Peter Himmelman in the Rumpus Room

Our year in DC is coming to a close. While I doubt that it was our last Rumpus Room Concert (we had been to 3 or 4 before this year), it is our last for a while. And what fun it was! A nice crowd came out to see Peter Himmelman. I wasn't sure if the show was going to be Peter solo or not, and it turned out that a nice band had been cobbled together -- I think Peter said that they had only rehearsed once, earlier in the day.

The show was incredibly fun (and funny). Little Rhett stole the show with his antics. Hey, if your mom is the boss and your dad is in the band, you kind of get a little crazy, huh? The kids in the audience had great fun, making large dancing circles. Even the babies got into it; two babies did a little call and response screeching.

While we love Peter's CDs, I wasn't sure what to expect from a live show. It was wonderful! He has a wry sense of humor, played just right. One kid told Peter it was his birthday, and Peter made up a song right there on the spot, as well as freestyling verses into other songs. Wonderful and fun!

We're so happy that we got this chance to see Peter Himmelman perform live!

Endless Green

Imagination

My Trampoline

Candy

A Dozen Roses

King Ferdinand

The Main Dish

My Feet

James is 6

My Green Kite

I Don't Like to Share

Lunch Money in the Rumpus Room

Today we were thrilled to get back to the Rumpus Room at XM in DC after over a month and see Lunch Money perform live in the XM LiVE Performance Studio! We always love to hear Lunch Money live, and while we heard a couple of the new ones in NY, we heard another couple of new songs and think they rock! We cannot wait for the next CD!

We had a fabulous time in the Rumpus Room. The KPL "minion" Ali does a great job keeping everyone entertained and organized. Mindy and various family members were there for the show.

For various reasons, the band was not planning on playing their KPL hit "It Only Takes One Night To Make a Balloon Your Friend," but a kid requested it. Then there were some technical difficulties, so the band played it, not for airing, but as filler while the connections/wires were being fixed. At the end of the show, someone gave Molly (I think) a red mylar balloon, and guess what happened?? It flew away! Red ones go to Paris, don't they?

Go check out the Lunch Money concert schedule and get out to see them live if you can!

Hope We're Ready to Rock

I Want A Dog

Tricycle

Rollercoaster

Ate Too Much of My Favorite Food

Yes, We Have Rhythm

Stop and Go

Dizzy!

It Only Takes One Night To Make A Balloon Your Friend

I Like To Push Buttons

Spicy Kids

Come Over To My Dollhouse

Tiny Dinosaurs

I Love My Library

Cookie As Big As My Head

Brady Rymer at XM - 12 Jun 2009

Yesterday, we were excited to get back to the Rumpus Room at XM in DC and see Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could perform live in the XM LiVE Performance Studio! We've seen them a couple times before, once in Georgia, and love his enthusiasm, music and smile.

We spent a bit of time in the upstairs waiting area. The kids were asked if they would like to make some recordings for possible use on the station, and they all loved it -- they had to say "Sirius/XM Kids Place Live!" Camille ran around chasing one very fast little toddler who feels right at home at XM, wandering down this way and that.

We finally got to head into the performance theater. Brady in the band wandered in before Mindy got to play her "joke" on them. Brady jumped right into playing, starting off with the logical choice "Here Comes Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could." The band members at this show were Brady on lead, Seth Farber on keybaords, Liz Queler on mandolin and vocals and then Chris Roselli stuck over in the drum box.

The concert was fantastic. Great energy, great selection of songs (though I would have loved to hear 15 more, of course). The audience really got into "I Found It!" Brady played older songs along with songs from the latest CD and even a couple new tunes, which we can't wait to hear on his next CD! He finished up on a high note with the popular "Road Trip." What fun!

We had a great time hanging out for a long time after the show. I can't believe that we won't get to go back to XM for at least a month! A whole month! How will we make it that long?

Here Comes Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could

Smile

Jump Up!

Dilly Dally Daisy

Better Days Are Coming

Keep Up With You

Look At My Belly

I Found It!

One True You

Shine Your Little Light

Road Trip

Randy Kaplan at XM - 28 May 2009

Yesterday, we were excited to get back to the Rumpus Room at XM in DC for our third time in May! It was so great to see Randy Kaplan perform live in the XM LiVE Performance Studio! We've seen him a couple times before, but never for a full show, and it was great! We love his sense of humor and way of blending song and outrageous stories.

While we waited in the lobby for Mindy to come get us and bring us upstairs, weren't we surpised to see Robbie come down. And then Mindy. And then Kenny and Jinx walked in too! Wow! I don't think I've ever seen all four of them in one place! After we went up to the waiting area outside the performane studio, Mindy sat down to rad a story. And Robbie sat on the floor right in front of her. And Kenny sat in his lap. What a silly crew they are!!!

Chloe was thrilled that he did "Shampoo Me" and I was so happy that he played the "Grape Juice Hesitation Blues." He got the audience interacting on songs that they had never heard before. Everyone had a blast, but the loyal KPL listeners were quite anxious for him to get to the two songs that KPL has been playing (over and over) lately. After the show, he hung out with the fans until he had to run to catch his train. Camille and I found it amusing that Randy had the "Ladybug Without Spots" verse order taped to the guitar.

Good Morning Blues

Grape Juice Hesitation Blues

Mosquito Song

The Fire Engine

Shampoo Me

The Lady Bug without Spots

Michael Finnegan

You Can't Always Get What You Want

Loquat Rooftop

Roaches

Over the Rainbow

No Nothin'

Tomorrow

Gotta Get Gone

Billy Jonas at the Rumpus Room

Last Friday (how have I gotten so far behind??), we were lucky enough to be able to get to see Billy Jonas live in the XM LiVE Performance Studio (aka Rumpus Room).

Along with getting to go to an awesome live concert, we also met up with new and old friends. Everyone was so nice, and so happy to be there for the concert. I "re"met someone from past Rumpus Room shows (Kit, thank you for being was SO nice and friendly) and chatted a bit with the mom of Scrap Metal creator Danny - Chloe was fascinated with Danny, but too shy to say anything to him. We also enjoyed being with a fellow kids' music blogger, OWTK Jeff and his family. And, of course, Chloe loved being with her BFF + .5, Mindy. I felt so lucky to be a part of the Kids Place Live family!

On top of all that, we were thrilled to be a part of the audience at the Billy Jonas show. Billy entertained us all and happily described the "reclaimed" instruments that he used in his bangin' and sangin'. He sang some of our favorites but also made up a new song on the spot, called "Ducks and Racecars." The kids really got into the call and response parts and the fireworks applause, too.

We look forward to hearing this show on the radio some day soon!

The Sippy Cups at the Rumpus Room

Photos, Video and Recap here.

Today we took metro over to XM for a Rumpus Room concert featuring The Sippy Cups. We loved being back in the building, seeing Mindy and hearing a wonderful concert by The Sippy Cups. Mindy even got to be a circus performer during the show!




Photos, Video and Recap here.

Live on the Farm

Yes, you read that right! The KPL Fans went to the Animal Farm this morning! And Chloe says that it doesn't small bad. Chloe's other observation is that everything on the farm is "awkward".

We had such a great time hanging with Kenny! We listened as he took some calls, including one from the kid int he big truck and another from the boy whose birthday it was. We loved chatting with him and seeing him do his stuff. Unfortunately, he didn't have a change to bring any of the animals out, though he did put "Chloe the Cat" on the air, which mean that now Kenny is one of Chloe's BFFs. She's already planning to call in and be a regular visitor.

We are so thrilled that Kenny let us come visit him on the farm and see how he pushes all the buttons, spins the dials and slides the sliders, all while answering the phone and using the computer. Wow!

We hung out at XM for a little while after we left Kenny, because it gave us a chance to say hi to Chloe's other BFF, Mindy. Yeah! While we waited for Mindy, none other than Jinx came through the lobby! (We would have asked for a photo, but he was on the phone.) Mindy was so nice to take time to hang with us for a little while before she went in to get to work. As always, it was great to be with her there at XM, one of our favorite places to visit.

SteveSongs Hangs with Mindy

SteveSongs came into the KPL studio today to hang out with Mindy. Steve talked about his new song with Mindy, then Steve played it -- it's about his trip and hanging out with Mindy, but oops, he said "XMKids." can he change that to "Kids Place Live"? "Hobby Paper" rhymes with Robbie Schaefer, but it is a little weird, isn't it?

He comes up with ideas from things that pop up in everyday life. He gets ideas from kids and parents. Mindy said don't ask for "Crazy Frog", so the first kid asked SteveSongs to play "Alvin and the Chipmunks." Argh!

Steve lives in Connecticut, but he's in DC to play at Jammin' Java tomorrow and then one on Sunday in Owings Mills. Steve started writing songs when he was in college. Steve says that he doesn't know how to read music very well! Steve loved science in school.

Steve and Logan (regular caller) performed "Fast Monkey" together live on the air. Fantastic! Mindy got Steve to help press buttons; I don't think he broke anything. Steve's cat Emma has three legs, but she gets around just fine. Steve gave a shout out to Milkshake (we can't wait to see them again -- soon).

Steve got bullied around when he was in fifth grade. The bully let up on Steve when he was able to score goals in football. He was never mean back to the bully.

Chloe chatted (and chatted and chatted) with Steve and Mindy. Steve pulled his band out of his pocket. David Stackhouse (beat box), Paul "Puddles" Pampanela (electric guitar), and The Sensational Sillies, Serena (12) and Ailey (10). The band performed "Spyrtle the Turtle" live (for our Chloe - the photo is of the girls near the Sea Turtle Center in Jekyll Island) and then "Giant."

Steve has five albums, and you HAVE to get SteveSongs DVD!! He's on PBSKids too.

Mindy, Steve and the band THANKS SO MUCH! Xhloe has perked up so much. You guys rock!

XM is in DC and so are we.

It was bound to happen eventually.

In the Broadcast Booth

While we were at XM on Friday, Mindy kindly gave us a tour of XM! It was amazing! We got to see where everyone on XMKids has their desks and even got to go into their broadcast booth and sit in the broadcasting chair! Both my kids really got a kick out of it, even though Chloe was too scared to touch anything on the mixing board.



How fun! Thanks, Mindy!

Live in the Rumpus Room - Ralph's World

We were so excited to get the chance to see Ralph's World perform in the XMKids Rumpus Room! Everyone had a great time; it felt like a large house party!



Photos and Recap

Thanks, Mindy and XMKids for hosting a great party! We cannot wait to hear the show air on our channel 116.

Live in the Rumpus Room - Secret Agent 23 Skidoo

Yesterday we were thrilled to get to see Secret Agent 23 Skidoo. in the Rumpus Room! To make it even better, we got to meet Mindy's "baby brother" while there!



To see more, click here on Photos and Recap.

Live in the Rumpus Room - Recess Monkey

On Tuesday, we went to a fabulous afternoon concert in the XMKids Rumpus Room, featuring Recess Monkey! What fun it was to be back at XM and seeing both Robbie and a really cool band!



Photos and Recap are here.