Tag Archives: Lucky Diaz

Lucky Diaz – Made In L.A.

Made In L.A. is Lucky Diaz’s funky, fresh love letter to the City of Angels. It will be released on July 21st. We are proud to offer you a first glimpse at the gorgeous Made In L.A. artwork, created by the one and only Micah Player.

Listen to the infectious ‘Paletero Man’ – an ode to the Mexican ice cream man. Good luck getting the chorus out of your head:

Oye, my friend
Can you hear the sounds of the weekend
Oye, my friend
Don’t miss your chance

Ven aca Paletero man

Lucky will be playing Lollapalooza this summer in addition to plenty of other shows across the US. If he’s in your town, make plans to support great independent music. 

‘Paletero Man’ is also featured on this killer summer road trip playlist featuring Lisa Loeb, Justin Roberts, Red Yarn and more!

Fids & Kamily 2016 & Best of the Decade

For those of you new to family music, Fids & Kamily is a yearly poll that compiles the lists of the year’s favorite kids and family music. Music bloggers, radio hosts, etc. They keep letting me vote, so I keep voting. And a couple weeks ago they released the results.

Before we take a look at 2016, let’s take a look back at the last 10 years.

2006-2015-fids-and-kamily

Here is how the committee vetted out.

Here’s a look at my “Best of the Decade” ballot:

1. Dan Zanes and Friends – Catch That Train!
2. Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band – A Potluck
3. Justin Roberts – Jungle Gym
4. The Pop Ups – Radio Jungle
5. The Okee Dokee Brothers – Can You Canoe?
6. Gustafer Yellowgold – Gustafer Yellowgold’s Infinity Sock
7. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo – Underground Playground
8. Frances England – Mind of My Own
9. Caspar Babypants – Sing Along!
10. They Might Be Giants – Here Come the 123s
11. The Deedle Deedle Dees – Strange Dees, Indeed
12. Josh and the Jamtones – Rocksteady
13. Lori Henriques – The World Is a Curious Place To Live
14. Dan Zanes and Friends – Little Nut Tree
15. Justin Roberts – Lullaby
16. Recess Monkey – The Final Funktier
17. The Not-Its – Raise Your Hand
18. Various Artists – Science Fair
19. Medeski, Martin & Wood – Let’s Go Everywhere
20. Ozomatli – Ozomatli Presents OzoKidz

And now for 2016. Here’s how the panel of judges voted.

Here is my 2016 Fids & Family ballot:

1. Frances England – Explorer of the World
2. The Okee Dokee Brothers – Saddle Up: A Western Adventure Album
3. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo – Infinity Plus One
4. Sonia De Los Santos – Mi Viaje: De Nuevo León to the New York Island
5. Dean Jones – In My Dreams
6. The Not-Its! – Are You Listening?
7. Moona Luna – Panorama
8. Sugar Free Allstars – Sugar Free Allstars
9. The Deedle Deedle Dees – Sing-A-Long History Vol. 2: The Rocket Went Up!
10. Mista Cookie Jar – Music Is Everywhere

If you haven’t already, please take a listen to some of these wonderful records and support independent music for families. 

Review: Lishy Lou and Lucky Too Radio Hour

My first love was radio. I still love radio. I have old 1950’s microphone tattooed on my right arm. (Probably not one of the wisest choices in my life, but still.) While in high school I interned at local radio stations and jumped at the chance at college radio when I arrived on campus. Radio was all and everything I ever wanted to do. I got my first real radio job while still a college student and I was in heaven. I spent the next 10 years of my post college years working in radio.

Years have passed since I stopped working in radio, because everything became automated and humans were no longer needed. My dream to be Johnny Fever or Venus Flytrap or even Les Nessman, was dead. Which in a long winded way, brings me to Lishy Lou and Lucky Too Radio Hour. It was a reminder of why I fell in love with radio in the first place. Radio can be engaging. Radio allows for ‘Theater of the mind.’ (as Steve Allen once said ‘and TV is theater for the mindless’) Radio can let your imagination run wild.

The new album from husband & wife team Lucky Diaz and Alisha Gladdis (and now GRAMMY award winners), is the reason why I love the Kindie music scene so much. There are no walls. It is creative freedom at it’s finest. Albums are made out of pure love. Not because a record label needs to sell a certain number of downloads. The Kindie scene allows for artists to make beautiful art.

The Lishy Lou and Lucky Too is an ode to times past, yet sounds as fresh as tomorrow. It’s campy, clever, and smart. Its a little bit Laugh-In, a little bit Pee Wee’s Playhouse, and a whole lotta fun.

Now, I’ve never been a fan of skits, I just want the music. However, my 4 year old wanted to hear them over and over again. And then the light bulb went off in my head. The skits reminded me of my old Muppet and Sesame Street records that I grew up on. I’ve been pulling those records out lately and I remember word for word exactly what is said by Kermit, Fozzie, Statler, Waldorf or Oscar the Grouch in between the songs.

With any luck my kids will be doing the same thing with Lishy Lou and Lucky Too 30 years from now.

Oh, the songs are pretty damn good too. But they need to be experienced with the whole album. So, no teases about which songs are best, just a big nudge from me to you to get the whole album and let your kids experience ‘Theater of the mind’ themselves.

Buy the album here. Find out more here. Enjoy for years to come.

*my apologies, I’ve been so off the grid I thought I hit publish on this in November*