Empire of dirt vs. fantasy island- Pirate girl style

"I don't care about the weather, or my stupid past."

alright, i have had it with the human race. i am about to take off on a tiny boat to a small island... but instead of indulging in this infantile fantasy i decided to look for music that helps me thru this weird-isolating time of my life. Since I lost my band, my best friend , my band-friends, my general sense of self, my car, my ipod, and my cell phone and all in the span of 2 months I am feeling a little... well, like a Pirate Girl... ready to set sail!

here goes:
Pirate girl sailin' on a sea of MUSIC ...




SAD KERMIT

"It's excruciatingly painful being green..."

Kermit has his own myspace page where he covers nine inch songs, radiohead, elliot smith, etc... this is a perfect rescue for pathetic self loathing folks and provides a way to laugh at one's empire of dirt!!

"Soon after the death of Jim Henson, Sad Kermit spiraled downward into a life full of addiction, romance and pain. The songs and videos on this webpage shed light on Sad Kermit’s descent into his dark, hurting world." myspace page

how about a little.... DEPRESSION PARTY?

Depression party is a great rock band with depeche mode like vocals, and silly mocking lyrics... just perfect for the small town depression we all feel at times... since their song "new Beginning" is about wanting to make a new start, but "someone" lives in the same town and keeps appearing... oh the irony!

"Everyone knows that it's a cold world, we're certainly not the first one's to point that out. But with a little bit of laughter it ain't so bad. There's always a little bit of room for partying. That's our stance! We're the Depression Party. Un-poetic and blunt, that's the way we like it, but we'll charm your panties off." Reforming in the Spring of 2006 with friend, Shane Kelley, filling in on drums the Depression Party release their "If It's Alive" single. “It seems Depression Party was just an ideal in our heads that we held onto and named. Not until now has it truly materialized.” One tends to find warmth and optimism through the Depression Party’s themes and tones. Piercing melodies of over-indulgence, guilt, geo-politics and nihilism." myspace.com site.

Lost Myself Theory,
is right up there with taking off to a deserted island... great escape music, aarghh!

I totally dig this girl-boy band with their alt. weird electronic and depressingly silly music... perfect for a night of- i "lost myself" feelings along with some psychological theorizing.

To end this post on an even more sarcastic and silly note:

Pirates R Us

Yup, this is freaking funny, and a perfect cherry to top off a bad icecream sundae of a day!
enjoy!

"They have an accordion player though, so don't say I didn't warn you. ...Let's just hope Pirates R Us meant this as a joke." - Arizona Daily Wildcat

"Entertaining along the same lines as the mullet, Pirates R Us is a fun time for you and your friends." - What's Up! Magazine

We are Pirates R Us, and your booty is ours!!

Pirate girl is over and out, laughing, here's to calmer waters ahead mateys!

Folky Farm Punk Girls & Boys!

Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers

Please go visit these happy dancing folks... Samantha's voice gives me shivers!!!

I am falling into an abyss of folky punky farm Girls and Boys!... What the hell am I talking about? well, I am starting to look into the strange world of making music for the sake of getting thru each day. Possibly music of the folks... the folks of today.

There seems to be this overwhelming need in our world to make things marketable these days within every aspect of art... well "f&*%^ that". Music has been taken out of the realm of community and made into an exclusive art form where kissing ass and selling out are the tickets to success...

Example....

See directly below!

YUCK

Luckily there has been a shift of power in the music world, with the new digital age, which has created a new way to record music easily and affordably at home, now with solar power you can even record in a pig stye.

I am a little loopy off of the perfume fumes from above... so here, go check out these funky farm girls and boys and their tunes!!!

Lail Arad

Alisha Westerman



Andrew Phillip Tipton

Auntie Folk- Kimya

The whole idea that a group of quirky musicians are labeled Anti-Folk was at first puzzling to me. Then I did a little more research and found that anti-folk is really just a part of folk music but it is punk-folk, or alt. folk, or songs that are written to be written... not for fame, money, or any other reason than to create something homemade, unique and truly creative. The songs that come out of this genre are generally not fine tuned, are recorded at home, and have a low budget feel... I LOVE THAT! I think I may have found my own true musical genre for both my lil' girl and big girl music...


I had heard The Moldy Peaches song on a compilation from my friend Darian years ago, only to find that Kimya Dawson and Adam Green of the Moldy Peaches have just become instantly famous from that music recorded 10 years ago which was recently placed in the movie JUNO's soundtrack.

I find Kimya Dawson's music is fun, disturbing and fantastic!

My favorite song of Kimya's is "I like Giants" off of her newest CD "Remember I love you".

I was lucky enough to be sent 2 free tickets to go see Kimya and Ani Difranco another Anti-folk music, from my same friend Darian who creates the most amazing music compilations, and always surprises me with random gifts throughout the years since high school. The lamest part of the night was that me and my date got there late... (hey that rhymes) So we missed Kimya!! I could have cried, but the Indian food in Noho was slow and oh so delicious...


GOOD NEWS! I am going to NYC for the Antifolk festival this August, and will be catching Kimya, along with many other antifolkers!


I will share more on my path to visit auntie folk, and her friends soon!

Lead Belly Jams

I have been researching traditional folk music for children, and came across this great cd for children. Both my son and I totally dig this CD! It is fun to sing along with songs like "Pick a bale of cotton" and the many other sing-a-long songs Lead Belly does with a down home feel!

"This unique collection features delightful songs for young children as well as the work songs, blues, and spirituals Lead Belly used to teach children about the experiences and emotions of adult life. Originally reocrded in children's concerts and studios for asch and Folkways records in the 1940s, the 28 songs and spoken introductions reveal the humor, humanity, and musical genius of one of the great artists of the twentieth century. The sound quality is somewhat archival in nature, but Lead Belly's voice comes through loud and clear. On some tracks, you can hear a teacher introduce the song. There's nothing better than hearing your four year old son singing "Red Bird" along with Lead Belly. These tracks are the material source for decades of children's music, from Pete Seeger to Raffi and Dan Zanes." Pea Pods Review

The Mama of Folk Music!

I am writing a paper for school on Ruth Crawford Seeger, shown above with the school children who inspired her to write her 2 songbooks of traditional American folk songs for children. I have been exquisitely drawn into Ruth's world through reading her books and interviews from her children and husband. I am so inspired by her love for children, for her ground breaking work in teaching children these songs, allowing the children to make the songs their own through improvising words, movements and play!

Ruth's Songbooks:

American Folk Songs for Children (1948)

Animal Folk Songs for Children (1950)

Her children Pete, Peggy, Mike and Barbara Seeger .....recorded the songs from both of Ruth's children's folk songbooks, making these songs even more accessible to those who cannot read music.

Mike & Peggy Seeger: American Folk Songs for Children, Released 01/01/1977

"This acclaimed collection, a favorite for years, has been repackaged on two compact discs (or two cassettes), for a total of more than two hours of music. Mike and Peggy Seeger sing 94 songs from their mother Ruth Crawford Seeger's famous book, American Folk Songs for Children (Doubleday). The Seegers are featured on a wide variety of instruments including dulcimer, mandolin, guitar, banjo, pan pipes, Jew's harp, concertina and fiddle; they also sing some numbers without any accompaniment at all. This album has been the cornerstone of Rounder's Children's Series since its release.

Mike, Peggy, Barbara & Penny Seeger:Animal Folk Songs for Children -- and Other People!, Released 01/01/1992

Composer and educator Ruth Crawford Seeger raised her children on many of these songs, most of which she gathered and arranged for her book of the same name (Linnet Books, Shoe String Press). These recordings contain all 43 songs from the book plus another 15, sung and played by her four children and six of her grandchildren in tradition-based styles on banjo, guitar, piano, fiddle, tin whistle, ukulele, mandolin, Jew's harp, lap dulcimer, quills, and other acoustic instruments. (2 CD or 2 Cassette set.) 1993 Notable Children's Recording: American Library Association

Pete Seeger - Birds, Beasts, Bugs and Fishes, little and big Folk songs. Year of Release - 1998 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Pete Seeger released 28 songs and stories about animals on two short LP records in 1955 to an enthusiastic audience. Ever since, they have been sung by generations of parents, grandparents, and children. The two original releases have been combined on this single CD creating an irresistible collection of songs to sing along with, to draw pictures about, to play hand games to, and to be enjoyed by the entire family.

Fairy Garden Dreams

I have been gardening a lot lately and have been inspired to look for gardening and nature songs for children. I recently went on an edible wild plants walk in Leverett Mass, with friend Pamela hosted by John Root! It was so much fun getting acquainted with the various little leafy greens and tendrils that are all around us! I ate almost all the leaves I found, my favorite being the large clovers and something called an elephant ear. Since this experience I have been drawn to nature spirits and these fun muses for my own personal songwriting, as well as for my soon to be radio show! These are a few of my favorite musical ladies of "The Fairy Garden Dreams".


I was recently introduced to the sweet sounds of Vashti Bunyan by my friend Pamela Wyn Shannon, a wonderful musician as well. I found Vashti Bunyan's mellow folk music to be perfect for little ears, since her lyrics are filled with magic, nature and colorful images... I love her song Glow Worms, and adore the Swallow song off of her re-released album from the 60's called "Another Diamond Day".



Pamela Wyn Shannon is a wonderful delight of both acoustic folk and magical Celtic. Her song Pipkin won my heart the first time I heard it. Pamela is a talented songwriter, guitarist and singer, a rare jewel of fine talent. Her songs are loved by both big people and little ones! My six year old son loves her CD, it helps him "to feel magical"!

"Shannon's inventive and intricate guitar work has been described as "a tiny chamber orchestra working in unison at the end of her hands," and her vocal style has a delicate lilting sensitivity. Her unique compositions have an elliptical quality which creates its own time frame, rules, and kingdoms, and are reminiscent of the magic found in UK '60s artifacts."



Joanna Newsom's Appalachian-meets-avant-garde take on folk music is very unique, she is a classically trained harpist, and plays all her songs with just harp and a quirky fun voice! My favorite song of hers is called "Sprout and the Bean" on the album "The Milk Eyed Mender". This album is fun for a summer day in the garden with fairies and wee-ones!

KID RADIO SHOWS

I have recently been asked to take over my friend Michael Pollitt's children's music radio show at WMUA (Umass Amherst). I start my training tomorrow!! yippee! I have decided to start a mini research into children's music radio shows to see what I can learn from them. I will post my top 4 favorite in no particular order since their are over 95 radio shows listed on KIDS MUSIC PLANET! The cool thing about radio these days is that the majority of radio shows are streamed online!

1. Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child: Indie music for indie kids on 93.9 The River and Valley Free Radio VFR-Saturdays 7-9 AM. I have actually been on Bill Childs show with my former band The Pop Rockets, he and his daughter Ella who host the show are really quite fun and quirky! They play a Great variety of indie rock for kids, and their blog is a great kid friendly resource for people in the Western Mass area!

2. RADIO CHILDREN- You have to check this radio show out, it is basically run by children, including video, music, interviews... I am totally digging this concept. according to the description on their site it is ---- "A mad, funny, contemporary, cultural and informative 40-50 minute programme beamed out of London to children all over the world. Children are the main presenters, interviewers and the stars of the shows.

3. RADIOJOJO Das Kinderradio: the first German non-commercial, non-profit radio station for children. It is a radio station for ages 3-13 where children make their own shows. They produce a variety of shows with educational and cultural content. HOW COOL!!

4. GLOBAL RADIO KIDS: This is AMAZING!! This is a radio show hosted by 5 children from 5 different countries and it is expanding as we speak!! I love technology and the digital age!

5. Michael Pollitts' Teddy Bear Picnic radio show: on WMUA Amherst Mass 91.1 FM every Thursday 4:30-5:30 p.m. Michael does a wonderful show for kids of all ages! He even reads from a book each week, plays great children's music both new and traditional. My son Devin and I recently sat in on the show and had a fun time picking out Puff the Magic Dragon on Vinyl from the wall of records... very cool! I am so grateful to continue this show for Michael once he leaves this Fall, Thanks Michael!