approach that is certainly worth exploring in more detail.

Kicking off with The Kazoos a duo that combines early childhood educational principles, with a theatrical and hilarious live show.  The Kazoos is the brainchild of husband and wife team Chris and Celia Hill who use comedy, theatre and music to engage their audiences.  Standout songs such as “The Funky Shuffle” and “The Animal Walk” encourage movement and dancing, further complementing the interactive dynamic of the show.

The natural rapport between Chris and Celia forms the bedrock of their live performance. With a bright and colourful image, and an impressive set of props, the band literally transports their audiences to another world.  This is a world of theatrical interaction, underpinned with catchy songs that are easy to dance to.  They clearly play to their strengths, and must be doing something right, as they have already built up an army of fans including a number of famous musicians and celebrities.  Kasey Chambers has expressed how much her ‘little boy loves the Kazoos’, and Chris Cheney from The Living End is also a huge fan.

Next up, Little Feet Music, who I was fortunate enough to see perform live at the Rhymes Festival in Melbourne in 2012.  Their live show impressed me a great deal, and encouraged me to dig a bit deeper.  Singer-songwriter Rachel Parkinson is the creative powerhouse behind Little Feet Music, and has been involved in the entertainment industry since the early nineties.  Having played in a number of bands, and on a variety of instruments since the age of sixteen, her vast experience has proved invaluable over the years particularly in the live format.  The Little Feet Music live show is well worth watching, as Rachel has amalgamated an impressive array of musicians, well capable of delivering a highly entertaining, and colourful performance.  However, Rachel’s primary motivation appears to be educating and inspiring children, with education lying at the very centre of her artistic approach.

Her new CD Giggle Jiggle featuring songs such as “Five, Four, Three, Two, One”, point to a new fun way of learning, adding further potency to her music.  She has taken this educational ethos a step further by running her own music classes where her musical expertise and ability to engage with young children aims to unlock their creativity, open up their imaginations and stimulate their senses. I’m sure William Blake would have approved.

It is difficult to ignore a band with a name like The Mighty Buzzniks, who perform smart, insightful crisp rock music for kids.  Again like the previous bands mentioned, they have a great image and are excellent live, but for me their major appeal lies largely in the strength of the songwriting.  To date the band have released two CDs The Great Space and Bug Out, which are both brimming with memorable tunes.

Jamie Saxe is the lead singer and main composer of the band, and is a formidable songwriter in his own right. If you won’t take my word for it, he recently achieved international recognition for his composition “Ow Ow Ow”, reaching third place in the hugely competitive International Songwriting Competition 2013 - no mean feat.  The songs do most of the heavy lifting in this band, sure they look great, and can all play well, but it is the songs that give them the edge.

The Mudcakes are an Australian-American duo featuring key members Sherry Rich and Boston’s Rick Plant.  Both members have a rich musical pedigree, which has enabled them to stake their claim at the very forefront of the kindie music scene in Australia.  The band has already released three critically acclaimed CDs to date.  Stand out songs include “Monkey Boy”, “I’m a Sock” and my own personal favourite “Jump”.  The major strength of this band for me however, is their authenticity.  It becomes increasingly obvious when you see and hear The Mudcakes that there is genuine vitality in the music, leaving the recipient with the impression that the band literally live and breathe their craft.

Their sound is melodic and lively, but more importantly authentic and uncontrived.  They come across as the kind of people who would turn up at a dinner party with a guitar and burst into song at any given moment, and not take themselves too seriously in the process. In short, The Mudcakes provide a refreshing and authentic alternative to some of the more prosaic and contrived acts dominating the mainstream.

With an eclectic sound that combines big band, rockabilly and ska, The Rrrrrockets deliver an interesting variety of musical styles, which take the listener on a nostalgic musical trip down memory lane, with a focus on maximum fun.  Everything from Madness to The Monkeys can be heard, with the band quite adept at switching between different musical styles between each and every song.  The band also has a great image, and when playing live take their audience on a journey of retro musical styles with their own original interpretation. Maximum fun, maximum entertainment, and compelling content, enough said.

Last but by no means least Zucchini Clan, who look like a bunch of psychedelic leprechauns, flown in especially from Ireland to wreak havoc.  They have described their live show as ‘a bit vaudeville, fae, with a twist of punk’, or alternatively ‘music for free range kids'.  I believe their music should appeal to all comers, with its unique blend of folk, punk and psychedelia, which reveals an undeniably original sound.

This band once again ticks all the boxes, as they are seasoned musicians, who clearly recognise the value of music and the arts, which they have described as ‘incredibly important in the intellectual, educational and spiritual growth of children’.  However, for me it is their originality that makes them stand out. From their name, to their sound to their image this wonderful, weird and wacky band have managed to explore the unexplored, venturing where no band has gone before.  Expect the unexpected here!

If you do happen to live in Melbourne, and are looking for something different, then it is definitely worth venturing out to see some of these bands.  You might meet some interesting people and have a great time along the way.  Many of the shows are like mini rock concerts, where kids get a chance to dance down the front, and experience the type of live concert they will no doubt encounter later on in life.  Wouldn’t it be great if your child could claim their first gig was The Mudcakes or Zucchini Clan, and perhaps then be inspired enough to pick up their own instrument of choice and have a go?  Melbourne has become the new breeding ground of kindie rock, now it’s time to jump on board and dig the new breed.