Musician to perform kids’ tunes that everyone can enjoy

Alex Palmer
Published: Thursday, December 4, 2003

There’s no reason children’s music can’t rock, at least in Dan Zanes’ opinion.

Zanes, his bandmates and friends will be performing their brand of folksy rock music for kids this Saturday and Sunday at UCLA’s Schoenberg Hall. But kids are not the only ones who should be interested in checking out the show.

Zanes used to front the 1980s roots-rock band the Del Fuegos. The band was well-received by critics. At its peak, it was playing in Madison Square Garden and opening for Tom Petty. In 1984, Rolling Stone magazine dubbed the Del Fuegos “Best New Band.”

But as the ’80s came to an end, the members of the Del Fuegos parted ways. As Zanes settled down in Brooklyn with his wife and daughter, the rocker found his musical interests were changing along with his life.

The decision to shift gears musically came when Zanes went music shopping with his infant daughter several years ago. He was looking for something they could listen to together, the sort of music he had listened to as a child – Chuck Berry or Pete Seeger – but with a scruffier, more do-it-yourself sound. He wanted something that sounded like a bunch of people in a room just making music.

But what Zanes found were shelves of over-produced soundtracks to Disney movies and sing-along cassettes from Nickelodeon television shows. It was all very corporate and definitely not his idea of good family music.

“I really objected to these records that sounded like they were made in a studio and that had the production of grown-up records,” said Zanes. “I really didn’t know why that would be important to anyone, especially a child.”

So he began creating the kind of music that had stuck in his head since childhood, writing a few raucous kids’ tunes and recruiting his friend Sheryl Crow to sing on a bluesy version of “Polly Wolly Doodle.”

Once he got going, Zanes said he “found that there was music everywhere.” Besides getting other musician friends of his like Suzanne Vega and Simon Kirke to perform children’s music with him, Zanes recruited his family and people he met on the playgrounds and parks while out with his daughter to come to his home studio and record.

Out of these sessions came 2000’s “Rocket Ship Beach.” Zanes handed out copies of the album around his neighborhood and quickly realized there was a lot of enthusiasm for the kind of children’s music he had created.

“I had been having trouble getting gigs playing grown-up music about girlfriends and that sort of thing, but now everyone wanted me to come play at their schools and events,” said Zanes. “There was a lot more excitement and interest in this fun, communal kind of music. I’ll always follow the fun. The money I don’t care much about, the fun I follow.”

Community, optimism and fun are common threads that run through all the songs, and Zanes emphasizes these themes should appeal to everyone, not just grade-schoolers. He looks to avoid the “I love you, you love me” inanity other children’s music tends toward in an effort to get the parents to enjoy the music and share the experience with their child. Rather than just grit their teeth and tolerate kids’ music for their children’s sakes, his songs aim to get adults happily bobbing their head to the tunes.

“These aren’t songs particular to the experiences of a 3-year-old. They’re not about learning to tie your shoe or brush your teeth,” said Zanes. “I want to appeal to the grandparent without losing the kids.”

Zanes also hopes the messy sound of his music will encourage listeners to pick up their own instruments and give music a try. He feels slickly produced children’s music distances kids from the music-making process and encourages the idea that only professional musicians and singers are capable of performing a fun song.

“I’d like [my music] to be a springboard for people to make their own music,” said Zanes. “Everybody has a voice and can play an instrument; it’s something everybody can do. Don’t leave this to the professionals.”

The performances this weekend will likely capture this democratic approach to experiencing music. In concert, Zanes gets the audience involved so they are just as much a part of the show as the band. Typical shows begin with sing-alongs and call-and-response songs, but by the end, they descend into a sort of Grateful Dead-esque show where the audience is encouraged to just enjoy the music however they like.

Although the music is the reason for people to get together at his concerts, Zanes does not want it to be the entire focus. He would much rather see people creating their own entertainment while his band provides background music.

“My strength is my enthusiasm for music and making music,” said Zanes. “I’m there, but it’s really everybody’s thing.”

Dan Zanes and Friends perform at Schoenberg Hall on Dec. 6 at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. and Dec. 7 at 11 a.m. Student tickets are $8. For more information visit www.uclalive.org.