So you think your baby can disco-dance like a llama…? Well, if you’re in NYC next Sunday, you can find out.

The popular kiddie dance party, Baby Loves Disco, is descending on (Le) Poisson Rouge…and the diaper-clad booties will be shakin’, yo! On Valentine’s Day from Noon to 3:00 the trendy West Village hot spot will be child proofed and Lysoled so that parents and their progeny (aged 7 and below) can boogie on down with their rad selves.

Per the (Le) Poisson Rouge website:

Make no mistake, this is NOT the Mickey Mouse club, and Barney is Banned. Baby loves disco is an afternoon dance party featuring real music spun and mixed by real djs blending classic disco tunes From the 70s, & 80s guaranteed to get those little booties moving and grooving. The fun spills out from all corners of the club: bubble machines, baskets of scarves and egg-shakers, a chill-out room (with tents, books and puzzles), diaper changing stations, a full spread of healthy snacks and dancing, LOTS of dancing. But at it’s core, Baby loves disco is a community event that brings kids together with kids and parents together with parents.

I KNOW, right? Does that not sound like a BLAST?!? A check on the BLD website confirms that they now have these things EVERYWHERE – some monthly. Dude…I am so going to the next one in our area. For fifteen bucks in advance (per walking person), eighteen at the door, you can give your offspring a glance at how you spent your college years.

…wait. On second thought, perhaps you shouldn’t mention that…

But…I can hear you…you’re saying:

“Ri. What the cheesewhiz does this have to do with llamas? And WHY do I care about this if I’m not in the New York area?? Are you drinking AGAIN?”

Well, the obvious answers are (a.) DUH – of course I am, it’s Superbowl Sunday, and (2.) the part about the llamas is the cool bonus that benefits all of us, even the ones NOT able to make it to this particular gig!

See, I learned about the event from a contact at The Musebox, and he shared this lil’ bit of info about what else is going down at the Valentine Shindig:

As a special element of this year’s Baby Loves Disco Valentine’s Ball, The MuseBox will be introducing a “So You Think You Can Llama Dance” theme, inviting kids to create and even record their own unique “Llama Dances.” Inspired by the song “Llama Dance” by quirky UK rockers Patrick & Eugene, this is sure to add a whole new fun element to the day’s events. The creator of the best llama dance will win a family four-pack of tickets to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan!

A link to the “Llama Dance” video and a gratis download of Patrick and Eugene’s new CD was attached for my perusal.  My opinion…?

OMG. I LOVE THESE GUYS.

Patrick and Eugene

Right off the bat, while I watched the video…they had me at “ungulate”…

Llama Dance by Patrick and Eugene via YouTube

Quirky doesn’t begin to describe the tres’ cool infusion of childlike joy their music imbues. Per their Press Bio: “Try to imagine Noel Coward on stage with the Duke Ellington Band at the Monterey Pop Festival and you’re getting close.” Ha! Indeed. With backgrounds that run the gamut from playing percussion with Groove Armada and Richie Havens to impromptu accidental arson, these guys are an absolute kick in the pants.

Their current album, All Together Now, is the very definition of “feel good.” The effervescence of the melodies and pre-meditated silliness belies the musicianship and just carries you away on a tide of fun…but a closer listen brings the realization that they are REALLY good. The multi-instrumental sounds and beats overlap seamlessly to create a rich tapestry of aural layers. Forget about theme or genre – this is just thoughtfully crafted, well balanced,  good music.

This isn’t Patrick and Eugene’s first trip to the rodeo, either. They’ve put out two other albums… one of which is entirely comprised of deliciously unexpected covers which include ditties originally by the likes of Beyonce, Simon and Garfunkel and The Arctic Monkeys.  Nope – they’re not just a Kids’ Band, kids!

As Exhibit A,  I present to you the Patrick and Eugene reworking of  Can’t Get You Out of My Head, originally by Kylie Minogue:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Uh huh…see?  What’d I tell you?

So, if you ARE in NYC for V-Day, try to get out to the Baby Loves Disco event. If not, do yourself a favor and listen to some Patrick and Eugene.  Either way, you’re coming out a winner.

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Y’all – this is SO exciting.

Y’know how much fun everyone always says it is to Guest DJ and make a playlist?  Well, they’re RIGHT!

I got to find out this weekend, when out of the clear blue I received a lovely email from Erin at Today’s Mama, asking me to participate in their two week “Valentine’s PlayMix” series. (And, notfornothing, but…they’re all professional and organized over there!  MOST impressive.  I may have even been a hair intimidated, but don’t tell anybody.) They’re asking fourteen Moms to submit ten love songs each, from now until February 14th…and guess who has the honor of going FIRST?!

(Dude.  I know.  I was as shocked as you are…)

That’s right – my ten picks are up on Today’s Mama HERE, right now, as well as my accompanying description.  I was on my best behavior of course…I kept on topic, I tried not to ramble, and I’m pretty sure I don’t even have any many sentence fragments!  Yay, me!

Do me a solid and swing by, k?  Then come back here and tell me what you really think.  I can take it.

xoxo, Ri

Pssst:  I may be playing these and other “Quirky Love Songs” today on Blip.fm…just sayin’…

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Y’know, I have to give it to advertisers.  They’re including more and more music in their ads, and I like it.

Now, don’t get me wrong; the inclusion of a catchy drumbeat or a smooth bassline doesn’t blind me to the fact that they’re trying their damndest to get their hand in my wallet.  But it does make the act a bit more palatable.  And some really great bands get more exposure this way…which is ALWAYS a good thing.

So, this year when you’re handing over your hard earned dough, you can at least take solace in the fact that you got a lil’ extra something out of it. Maybe you got turned on to a new favorite band, or reminded of an old one.  There are scads of examples, of course…I just grabbed some that tickled me to share with you.  See below for playlist of complete songs.

***Bonus Family Tidbit!

Our own good buddy Rock and Roll Mama’s husband is represented, yo!  He’s the bass player for Clutch, rocking out on Electric Worry, featured on the game Left 4 Dead 2 for XBox 360.  WOOT!

Bang, bang, bang, bang y’all…

Left For Dead 2 for Xbox 360 = Clutch, Electric Worry

iPod Touch = Tommy Sparks, She’s Got Me Dancin’

Borderlands for Xbox 360 = Cage the Elephant, Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked

Palm Pixi = Passion Pit, Sleepyhead

Amazon Kindle = Annie Little, Fly Me Away

Apple iPod nano 5G = Miss Li, Bourgeoisie Shangri La

T-Mobile my Touch = Cat Stevens, If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out

Travelers Insurance = Trouble, Ray LaMontagne

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Awwww, yeah.

We can SO say “we knew him when…and he shuffled for us!”

Congrats to SILVERSUN PICKUPS (and of course our buddy, drummer Chris Guanlao!) for their Grammy Nomination earlier tonight for Best New Artists!! Hot friggin’ DAMN, y’all!

Per the LA Times Blog of a couple hours ago:

Biggest surprise: Silver Lake’s Silversun Pickups earned a best new artist nod for their sophomore effort, “Swoon.” Released on local indie Dangerbird Records, the album was a breakthrough for the act, having debuted in the top 10.

MSM buddy  Ash TOTALLY called this one…so I’m just going to re-post her comments and Chris’s Shuffle of TOTAL Win from October 8, 2009 again for your enjoyment. I’ll just be sitting here…grinning.
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Yep – this post is being hijacked by my buddy Ash of Behind the Lens and 3 Hearts Media…and Shuffle Monger Extrodinaire! Seriously – I’m having cards made up. That is her official title. Remember the Jonathan Tyler shuffle? Yep – that was Ash.

Swing by and show her sites some love, y’all, and follow her on Twitter. You just NEVER KNOW what she’ll come up with next…

Take it away, Ash! xoxo

Ri

Let’s chat for a minute about Silversun Pickups….

Ri and I are seeing them in Norfolk on Sunday. She promises a review. I am bad at those, and would definitely be bad at this one, since I essentially lose every single one of my senses over this band.

So we’re Tag Teaming. I’ll let her enjoy the stereotypical ‘afterglow cigarette’, she’ll let me have the ‘foreplay’…

Silversun Pickups, or SSPU, is a four piece band out of Los Angeles. If you don’t know them now, you will. And you should. Ri will give you all the down and dirty details later, but for a teaser…I’ll just say that their music is like a heartbeat for me. And speaking of beat…I have a bit of a “talent crush” on their drummer.

Christopher Guanlao is one BAMF percussionist. He has this one abnormally highly placed cymbal – it’s like 3 feet above his head…well, the boy works that drum kit like it’s his own show. I have a ring, I kid you not, that is completely flat on the bottom from drumming on my steering wheel along with Well Thought Out Twinkles. (Yeah, thanks for that, Chris…I liked that ring!)

When, at my most recent adventure to see SSPU in Johnson City, TN, Chris agreed to shuffle his iPod for Music Savvy Mom, I am not sure even the scariest of clowns (I am terrified of clowns) could have taken the stupid smile off of my face.

And then I saw the playlist itself! I hope you guys enjoy it.

Thanks Chris. We will see you Sunday!!

Yeah, THANKS CHRIS! Will they let me smuggle in some Homemade Italian Cookies for you? ‘Cause, Dude. This shuffle rocks. ~Ri

1. Portishead – Glory Box – Roseland NYC Live
2. Neil Young – Old Man – Harvest
3. The Black Keys – Psychotic Girl – Attack & Release
4. Macy Gray – I Try – On How Life Is
5. Cat Power – Wille – The Greatest
6. Spoon – Fitted Shirt – Girls Can Tell
7. The Cure – 10:15 Saturday Night – Staring at the Sea
8. Frank Sinatra – Someone to Watch Over Me – Classic Sinatra
9. Velocity Girl – Lisa Librarian – Copacetic
10. The Smiths – William it was Really Nothing – Louder Than Bombs

Buy the music you love. Support the artists…and Chris.

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It’s been almost four months, y’all. Four Music-Filled Months of Frivolity and Fun since the “launch” of Music Savvy Mom on July 6, 2009.

Sheese, where DOES the time go?

In this month of November, with Thanksgiving looming like an axe above a turkey’s gobbler, I thought I’d get a jump on expressing my gratitude…

Y’know, initially, I was hoping that this lil’ venture would develop into a Network of sorts, with lots of incestuous back and forth posting, commenting and general snarkity between new buds…and, in some regards, it really has! You can probably tell from the tight-knit group of “regulars” you routinely see commenting here that we’ve nurtured a definite sense of community, and for these shameless, intrepid few crazies I am eternally thankful!

I am equally thankful for you loyal and steadfast lurkers, though it pains me deeply not to “know” you so that I may lavish unseemly amounts of gushy love upon you. (Come to think of it…that may be the very reason you just lurk. Hmmm. Okay – how about a casual fist bump and a nod for you lot?)

The convoluted point being this: I am MOST grateful for and thankful to the bravest of the brave: The Shufflers! Those who have thrown caution and anonymity to the wind, have thrown wide the gates of their musical fortresses and shared with us the tunes to which they groove. Seriously…

<…cue Paul Anka…>

…take some time to reminisce with me about our past Guest DJs, and please make today

“Music Savvy Mom Share the Love Day”.

Below are the “badges” from most of the bloggers who have Shuffled – these badges link directly to their sites.  Go…visit. Drop a comment to mention how much you liked their mix. (Missed their mix? Wanna see/hear it again? Type the blog name in the search box under the header ^^ up there, and their post will come up.)

If your badge is missing, or you don’t have one, holler – we’ll fix that ASAP!  And if you haven’t sent a shuffle yet…whatcha waiting for?

Memories are awesome.  Let’s make more.

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