Having kids can inspire you to do crazy, amazing things. In the case of power-popping dads Chuck Folds, Steve Williard and Eddie Walkermusicians with over 50 combined years of North Carolina music scene experienceit inspired the parent-friendly kids music (vice versa also accepted) trio Big Bang Boom.
First, Chuck reveals the key to making kids music:
No secret, just make good music. Kids aren't as dumb as I think most kid's music musicians think they are. You can make the production and arrangement of the song (instrumentation, sounds, etc.) fit for contemporary pop radio. You can make the melody worthy of adult radio (as long as not too harsh of a melody). And just keep the words appealing to parents and kids. No problem. My inspiration for that is Bugs Bunny cartoons. We all know now as adults that clearly they are geared toward grown-ups but can appeal to kids with just enough of the slapstick.
And then, eerie parallels between kids music shows and adult music shows:
I accidentally bumped a little girl with the headstock of my basswasn't bad, but she was a little upsetat a Big Bang Boom show. I intentionally hit a drunk frat kid with the headstock of my bass at a frat party a couple years ago. He wasn't upset. Actually, he didn't know it happened.
Playing for kids is very similar to playing for adults at a party: You have to make sure cables are out of the way, tell them what is going to happen, and make sure nothing gets too out of hand.
Big Bang Boom will play a 4:30 p.m. show at Durham's Broad Street Café this Sunday, October 18. It's a free show, but you can show your appreciation when the tip jar gets passed. Helmets optional.
