MOG

The reason that I am going to Chicago this weekend is to bring my three year old twins to see Dan Zanes. Dan Zanes used to be in the rock band the Del Fuegos back in the 80's but has most recently been releasing kids albums. I discovered him through the kids' channel NOGGIN. Noggin started playing music videos between their various cartoons and children's shows. They shot some real simple videos of Laurie Berkner and Dan Zanes.

Some of Dan Zanes' kids albums are: Rocket Ship Beach, Family Dance, House Party, and Nighttime. The songs are great and there are always at least 3 or 4 'guest' singers on the songs on the albums. Guests like: Philip Glass, Deborah Harry, John Doe, Lou Reed, Sheryl Crow, etc.

Dan prefers to call his music 'social music' because according to Dan: social music! sometimes people say 'children's music' but more often they'll say 'family music.' sometimes i say '21st century all-ages folk music' but if i'm trying to save a few words i'll say 'social music.' that's really what i think it's about, hanging around and having a good time with each other. that's why i called our new itunes collection "social music." it's a bunch of songs that are well-suited to the after-dinner singalong or maybe one on the walk to school. "

I don't know if you don't have kids if you will get as enthuisastic about Dan as I get but i still think you might enjoy his stuff. If you have kids get his video of one of his performances at the Knitting Factory in NY.