After listening to the third track on the Palm School Choir’s new CD, Gold, I began to sweat. Had I done my homework? Would I get detention if I didn’t? Was there a pop quiz or test today? Did I bring my lunch money? And when, oh when, was recess?
False alarms all, but the anxieties of sitting in music class all those years ago came flooding back with the joyous chorus of voices flowing from the 2-CD set by students of Svante Palm Elementary School. And yes, the songs encompass youthful dreams and the innocent world of childhood (“Dreaming of Mars,” “Be a Volcano,” “Squirrels, Bears and Butterflies”), but don’t forget these students also performed a Flaming Lips tribute show a few years ago at Ruta Maya. The piano-driven music is led by choir director Gavin Tabone, who also acts as writer/arranger/producer, and Gold includes another Flaming Lips cover, “Race for the Prize,” among the 22 songs.
PSC returns to Ruta Maya Friday night to celebrate the release of Gold. If you save your milk money, you can probably get in.
This article appears in February 29 • 2008.