Monster Mash

Music Monday--The Traveling WIlburys

In the late 80s, a few rock legends got together to form one of the first supergroups, The Traveling WIlburys. One of their first singles was the classic, "Handle Me With Care." Shortly after the album was released, one of the members, Roy Orbison died. Luckily this classic music survives.



More Traveling Wilburys on their YouTube channel

Music Monday--School of Rock

One night Alex woke up about an hour after going to bed for the night. This scene was coming on, so we let him watch it. After it was finished, all he said was, "that was cool."

Music Monday--Pink Martini

One of our favorite bands, Pink Martini, performing "Hey Eugene" on Letterman last year



If you haven't figure it out by now, Alex also sings this song too. He pretty much sings all the Music Monday songs.

Music Monday--Melody Gardot

One of my favorite new artists is the singer Melody Gardot. She has a beautiful voice that in time will put her up there with the great jazz vocalists. A victim of a hit-and-run accident a few years ago, she needs a cane and requires those dark glasses due to light sensitivity, but as you can see, that hasn't stopped her from making great music.

"Baby I'm A Fool" live on some Scandanavian tv:


and a bonus, her version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"

Music Monday--Joss Stone

Joss Stone and Common "Tell Me What We're Gonna Do Now"



Alex sings this one too.

Drum Off

Alex is crazy about the drums and music in general. He is constantly drumming on something and singing along.

I guess Guitar Center has been holding a drum-off for the past 20 years. If we had known earlier, we would have gone to one of the preliminary competitions at our local store, just 5 minutes away. The finals are this Saturday in Hollywood. Not sure if we will be able to go, but judging from last year's winner, it looks cool:

Maybe one day Alex will compete. The winner gets a really nice prize, $25,000!

Pictures from Sep 2008 visit to the Museum of Making Music:

The museum exhibits were fascinating, however, Alex thought the coolest part of the museum was the interactive area.

For those of you who live locally, here is a FREE alternative:
The Camp Drum Circle: Sundays - approximately 8pm. Located at the fire ring next to Patagonia/Adventure 16. This drum circle has been meeting consistently for around 5 years. At this time it is unfacilitated and very freestyle. Everyone is welcome. All levels. Djembes, doumbeks, congas, bongos, buckets - come one, come all.

post by David

What are you doing New Year's Eve?

One of our favorite groups, Pink Martini, will be performing 2 New Year's Eve shows at the Disney Concert Hall. Alas, tickets cost an arm and a leg, so we'll have to settle for YouTube:

Charlie Brown Christmas

The first Christmas we spent together when we first started going out, Armilyn and I listened to the soundtrack to "A Charlie Brown Christmas" so many times we lost count. It's been a holiday favorite ever since. We never tire of it.

So naturally it's become one of Alex's favorites too. He even would listen to the CD during the summer. Whenever we wanted him to slow down and relax, all we had to do was put it on. Of course, he calls it "Piano" because of Vince Guaraldi's piano playing in most of the songs.

Holiday Time in Brooklyn

A little holiday cheer from Dan Zanes & Friends:

Summer Concerts in the park

This past Thursday was the first in the annual summer concert series that Fountain Valley throws. The band that night was Caravana, a Latin/blues/rock band with a definite Santana influence. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pics of the band.

Two of Alex's bus mates, Louis and Stacy, came along with us. Both are in 6th grade and help the bus drivers with little kids like Alex, making sure they are buckled in their seats and such. When Alex came home earlier that day, I asked Louis if he wanted to go to the concert and he was so excited! When we got to the concert, he called Stacy, since he couldn't find any of his friends, so I went and picked her up.

There were local businesses giving away frisbees and various balls, so we spent most of the concert playing catch in the field.


Alex catching his breath in between games of catch



The kids enjoying their (second) free sno-cone

by Armilyn

New autism blog + America’s Got Talent

One of the local newspaper's just launched an autism blog: OC Register Autism blog

Scroll down the blog for a post on this 9-year old boy with Asperger's who is competing on "America's Got Talent". We don't usually watch that show, but he definitely steals your heart. Reminds us of our own budding musician, Alex!

Simply Wonderful

Too bad even the best kids on American Idol can't sing like this



post by David