Be Part of the Band

Saturday morning, we loaded up the boys and headed to an awesome music venue in Decatur, GA. Late last year, The Verve Pipe released a family album, and the band is promoting the album by doing live shows for kids. I am a fan of The Verve Pipe (TVP) and Brian Vander Ark (BVA), and I was given the family album as a Christmas present.

When I heard the band was going to do a show at Eddie’s Attic for the kids, I snagged four tickets immediately. I admit, I hadn’t actively listened to the CD with my kids. Nor, did I ask the kids if they were interested in going to hear the band. In fact, when I told the boys we were going to hear live music, Joe, my oldest, was not too thrilled with the idea. He asked if he could stay home with Daddy. Little did he know, his Dad was also a fan of TVP and BVA.

I decided to spend a few days playing the CD in the car – frequently. Instantly, the boys took to the first two songs, though Joe was not too keen about the third song; he asked, “Can we just stay for the first two songs?”

While at a red light, I handed Joe the CD holder. My brother and sister-in-law had gone to a BVA show, and purchased the family CD for me. They asked BVA to sign the CD for my kids. So, as any manipulative parent would do, I showed Joe (and Charlie) where Brian wrote their names on the CD holder. “Have I met Brian?” Joe asked. I could tell the manipulation worked, as I watched a smile come across his face when he asked the question.

Over the course of a week, we listened to the CD in the car. If Joe was in the car, he would ask me to turn off the CD after the first two songs. And, he insisted he didn’t like it much, hoping to leave after the first two songs. Charlie, on the other hand, loved the CD. And, when he was the only one in the car with me, we listened to it over and over again. Then came the day of the show . . .

As we left the house, Joe was still playing hard to get. You could tell from his smile, he was having a good time ‘fretting’ over the concert, still he wasn’t backing down from his ‘stay for only two songs’ request. And, when we entered the venue, Joe wasn’t impressed with the scenery. Again, tapping into my manipulative talents, I asked the waitress for some chips. [The boys rarely eat ‘junk’ food at home. Letting them have chips was my ace in the hole.] Oh, I also asked the waitress for a Guinness. This manipulative Mamma ain’t gonna pass up an opportunity to enjoy a freshly tapped Guinness, thank you very much.

Sitting at the ‘bar’ table and eating chips, the boys began to get more and more excited about seeing the band. I noticed BVA from across the room, and I pointed him out to Joe. “That’s the lead singer, Joe. He’s the one that signed your CD and came to play at Mommy & Daddy’s house.” Joe smiled. I smiled. This was going to be great.

While waiting for the show, Brian came close to where we were sitting; so, I said hello and introduced him to the boys. Brian told Joe about how he played at our house. It was neat. Brian also asked if he could snap a picture of us. “Of course!” We said.

Shortly after getting our picture taken, the guys hit the stage and started to jam. And, just like the CD, they started out with their song “Wake up!”. Joe settled in to listen, dance and enjoy, as did Rob, Charlie and I. For the record, Joe did ask – at one point – how many more songs he had to hear, but he was in no true hurry to leave. He had a fantastic time.

After TVP did an encore of The Monkees “I’m a believer” [an awesomely done cover], the show ended. Joe and Charlie were bouncing around, singing various lyrics from various songs they had just heard. Rob and I looked at each other, and we agreed it was one of the best shows we had seen. How great it was to hear really good adult rock and roll, spun for kids’ ears. I wish more rock bands followed the lead of bands like TVP. Many parents want to expose their kids to music; but – are The Wiggles music? Really?

Parents – if you have kids – you must buy The Verve Pipe’s Family Album. Nope. Scratch that. If you like The Verve Pipe, you must buy the family album – no kids kids necessary to enjoy this music. Our kids sang the songs from the CD the ENTIRE drive home. [Note: the drive to (and from) Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, GA to our house is about an hour.] And, we continue to listen and rock out to this music. “Be Part of the Band” (track 4 on the TVP Family Album) is one of the boys’ favorite. (Yes, Joe is over his ‘two song’ limit phase.) I hope this song, among others, inspires the boys to pick a favorite instrument and do the best they can. Give it a listen:

If any rock stars are reading this blog (because I know I have many rock star followers), please consider making a kids’ album. Put out some music that parents can rock to with their kids. No offense to The Wiggles, Barney and Baby Einstein, but we want to rock! And to Brian Vander Ark and the rest of The Verve Pipe, thank you so much for taking the time to write and sing to ‘the little people’. We salute you! Rock on! (Please.)