Lemme guess. You haaaaaate it when people bring their kids to ACL. The nerve! In my short time as a father, I’ve learned there are two basic kinds of kids’ music – that which recognizes adults also have to listen, and that which makes you want to shove Legos in your ears. Thankfully, there’s plenty of the former if your little ones need to get the wiggles out. Bouncing Souls frontman Greg Attonito makes up one half of “kindie rock” husband-wife duo Play Date, which teaches kids to “Dance Like a Monster” on Friday and Sunday. Fellow Nineties rocker Chris Ballew of the Presidents of the United States of America takes the stage on both Saturday and Sunday, daylighting as Caspar Babypants. Backed by local orchestra Mother Falcon, Brooklyn-based Tim & the Space Cadets quadruple in size for Friday’s collaborative jamboree before scaling back for Saturday’s encore performance. Sunday, the Q Brothers (JQ and GQ) spit kid-friendly freestyles and have been known to flip “ad-rap-tations” of classic Shakespeare lines. Proving the stage is not only for kids but also by kids, 13-year-old local Grace London takes the stage on Friday followed by an all-star cast of School of Rock graduates.
This article appears in October 4 • 2013.
