Caspar Babypants + Board of Education = Hiawatha hit

Wide-eyed wonder and all-out jumping for joy were alternating behaviors for the hundreds of young showgoers in Thursday night’s record-breaking crowd for the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series. This time it was a double-bill of kids-music specialists, beginning with West Seattle’s own Caspar Babypants, who as usual mixed storytelling with song – and audience participation, as you’ll see and hear in our video clip:

After watching all that jumping and bouncing from the stage, Caspar Babypants’ Chris Ballew took a leap himself:

Afterward – the rock-star-turned-kids’-music-icon sold CDs and granted autograph requests at one of the lawn-ringing tables:

By the way, if you enjoy Ballew’s other work – with the Presidents of the United States of America – you can watch him sing a selection of POTUSA songs at a benefit concert at Camp Long at 5 pm Sunday, during this weekend’s Arts-in-Nature Festival at Camp Long ($25 concert tickets available here) – and earlier Sunday, as part of the festival, it’s a Caspar Babypants performance at Camp Long Lodge. Meantime, we spotted another local luminary offstage at Thursday night’s concert:

Radio-to-web personality Marty Riemer was there with his entire family entourage. Back toward the stage, the intermission between acts featured ballroom-dancing lessons for elegant young dancers:

Then back to the rock ‘n’ roll. You gotta love a band that sings “when 8 takes a nap it’s infinity”:

That’s the Board of Education with at least one West Seattleite in their ranks. One more note about the night – WestSide Baby was there, collecting diapers:

ANA provided free face painters and popsicles as special treats. Next Thursday night, it’s Camille Bloom – same time (6:30 pm), same price (free). And there’s more outdoor music in West Seattle tomorrow night – the third of this summer’s four Outdoor Concerts at The Mount at Providence Mount St. Vincent – Danny Vernon’s Illusion of Elvis. Concert’s at 6, and free; come early and buy dinner starting at 5, if you want – fried chicken, burgers, hot dogs will be available. (And for kids – a clown and face-painter.)

Cheryl August 20, 2010 (6:54 am)

We had the MOST fun last night!! And I’m pretty sure the kids did too. ;-)

add August 20, 2010 (8:03 am)

Great recap of a great evening! Thanks to everyone who donated cash, items, & diapers to WestSide Baby last night – on behalf of all the babies and kids we serve, your generosity is so appreciated!

miws August 20, 2010 (8:08 am)

For anyone that may have been at the Caspar Babypants concert last night with an Orange B.O.B. stroller, “mswest” posted a Notice over on WSB Forums regarding her husband accidentally slipping his prescription eyeglasses in the cupholder zipper pocket of one identical to theirs.

Mike

The Board of Education August 20, 2010 (9:38 am)

Thanks to everyone that came out last night. We had so much fun!

Yes, we do have West Seattle roots. Our keyboardist has lived here from 12 years and we rehearse here.

D August 20, 2010 (9:45 am)

I’m so blown away by the quality of the music at these concerts! Caspar Babypants is playing at Bumbershoot this year, and instead of paying $40 for a Bumbershoot ticket (still well worth it), we just got our own concert in our own neighborhood for free. Thanks ANA!

a fan August 20, 2010 (9:57 am)

I think I love casper more than my kids! this music is great!!! best kids music I’ve heard

pam August 20, 2010 (10:07 am)

Loved it too except…… next time can we give out ‘clear’ popsicles instead of blue or green!! haha – what a mess!!

Great community event!

westseattledood August 20, 2010 (10:52 am)

If I were three, I’m pretty sure I would be a Babypants groupie. ;)

CurlyQ August 20, 2010 (1:00 pm)

Westseattledood, I’m 47 and I’m a total groupie, of these groups and other phenomenally talented, family-oriented musicians in Seattle. Check it out: http://www.kindiependent.com/

Happy listening everyone!

Lindsey August 20, 2010 (1:21 pm)

Ugh, I just cannot get over these adorable pictures and video! It just serves to reinforce my thoughts that, when the time is right, West Seattle will be a great place to raise a family. What a great event.

WSB August 20, 2010 (1:36 pm)

We have looked out at these crowds every week and said, “Now WHO was it that said Seattle is not a town with families?” We have informally observed over the past several years that there’s been a WS baby boom. Preschool and kindergarten enrollment – and the springing-up of new programs – seems to confirm that. We had our guy 14 years ago when it was a lonelier endeavor but glad to see we have a growing generation of new West Seattle natives now :) – TR

Manolita August 20, 2010 (2:01 pm)

If you have an infant, a prescholer, a kindergantener AND a second grader like we do, these concerts are the place to be!
What a fun evening with music and fun for everyone.
Thanks to the ADmiral Neighborhood Association and the fabulous sponsors that make this a free event for the entire community.
Gracias!

Terri August 20, 2010 (2:35 pm)

Just want to add my ‘thank you’ to the ANA and the sponsors, and my ‘ditto’ to the Casper Babypants groupie idea. What a wonderful evening of music and fun! As the grandma of a two and a four year old, I also enjoyed the music and community spirit along with my daughter and son-in-law and the little ones. We bought our dinner from PCC to further support one of the sponsors!

WSB August 20, 2010 (3:19 pm)

Thanks, Terri, for supporting PCC, which is a WSB sponsor as well as a concert-series sponsor :)
.
And in the other direction for those seeking nearby deli food, Metropolitan Market is a WSB sponsor too :)

Katy Walum August 20, 2010 (3:36 pm)

Thanks so much for all the positive comments! We of the ANA are so glad to put these concerts on for this community, especially when we get to see the joy on little faces that these photos and videos capture so amazingly. It’s also a pleasure to see the grownups really relaxing and enjoying each other and their surroundings on the Hiawatha lawn. We hope that, through these shows, we can help create happy memories for you and yours of summers in beautiful West Seattle.

Lakema Bell August 21, 2010 (9:35 am)

Hiawatha Community Center staff really appreciates everyone coming out to the concert on Thursday! Just a little plug and reminder to come check out our toddler and family programming and events. Our Open House is on September 17 from 6-8pm. Demos, entertainment, and light refreshments will be on hand.