A harmonica pocket - Keeth Monta Apgar's term for funny asymmetrical pockets on 1970s jackets - is just big enough for a harmonica.
But the Harmonica Pocket — the catch-all name for Apgar’s musical projects — is big enough to hold indie-pop music for children and adults, a rotating cast of band members, and even a hula hoop.
Apgar and hoop-wielding sidekick Nala Walla, both of Port Townsend, are celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday and the kickoff of the Timberland Regional Libraries’ annual Read-Aloud Program with shows March 4 and 6 in Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater.
“We’re looking at Dr. Seuss as a person who inspired creativity, someone who revolutionized learning to read and childhood in America,” Apgar said. “We’re looking at his life and his books as symbols of that.”
If that sounds serious, Harmonica Pocket is anything but. When it comes to creativity, Apgar knows what he’s talking about, said Ellen Duffy, Timberland’s youth services coordinator. Duffy booked the group to perform last summer at Aberdeen Timberland Library.
“They wowed every single person in the audience,” she said. “I will never forget it. It was so unbelievably creative, and there was lots of audience interaction. Last summer’s theme was ‘be creative,’ and we could not have found a group that fit that theme any better.”
The show will give audience members the opportunity to sing “One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish” and other Seuss stories, and to sing “Happy Birthday” to the late author, who was born March 2, 1904.
“We have a piece called ‘Guess Which Seuss,’ ” Apgar said. “The audience will hear a couple of pages and then try to guess which book they came from. Some of them are really easy, and some are pretty challenging.”
The show Duffy saw included some Seuss, and she asked Apgar to develop a program for Dr. Seuss’s birthday, the traditional starting date for the library’s Read-Aloud Program. It was the latest step on Apgar’s winding road to becoming a children’s entertainer.
“The Harmonica Pocket was a bar band for about six years,” he said. “Eventually, I got a job substitute teaching in a preschool. I would bring in instruments and play music with the kids and for the kids.”
Eventually, that led to recording songs, and that led to a show at a school. “We didn’t really know what we were doing, but we went in and tried to do the best show we could,” Apgar said. “At the end of the show, the director of the school said, ‘Wow, the kids have never sat still for an hour.’ It’s been an organic thing, and now I find myself doing it full time. You get surprised sometimes where you end up.”
He also hasn’t stopped making music for adults.
“A song will hatch, so to speak, and it will tell me, ‘I’m a kids’ song’ or ‘I’m not,’ ” he said, sounding a bit like a kids’ song himself. “About half of my songs are adult songs and half of them are kids’ songs.”
A kazoo, a wah-wah guitar, a basket of fresh vegetables, a hula hoop, and a harmonica – these aren’t items you would think you might stumble upon in a library. However, on Tuesday, Nov. 17 all of these items plus a pair of highly energetic performers equipped with several other strange props were found entertaining children and their parents at the Des Moines Library.
Nala Walla and Keeth Apgar are the dynamic duo of the kid-friendly, indie-pop band called Harmonica Pocket that has been touring locally for a Thanksgiving-themed sing-along called “Singing Thanksgiving.”
The Harmonica Pocket was started up by Apgar who, after he was asked to perform a show at a preschool, decided to start dedicating some time to writing children’s music and performing at local schools.
"Nala and I put together a little show, a children's show with some movement, music, and some props. After that show, we couldn't believe it when they told us we did the best job that anyone had ever done," he said.
The duo preformed their Thanksgiving show at the Des Moines Library on Tuesday, Nov 17. Apgar said they wanted to do a show that they could do once a year.
"We came up with Thanksgiving as a theme. We thought it would be a good American holiday – non-denominational, all inclusive, really nice themes of food and appreciation, and giving thanks for the harvest and all the other things we have in our lives,” he said.
The show got the children singing and moving along with the simple choreography to the acoustic story-songs and their original renditions on some classic American folk songs.
"There's some games that we do as well, which are just outside the box, playful, pro-creativity games that we would play with the kids and for the kids,” he said.
Apgar said the Thanksgiving show has a lot of songs that let the audience join in the fun.
"Many of them are Thanksgiving-themed that we've come up with. One is a very interactive song called Give Thanks, where we ask people to share with us what they're thankful for and we put that into the song,” he said.
Walla dances and often incorporates a hula hoop into her routine. Apgar accompanies her with various instruments such as a ukulele, a harmonica, or a guitar.
“The Hula hoop keeps everybody focused and happy,” he said.
The group just recently started to do performance in libraries. Apgar said that it’s really fun to be invited to make noise in a library for a change.
On Tuesday’s performance the duo played their rendition of American Folk tunes such as Over the River and Through the Woods, Turkey in the Straw, and an original piece called Ladybug 123.
The show was interactive along with being fun and educational. The children got to practice their counting on Ladybug 123. The children also learned the names of vegetables during a song where Walla went around and had them pick a vegetable out of a basket and identify it.
Apgar said that currently a lot of his work has been focused on performing kid-friendly songs. “Right now the opportunities that have been coming in are primarily kid’s music gigs”.
Even though Harmonica Pocket releases mainly children’s music Apgar said they also do covers and write some adult friendly songs.
“We definitely have some adult music, we have a lot of Beatles covers, Bob Dylan, just great songs, I’m always on the search for great songs whether they’re classics or obscure songs from the past," he said.
For more information on Harmonica Pocket and upcoming shows visit Harmonicapocket.com.
Finally...a children's music album that I can listen to with my kids for hours on end. And it doesn't make me want to pull my hair out! Serious bonus points for them.
The Harmonica Pocket is definitely on to something with their out of the ordinary and captivating acoustic story-songs. Their creativity level soars through the roof with their album, Ladybug One. Every single song is without question awe-inspiring. It took my family on an enchanting journey through nature. I've never heard anything like it. It's mature, brilliant and absolutely spellbinding.
Keeth Apgar, you're a genius.
One track will have you mesmerized. So go ahead - break out your inner child and share some beautiful moments with your children. Grab Ladybug One today. It's that good. Oh yeah, and it has a killer version of O Susanna!
Any band that uses solar power to make their CD then encourages people to copy it for their friends makes me feel all warm and fuzzy before I've even heard a note. Thankfully, The Harmonica Pocket's new kids' music CD, Ladybug One, is filled with such cool, trippy harmonies and smart, offbeat lyrics, it's as satisfying as all their do-gooding.
Starting with the sultry, lush Firefly which has me wishing for a hot summer's night, Ladybug One moves into my fave, the bouncy Spiders in my Breakfast--a lot more adorable than it sounds, and my kids find the lyrics hilarious. My tree-hugging spirit loved the lovely, yet spirited, One Tree Said which reminds us to not be so greedy. And even though The Harmonica Pocket uses just about every crazy instrument you can imagine, like a waterphone, toy piano and even a hula hoop, their sound comes together in such a way that feels cohesive and totally natural.
Just make sure you save the super-mellow lullaby portion of this 16-song CD for bedtime, and not the drive to school.
The Harmonica Pocket's Ladybug One offers inventive songs with understated vocals and a refreshing array of instruments, from stand-up bass, fiddle, and musical saw to toy piano, cello, and pedal harp. (The harp is featured on the luminous “La Luna,” a lullaby sung partly in Spanish.) Keeth Monta Apgar sneaks a little environmental awareness into his quirky lyrics while taking listeners on imaginative journeys in which bumblebees sleep and spiders slip into your breakfast. This unique album, which includes the funkiest version of the ABCs you’ve ever heard, is a real treat, and the eco-minded will appreciate that it was recorded using solar power.
The Harmonica Pocket’s coming to town from Washington State for the first time, performing kid stuff at Symphony Space. Their lovely, lilting, melodious acoustic story-songs are devoid of anything even resembling bubblegum pop—it’s the sort of music any parent would be delighted to play even when the kids aren’t home. Go see that soft, clever, and beautiful can hold kids’ attention just as much as loud and annoying can. Here’s hoping they return soon and often.
I realize it’s been a while since I blogged about kid’s music, so the next few blogs will be devoted to some fresh and funky, rock ‘n roll for little people. I’ll start it all off with a review of a great album called Ladybug One brought to us by a band with one of the coolest names I’ve heard in a while — Harmonica Pocket. Here’s how they describe the album on their website:
"The Harmonica Pocket’s 2008 release Ladybug One, a Parent’s Choice Recommended Award Winner, is a truly all-ages album made for kids and adults to listen to together. The album was recorded off the grid using solar electricity and is full of genre-crossing originals and twists on traditional folk songs. Kidsmusicthatrocks.com said “you won’t hear arrangements like this on any other album for children.”
“Off the grid” describes this album well. It’s exceptionally unusual. It’s got a consisent indie-pop vibe, but there are hints of a whole host of diffferent genres. The band is not shy about using unusual instruments — their version of “O Susanna” includes sitar and “One Tree Said” features the musical saw! A little darker than most children’s music, but that’s kinda refreshing if you ask me.
Give this a try if you’re looking for something unpredictable and unique.
Composer/musician Keeth Monta Apgar takes risks on this album with mixed results. Harmonica Pocket, the Seattle-based group, defies classification and continues its rotating roster of musicians, this time featuring the talents of Apgar, Jon Ryser, and Nala Walla. Apgar should be commended for experimenting with non-Western musical traditions and mixing it up with Western practice. It is refreshing to be exposed to unusual musical instruments and styles.
Recorded in a studio using only solar power, the recording packs a strong ecological punch since many songs have a theme related to insects or nature, such as "Firefly" (a mysterious, yet intimate tune featuring a saxophone solo) and "One Tree Said" (a haunting song about only taking what you need from nature). Stand-outs include "O Susanna" (with sitar and tabla percussion accompaniment), "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" (the syncopated beat and ukulele make this version work), "Lucid Dream #3" (this solo on pedal harp shines), and "Mbira Dreaming" (features an African mbira playing a lullaby). The laid-back nature of the majority of these tunes makes this perfect for rest-time music.
—Stephanie Bange, Wilmington-Stroop Branch, Dayton Metro Library, OH .
For those who care about such things, Ladybug One may very well be the first off-grid children's music album -- it was recorded at a solar-powered studio in Washington state. Yay! And then, oh yeah, there's the music, which isn't too shabby either. Nicely acoustic original songs about fireflies, spiders and bumblebees alone would make us more than pleased, but then the band just gets kooky with a North Indian "O Susanna" and an indie-pop rendering of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." These kid-friendly indie-pop folks are on the way to becoming big favorites.
Ladybug One by the Harmonica Pocket:
Don’t be turned off by the insect soliloquies peppered throughout the album. With their soothing voices, Harmonica Pocket, an indie-pop-folk group that hails from the land of Starbucks and grunge rockers, can be quite Simon & Garfunkel at times. Particularly ear-worthy are the two instrumental songs at the end of the album, which are so mesmerizing you’ll swear you’re back in college chilling out to George Winston.
Harmonica Pocket’s fourth CD, “Ladybug One,”
caught my eye initially because the cover announces that it was produced
with solar power and that the group participates in the Free Music Project.
That means you can download or trade their music for free—but please
put money in their online “tip jar.” With all the controversy
over pirating CDs, for a band to put its music out there for free is surprising
indeed.
Harmonica Pocket is actually Keeth Monta Apgar and some of his friends
who create music that is not easily categorized. Reggae, folk, Hindi,
African and countless other influences clearly illustrate Apgar’s
ethnomusicology background.
Sure, there have been plenty of versions of “O Susanna,” but
“O Susanna” with a sitar and tabla? Apgar’s version
has an exotic and innocent sound.
The harmonized voices of “Firefly” and “Twinkle Twinkle
Little Star” remind me of Crosby, Stills and Nash, and the songs
have the same earnest, warm quality.
For those interested in the meaning behind the music, the “lyrics
and song stories” category of Harmonica Pocket’s website is
a lot like the “special features” section of DVD movies. For
every song that he has listed, Apgar writes all the lyrics and the story
behind them.
In the back story for “One Tree Said” (“We’ll
give you all you need, any more than that is greed. Just let us be where
we belong”) Apgar quotes a Native American proverb and clarifies
his message with the song, and he gives a description of the hand and
chainsaws that were used in the background.
The bowing of an actual handsaw produced a ghostly sound, like a wind
blowing through a haunted forest. Knowing that a saw, normally used to
cut down trees, was also used to create this musical imagery made the
song even more powerful.
This inventive album cruises off the beaten path, layering songs about fireflies and ladybugs, spiders and bumblebees with unusual harmonies, instrumentation and word-play ("then in the trees a tiny sneeze/a ladybug with allergies…."). Even the ABC's and the traditional "O Susanna" are transformed with Harmonica Pocket's unique world-music-meets-folk vibe.
Hi, my name is Felineous Kats. Every month, I'll share my favorite new children's music with you to get your toes tapping and your groove going!
The kooky music of Harmonica Pocket has been making me snap my fingers and shuffle my feet all day long. Their joyful tunes are perfect for a summer afternoon, with banjos, kazoos, and fiddles, and even some instruments from India and Japan. But what's really cool, cats, is that kids just like you sing along on the songs, and also tell a few interesting facts about bugs!
You'll recognize "Twinkle, Twinkle" and the "ABCs," but Harmonica Pocket gives the music a whole new twist. The best songs are about insects like ladybugs, fireflies, bumblebees and spiders. (I bet you've never heard a song about "Spiders in My Breakfast"!) My favorite tune is "Ladybug One Two Three," because it reminds me of one of my favorite friends, Ladybug!
P.S. Harmonica Pocket is a "solar-powered" band. That means they made the record using only the sun's power! Extra cool cat points.
Keeth Apgar is telling a group of kids he wants them to blow the roof off the Marysville Library.
"Usually we have to be really quiet," he says into his microphone. "But not today."
The crowd of children launch into "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," belting it out as Apgar leans away from his mic and, like a rock star, mouths the words.
Later on, Nala Walla, the other half of the children's music duo Harmonica Pocket, bounces into the audience to do handstands. She also mystifies the crowd with her hula hoop skills.
"She's good at that!" one 5-year-old shouts repeatedly.
This is Harmonica Pocket, an increasingly popular children's group made up of Apgar and Walla. The duo, who occasionally work with other musicians, plans to play a number of dates throughout the spring and summer in Snohomish County.
The group was started by Apgar, a lanky, soft-spoken 32-year-old who has been writing music for nearly 20 years. He started using the Harmonica Pocket name in 1999. Then, it was a reference to a loose confederacy of musicians and artists. In 2004, he expanded the definition to include his foray into children's music.
Now, Apgar and Walla, 35, live near Port Townsend in a small community "interested in art and performing and growing food," Apgar said.
The pair's musical act sometimes reflects their environmentally friendly lifestyle. For instance, the song "One Tree Said" includes singing fish and trees that encourage people to only take what they need from the world, no more, lest they be greedy.
"One Tree Said," along with sillier fare like "Spiders in My Breakfast," are found on the group's latest CD, the acclaimed 2008 release "Ladybug One." The album, a joyful and poppy blend of acoustic songwriting and world music, reflects Apgar's degree in ethnomusicology -- the study of other cultures' music.
"There are so many sounds in the world," Apgar said of his decision to include sitar and African thumb piano. "I would love to see more of them introduced. I think that's a really positive experience for people, especially little kids."
The album also has been praised by parenting organizations for its whimsical storytelling. Even Time Out New York was impressed -- well, sort of -- calling the group "hippie-dippy without being overly hokey."
"Hopefully none of them (the messages) are too overt or preachy," Apgar said. "One of them is, turn off the TV and go outside and play. And you know basically, the bigger message is to just be creative, use what you got. Make up some games. Have some fun."
During shows, the group's message of creativity comes to life with audience-participation games such as one called the Nothing.
The game starts with the duo talking about how they have nothing to do -- no video games, no TV. Then, using some basic mime, Apgar and Walla start passing a nonexistent object back and forth. They act as if its weight is changing. They make funny noises, pretending the sound comes from the Nothing.
Then, kids are passed the Nothing. At first, they cup their hands to hold empty air and wait for a sound. Slowly they catch on, realizing they need to make a noise. Some squawk. Others give a roar. Their friends laugh, and reach out to hold nothing.
Eventually, the non-existent object is put away.
"That sure was a whole lot of nothing," Walla says, with a smile.
The group's two Marysville Library shows attracted more than 200 people. The crowd included three kindergarten classes, plenty of toddlers and some parents.
"They kept both of those very large groups so engaged and entertained," Marysville children's librarian Pat Timko said. "A lot of times presenters kind of lose the audience for one reason or another. They just captivated them."
Granted, at this point, the pair has had some practice handling a crowd.
"We are full-time artists," Apgar said. "The children's show is really taking full front. It's a positive for us."
SOLAR POWERED & WORLDLY! I love the ecological awareness behind both the production of Ladybug One and the lyrics of the songs. This truly “green” recording was produced off the grid at their solar-powered studios on Marrowstone Island, Washington. That impressed me. What impresses Persephone is their songs about bugs, including fireflies, bumblebees, spiders and ladybugs. But it’s not just that the songs are about insects and spiders that makes it the most appealing, it’s their creative exploration of each song that leaves me wanting more. Their songs are truly unique, blending world-music with Americana, and quirky fun with serious issues. The blend of acoustic instruments played on Ladybug One gives the album a rich tapestry of unique sounds, including the didgeridoo, mbira, ukelele, harmonica, jaw harp, music saw, japanese gong, sitar, tabla and even a hula hoop! The educational opportunities (cultural, ecology, science) a parent could take with this album are multifold! Ladybug One is a new favorite of mine!
Musicians going green! Who knew? Harmonica Pocket's latest album, produced in a solar-powered studio, delivers a delightful array of offbeat takes on standard children's songs and includes "Ladybug 123" - a toe-tapping ditty explaining how essential these dotted, beloved beetles are to our ecosystem. It concludes with a relaxing succession of six precious lullabies, perfect for getting your little ladybug to sleep!
Ladybug one can best be described as “indie music for kids”, with a green solar-powered story and strong messages of conservation and acceptance weaved throughout. The theme of this disc seems to be heavily bug oriented with songs such as “The Light of the Firefly” and “Spiders in My Breakfast”. Gentle and mellow, the disc moves from slightly more upbeat “playtime” music to a series of five soothing multicultural lullabies providing you with a wide range of tracks to choose from.
THE MUSIC
This album opens with the sound effects of footsteps and murkiness. Then
a little girl (listed in the credits as Odette J.) begins to share with
us her scientific knowledge of Fireflies. This brief introduction is followed
by the song “The light of the firefly” that has distinct influences of early
1970’s flower child music. With pleasant vocals and guitar work, it is a
charming song and was a promising start to the album.
Next comes another brief interlude with that rather odd firefly girl as she and we go right into the song “spiders in mybreakfast”, which has some of the same style of the first song, but which is distinctly child oriented with fun playful lyrics about eating spiders which is sure to delight children. A brief bridge of the “Itzy-bitzy Spider”, and then this upbeat song ends with the line, “whenever you are looking for me, I’ll be, at the bottom of a bowl of Cheerios”.
Wiith “One tree said”, the mood turns decidedly melancholy as this track begins with the sounds of a chain saw and goes onto tell the story of a tree that wishes to avoid being cut down. It is orchestrated with a see-sawing use of violins and guitars. “Just let me be where I belong, just let us be where we belong. Don’t please yourself by hurting someone else, all you see is dollar signs, how can you be so blind”. Not talking just about trees, this song contains a fish as well and obviously is referencing the razing of forests and the over-fishing and depletion of our oceans. The message in this song is perhaps a bit heavy for kids, but the music is rather good. And it can be a great wakeup call for a generation that is likely going to grow up seeing local woods razed to make way for strip malls and megastores.
The next two cuts finds their way onto the topic of ladybugs with “Love a ladybug”, another science dissertation by the little girl that is hard to hear, and the slow but upbeat song “Ladybug 123” that teaches counting and speaks of a ladybug with allergies. “one, two ladybugs go floating on a yellow breeze then in the trees a tiny sneeze a ladybug with allergies” Cute. This is reprised later on the CD with an acoustic instrumental version.
The following songs include “Twinkle twinkle little star”, “Oh Susanna” (done with a sitar in an cowboy and indian style, if you can imagine) and a cut called “I love the ABC’s” that is oddly house-style and reminiscent of something that might be played inside an Casablanca opium den of some sort. It stuck us as a very odd way to get children interested in the alphabet, and seemed like it was written for another market and re-purposed here.
“Four spaces” was a charming, though all too short song about having four spaces between your toes and how the singer would accept you even if you didn’t.
By this point we began to drift off a bit as we moved into the lullabies. “La Luna” was a charming cut towards the end, a soft and airy song that made me think of being outdoors on grass in the not too hot sun. Granted, the song’s title is talking about the moon, so why it sounded more brightly lit afternoon is beyond me. But it was nice.
PACKAGING
The packaging of Ladybug One would fit in with any adult CD collection.
Cover art in a muted blue with a charming ladybug painting by Matthew Porter,
this CD comes with full liner notes and lyrics and is illustrated throughout.
Absent are primary colors or distinctly “for children” art. Personally,
I like the style of this packaging much more. And the inclusion of lyrics
is a wonderful change from other child-oriented music.
THE STORY
Ladybug One was produced in a solar-powered studio off the grid and Harmonica
Pocket is proud to say that they only used electricity generated by the
sun. Harmonica Pocket has a traveling children’s show that has played from
Seattle to New York and involves a hula hoop and ukulele among other simple
props. They’re definitely a quirky group.
CONCLUSION
Overall this was an enjoyable album. It will not become one of our favorites,
but is an enjoyable and mostly relaxing work that can be used for lullabies
and awake time as well. Its recording quality was very good, though not
as crystal clear as many of the disks our ears have begun to get used to
in these digital production times.
We enjoyed the messages of conservation and the little firefly girl was
a cute touch.
Though there are certainly some odd artistic choices on this disk, we would recommend it. If you’re into Indie music, put it on the top of your list, it not just put it a bit further down.
dreamy...acoustic...sweet...original...classic...
It is hard to put Ladybug One by Harmonica Pocket in a category or to use just one word to describe it. Eclectic might be a good word if I had to chose just one. Ever hear "Oh Susannah" with a sitar? Well, you will if you buy this album.
I do have to give them a lot of love because the album was recorded using solar power (!) and it was also recorded right here in the Seattle area. Unfortunately, we (the kids, The Husband, and I) weren't that excited about the album as a whole- there were definite highlights. Little Miss loves the song "Ladybug 123" and the tinkling, sparkling version of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" but The Husband and I were ready to climb out the car windows with the dark, brooding and repetitious "I Love the ABCs". I would still encourage you to try them out, if not for anything else, to support a family-friendly band who supports the environment.
I think they would be MUCH better live which is why I am happy to post their touring schedule and upcoming shows for the Seattle Area.
For more information please see the Harmonica Pocket website- they have a BUNCH of tour dates this Spring and Summer. Go see them live! I am sure it would be good family fun!
The Harmonica Pocket, a Puget Sound indie-rock group that proudly proclaims its new CD to be "truly green" (it was recorded in a solar-powered studio), has just released its second children's album. Ladybug One is imaginative, beautifully performed, and promotes appreciation of the natural world -- with an emphasis on a variety of insects -- in songs like "Firefly," "Spiders in My Breakfast," "One Tree Said," and "Love a Ladybug." There's also a cross-cultural twist on the song "Mere Bacche Ke Liye Lori (Lullaby for My Child)," performed in Hindi and "La Luna (the Moon)," in Spanish.
Harmonica Pocket's sound is built around the songwriting and lead vocals of Keeth Monta Apgar, with additional singing provided by Nala Walla, Jon Ryser on saxophone, and many other skilled musicians filling in the rhythmic and melodic spaces (there's even a bit of harmonica on a track or two). Apgar approaches his songwriting with a unique brand of poetry and humor; his artistry lies in an ability to make his message -- one that could easily sound heavy-handed in less skilled hands -- accessible, friendly, and fun. The Harmonica Pocket provides a breath of fresh air while flexing musical muscles strong enough to enchant family members of all ages.
Ladybug One : Harmonica Pocket
This "truly green" CD was recorded at a solar-powered studio. This is the first time I've seen that kind of commitment in this genre. The sound is unique as well. Songs include old, "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," and new, "Firefly." Ages 2-8
My inner child jumps up and down when I play good music
made for children and families. Suffice to say my inner child was also
smiling a lot listening to the music made by The Harmonica Pocket. I was
sent the cd and I asked to interview one of the musicians involved.
I talked – via email – with Keeth Monta Apgar, who wrote all of the songs on the album.
Keeth: The overall goal with Ladybug One was to create an outside-the-box album filled with familiar and new sounds that children and adults could listen to together. By "new sounds" I am referring to exploring some non-western music traditions like the North Indian Classical flavored "O Susanna" in 5/4 time, or the thumb piano piece played on an instrument called the "mbira" from Shona Zimbabwe set in 7/8 time, or the waterphone, the didgeridoo, and other fun toy instruments like the "wind wand" and kazoos. Yes, I feel like I pulled it off by bringing in some seasoned musicians and sharing the stage with the various kids' vocal performances. So far the feedback has been pretty positive, and children and their parents are coming out to our live shows already knowing the words to our songs.
My influences begin with songwriters. Although I didn't "discover" the Beatles until 3 or 4 years ago, they are at the top of my list. Others include Paul Simon and his world music phases, Bob Dylan, Elliot Smith, late 60s jamaican music, Bob Marley, Ali Farka Toure, Eddie Van Halen, Sigur Ros, David Lowery from Cracker, Dave Brubeck, and anything with a horn section. More recently Jack Johnson, Iron and Wine, and Nick Drake have really inspired me with their simple, gentle music. But I can't leave out Dr. Seuss, Jim Henson, and Shel Silverstein.
Why not do a little educating while entertaining? I am trying to speak to children and their parents in an artful way about the environment, about tolerance, and about tuning in to the music of other cultures. On Ladybug One, for example, I invited my 8 year old friend Odette to present 3 scripted science lessons. So the album opens with a child instructing listeners how tiny firefly bodies are capable of creating light, and this is set to the "night time sounds" of tree frogs mating and a raven clucking, and an interesting instrument called the waterphone.
On another note I am hoping to keep alive some of the lesser-known verses of old American folk songs like "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" by giving them some modern arrangements that people will hopefully want to listen to. So there's this subtle teaching going on, but this project is not entirely about education. I don't want to lose track of that raw kid fun. What we're trying to do with The Harmonica Pocket children's show is to spice up the possibilities of our "adult" imaginations with some playful kid energy, plant a few educational seeds, and get gigglish with our audiences.
To me “off the grid” refers to living in a self-sufficient manner without relying on public utilities for power, water, or sewer. We are part of a growing number of people around the world who are generating our own electricity. For Ladybug One I wanted to use renewable energy generated with solar panels for recording and mixing the music to begin reducing the carbon footprint of the album.
This was a huge learning experience, especially during the grey and soggy winter months in the Northwest. At particularly overcast times I would run the recording gear directly off the battery bank using 12 volts -- the equivalent of recording off of a car battery. It was challenging and there were many unplanned interruptions due to stormy weather.
Since we are completely of the grid, rainstorms are an opportunity to fill our water tanks, so I’m thankful for those as well. We collect rainwater off the roof of the recording studio to water the nearby garden and orchard. We also use a composting toilet system that transforms waste into a resource.
By including the recorded-with-solar-power logo, my message is “let’s continue imagining the possibilities of a more sustainable future.”
The best parts are 1) continually meeting very open-minded people of all ages who are ready to sing, move, and who are excited to be alive, 2) not having to stay up past my bedtime to start a set of music in a nightclub at 12 o'clock midnight; 3) wearing a painted on handlebar mustache; and 4) laughing more.
The worst part is probably writing a new song, being very excited about it, but then realizing it is an "adult" song and not really for kids.
All of the titles for Harmonica Pocket albums, and most Harmonica Pocket songs are excerpts. I like to take a little snippet, a partial line that stands out, and highlight that with a title. Very early on in the process I was reading through the lyrics to "Ladybug 1 2 3" and paused after the number 1. Hmmmm...."Ladybug One" -- I imagined a ladybug colored rocket ship blasting through the sky. I thought that would be a good album cover.
Why ladybugs? Everyone I have talked to so far loves ladybugs, especially young children. So ladybugs were a good choice because it's an insect most people can connect with. (It was a bit weird when we performed in Hawaii because there are no ladybugs there! But, still everyone knew what ladybugs were.) I have written 3 different ladybug songs so I guess they're an insect totem of sorts for me. But when you listen to the album there's really not a huge focus on ladybugs. It is more of an insect theme -- fireflies, spiders, ladybugs, and bumblebees. If you pan out a little from the ladybug focus, the theme reveals itself as the natural world. In the end ladybugs were chosen because they are beautifully iconic, and represent organic values as discussed in track 5, "Love a Ladybug."
Has your child's musical taste evolved beyond the FunkeyMonkeys?
Is Gustafer Yellowgold losing his luster? Time to clear out that
iPod and invest in some new music. Luckily, a bumper crop of kids'
albums is due to hit stores this month. Here are a few of our faves...
The Harmonica Pocket, Ladybug One
The folkie, alterna-rock sound
of this seattle band's second kids' compilation backs earthy lyrics about
counting ladybugs, eating spiders, and a tree that just wants to be left
alone. It's hippie-dippy without being overly hokey. Don't
miss the unique version of "Oh Susanna" set to sitar and tabla
drums.
A common misconception among many parents and other adults with kids in their immediate family is that children's music is bland, formulaic and generally mediocre (at best). For these poor souls, kid's music brings to mind only the gimmick-filled antics of Barney and The Wiggles and that being the case, it's no wonder they look down on the genre. Of course this assertion is utterly preposterous. There are more quality kiddie acts (successfully) working today than ever before - just think about the names one could spit out without even thinking too hard about it...They Might Be Giants, Dan Zanes, Justin Roberts, Elizabeth Mitchell, Gustafer Yellowgold just to name a few...it is a great time to be a music loving kid and parent.
While most of us know modern kid's music is anything but vanilla and cookie-cutter, it is not every day we come across a record like The Harmonica Pocket's "Ladybug One". This record is a trippy, mellow affair from start to finish that is best enjoyed in your pajamas while eating a big bowl of cereal (or a granola bar) on a Sunday morning. That is the essential vibe of this quiet album of insect-themed originals and reworked favorites such as "Twinkle Twinkly Little Star" and "O Susanna". The gem of the disc is "Ladybug 123" which is featured on "Ladybug One" twice, once acoustic and again as a dub version - you don't see that every day on a kid's release!
The Harmonica Pocket employ terrific artwork and cover layout on "Ladybug One" (love the font and text positioning, the weathered/wood-worn look of the background and of course the lovely ladybug) which, along with 50+ minutes of excellent music that was recorded "green" in a solar powered studio, complete a very cool package.
Anyone who digs the Jack Johnson soundtrack to the Curious George movie will love this album.
I hesitate to use the phrase "the most unusual kids' album you'll hear all year," because, I assure you, no matter how unusual a particular kids music album, I've heard odder ones (don't get me started). So let me describe Ladybug One, the second kids' CD from the Seattle-area Harmonica Pocket thusly: It's the most unusual good kids' album you'll hear all year.
I hope that doesn't sound like damning with faint praise, because the album is quite good. But it's definitely not a collection of straightforward kids' pop, folk, rock, jazz, or anything else. Oh, sure, there are a few elements of that here -- the indie-pop "Spiders In My Breakfast," re-appropriated from the band's first album (for adults), and the soulful and jazzy take on "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," for example, are fun tracks that don't sound too unfamiliar. "One Tree Said" sounds like a track from a future Decemberists kids' CD. But many of the other tracks veer into more challenging territory -- the psychedelic "I Love the ABCs" or the number of songs on which band mastermind Keeth Apgar explores Indian music. You might not think that "O Susanna" and sitar and tabla percussion would make a good fit, but it does, actually helping to hear the song fresh.
In fact, one of the most successful things about the album is how the wide variety of instruments here (including didgeridoo, mbira, and saw, and quite possibly my favorite, hula hoop) serve the songs, not the other way round. The instruments aren't being used to show off -- they genuinely make sense within the context of the songs. And kids will enjoy the variety of songwriting approaches -- story, metaphor, humorous, counting. It makes "Mere Bacche Ke Liye Lori," a Hindi lullaby, which could potentially come off as pretentious, sound part of a whole.
The album will be of most interest to kids ages 3 through 7. You can hear clips from the 55-minute album (many of which have been reworked from their first kids album) at the album's CDBaby page, or listen to four excellent tracks at the band's own page for its kids' music.
The Harmonica Pocket's Labybug One is unusual, but a couple spins of this low-key but well-crafted album should make many listeners aware of its numerous charms. Definitely recommended.
More organic
Also set for release next Tuesday is "Ladybug One," the sophomore family music and fifth overall release from Harmonica Pocket (http://harmonicapocket.com). Based in Washington's Puget Sound, the group is led by composer-vocalist-multi-instrumentalist-sound designer and music teacher Keeth Monta Apgar.
"Ladybug One," which was recorded at the band's solar-powered studio, revolves around natural and ecological themes. The album's sound varies from a globally influenced flavor that would be ideal as "bumper" music on NPR to a sincere power pop that would be reviewed on the hipster music Web site Pitchfork. At press time, it was set to be available at ITMS and CD Baby.
Harmonica Pocket, the Marrowstone Island, Wash.-based group known around the Puget Sound for its Dr. Seuss-style literary sing-along events as much as for its toe-tapping tunes, release their second children's CD this month, Ladybug One. The album features a genre-jumping selection of classic children's songs, like “Twinkle Twinkle” and “O, Susannah,” along with catchy, quirky original tunes with an ecological bent that blend alternative pop sounds with world music cues.
As soon as I saw the Matthew Porter painting on the cover of this CD, I knew it was gonna be a winner! Ladybug One, the second collection of kids' songs from Washington State's The Harmonica Pocket, will win you over with its laid-back originals and quiet reworkings of traditional tunes. Meditative, atmospheric, gentle, inventive ... you won't hear arrangements like this on any other album for children.
The Harmonica Pocket is primarily singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Keeth Monta Apgar, and a musical cast o' plenty. He's showcased his considerable pop songwriting talents on albums like Birds Falling from the Sky and Underneath Your Umbrella, which contains the original version of "Spiders in My Breakfast". Much like Matt Pryor's The New Amsterdams and The Terrible Twos, if you like Apgar's grownup albums, yer gonna like the kids' stuff, and vice versa.
This cool little concept album revolves primarily around the idea of insects and bugs, with songs like "Firefly", "Spiders in My Breakfast", "Ladybug 123", and "Bumblebee Lullabye". But then check out these tasty tidbits: "O Susanna" in 5/4 time with sitar and tabla accompaniment; the Hindi lullaby "Mere Bacche Ke Liye Lori"; and the 55-second brilliance of "Four Spaces".
One of my favorite parts of opening a new album is reading the credits, and I love some of the instrument descriptions listed in Ladybug One: waterphone, wind wand, dixieland kazoo ... but these and other exotic instruments aren't just thrown in on a whim. Everything is woven into each song in a way that doesn't bring attention to it, and songs are made stronger by their inclusion.
Apgar closes the album with five naptime songs: the previously mentioned "Mere Bacche", the ridiculously sweet "Bumblebee Lullabye", the bilingual "La Luna", Monica Schley's pedal harp instrumental "Lucid Dream #3", and Apgar's own mbira solo called "Mbira Dreaming" ... hey!
Wonderful little songs about acceptance and love, appreciation of and respect for nature and the environment, the beauty of our world, and, of course, ABCs and 123s. A perfect present for new parents or indie music fans, Ladybug One is a great representation of Apgar's gift of melody and lyric, and hopefully this won't be his last offering to the kids' music world.
Proudly proclaiming that it was “recorded with solar power," “Ladybug One" has a relaxing, mellow vibe appropriate for any age. The subject matter is pretty simple, ranging from both acoustic and dub versions of the song “Ladybug 123" (with a preface about how important ladybugs are to the ecosystem), to the psychedelic-sounding “I Love the ABCs."
There are a few offbeat takes on the standards, the most interesting of which is a tabla- and sitar-filled “O Susannah!" that would have made George Harrison proud. The liner notes suggest the last six tracks are great for bedtime, and the succession of lullabies, including one in Hindi, is certainly calming - for kids and adults alike.
[ link to article on nypost.com ]
"One, two ladybugs go floating
On a yellow breeze
Then in the trees
A tiny sneeze
A ladybug with allergies
One plus two equals three"
---Ladybug 123
Fun indie-pop of favorites and original songs. Wonderful voices that blend together beautifully.
A gentle collection of traditional songs (“Twinkle Twinkle” the “ABCs” and “O Susanna”). Fun original songs on insects that point to the ecological importance of these helpful insects.
The album was recorded using equipment powered entirely by solar electricity and on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State.
Alright folks, I’ve got an awful lot of good things to say here and not too much space too say ‘em in, so bear with me here, cause we’re just gonna dive right in.
Birds Falling From the Sky, the latest full length from The Harmonica Pocket is just way too good. Simple, understated indie pop, by turns folksy and funky, and always just plain pretty. These guys have their chops and don’t need to prove it, freeing them up to explore their own sound and the ways they can spin it.
Relying mostly on guitar, a full gamut of percussion tools, and a great songwriting sense for the backbone of the album, The Harmonica Pocket weaves beautiful, unpretentious pop melodies around not quite traditional folk songs to create something all their own.
Drawing from a variety of influences and genres, from folk to funk to jam and back again, Birds Falling From the Sky is strong whatever the flavor of the song.
The high points of the album are the more straight up folksy tunes, especially “Sun Maiden,” a simply but beautifully rendered ballad told in harmonica and guitar as much as in words. Songs like this and the later “Umbrella” are great counterpoints to the slightly looser, free flowing vibe of the album as a whole, which, while there are plenty of nice singles you could take away, should be properly sat down and listened to get the full feel.
Go pick this one up or just download some mp3’s from the band's website (harmonicapoket.com) for a little slice of sonic heaven that will leave a fun tune running through your head all day. It’s a nice feeling, really.
Harmonica Pocket serves up a catchy little number with a warm, simple combo of guitar and drums. It's truly a shame that this song has flown under the mainstream listening radar. Never fear. Somewhere out there is a Farrelly Brothers' movie in the making that will feature this playful track.
Multi-talented Keeth Monta Apgar contributes to the band's fine Seattle sound with his vocal skillz, acoustic "wah-wah geetar", and trusted harmonica. Lorne Watson anchors their tunes with some solid percussion. Take a bow, boys. You've earned it.
"Underneath Your Umbrella" should come packaged with a time-stained porch, a rickety rocking chair, your favorite half-emptied bottle of whiskey, and an early afternoon thunderstorm.
By the album's opening Santana-esque guitar licks of "A Couple More Rainrops", the phone should be unplugged and the house lights off, leaving only the sound and flashing light of the storm. "The Radio" is a favorite, trying to get me off the porch and into the pouring rain to find that girl that got away. And "Spiders in My Breakfast", a children's tale, gets me back on the porch, dancing again, soaked and drunk, the way life should be.
The rains become a drizzle, eventually making room for the sun to peek through the clouds. The album's closer, "Lullaby #7", is just as its named. A kalimba-driven lullaby, letting you know that it's time to put your glass in the sink and find the closest pillow.
