Like my shopping I like to keep my stories local — they’re fresher that way.
So I was bummed when I discovered I had an interview with Chris Ballew — member of the alternative rock group The Presidents of the United States of America who also happens to make extremely popular kids music under the pseudonym Caspar Babypants — but no show in good ole Renton.
Seattle, Factoria, Bellevue, Woodinville, Federal Way, Tacoma, Auburn, Southcenter, Skyway. But no Renton.
Caspar Babypants shows are free at King County Library System branches or local Top Pot Doughnuts (for November and December concert dates see www.babypants.com) or reasonably priced at other venues.
So our family went to see the Caspar Babypants concert at KidsQuest Museum in Factoria. There wasn’t smoke, smashing guitars or intricate lighting. Just Caspar Babypants chilling on a stool with a three-string acoustic guitar perched on his lap.
He wore a logo-less, sunshine colored t-shirt, black shorts and black Addidas. Ron Hippe, a.k.a Ronald Babyshoes, wore a similar outfit and accompanied in spirit on a low-tech mini piano that could have passed for a toy from the sixties.
However, confusing this as toddler tunes would be like calling a magic flute “just a flute.”
It was magic when the acoustic guitar came to life with punchy, folksy vocals delivered with an easy-going confidence. Simple creative lyrics that my kids and I don’t want to stop singing.
I was excited to interview Chris because I admire his story. Not many people have the courage to follow their gut away from the rock-star status of the Presidents toward the unknown that would eventually lead to the new voice of Caspar Babypants.
“Things weren’t feeling just right,” Chris explained during a recent interview. “I wanted to make quiet, simple, straightforward and sustainable music.”
I asked Chris if he had any pointers for teaching kids how to value the process of living simply and having fun as opposed to the “wealth dream” of fame and fortune.”
“Fame and fortune are completely flimsy and hard to maintain. . . . Everyone has to discover it for themselves. It took me 44 years to figure that out. If you have integrity and an urge to find the truth without flinching. But all this is too heavy for kids. You have to lead by example as I do with my kids. It’s incredibly relaxing to have found my voice and my place in the world. I help parents relax and enjoy the music with their kids.”
Chris’s version of relaxation these days is a family affair. A collaboration that includes his wife, children’s book writer and artist Kate Endle and their kids who have a creative hand in the Caspar Babypants process — including the You Tube videos my kids can’t get enough of.
Chris reinterprets nursery rhymes and folk songs that have been passed down through generations.
“People come up to me at shows and say ‘Oh you’re making kids music’ and I want to sit them down for an hour and explain how important and deep it is —but I just let it go.”
“What about coming to Renton?” I asked. Even though I have never produced a concert before, the idea of all those relaxed parents and happy kids around the holidays seemed like a very good thing.
“I love Renton! If you want to organize a show from scratch I would be happy to play it!” Chris said.
I love suggestions! If you know of people or places in Renton that surprise, delight and inspire the community, drop me a line at carolyn@pippimamma.com. Also follow Carolyn on her blog, www.pippimamma.com.
CASPAR IN RENTON
Our columnist, Carolyn Ossorio, has taken up the challenge to bring Caspar Babypants to Renton. But she needs the community’s help – and fast. Friends of Renton Libraries has agreed to accept donations to pay the $400 fee to bring Caspar Babypants to a venue, in this case the KCLS branch downtown. A tentative date is 10: 30 a.m. Dec. 13.
Carolyn is soliciting donations and is hoping that a business or businesses can really help out in the effort. Checks should be made out to the Friends of Renton Libraries. Please contact Carolyn by phone, 206-478-0995 or by email, carolyn@pippimamma.com, to donate or for more information.
Thanks, Dean A. Radford, editor
