No School Today Gets A Release Date!

I haven't posted anything about Danny's upcoming album in a little while, but today I've got an update chock-a-block full of new info including a release date, label, new videos, and another special guest! I'll let this handy press release give you all the details :-) So exciting!!

They Might Be Giants Bassist Danny Weinkauf Announces Debut Solo Album No School Today Out April 29th

From the Grammy Award winning artist who brought you the songs "I Am A Paleontologist", "Number Two", and "Where Do They Make Balloons?”

Lynbrook, NY (February 5, 2014) - Danny Weinkauf, long time bassist for They Might Be Giants, is thrilled to announce his first solo children's music album, No School Today, to be released on April 29th. The album will be released via Idlewild Recordings And Megaforce Records with distribution by Sony/RED. This is the first album by an artist other than They Might Be Giants, to be released on the band’s own label, Idlewild Recordings.

Packed with 16 catchy and memorable tunes, No School Today covers topics from marsupials to archaeology, spelling bees, voting rights, the four food groups, and even a song about Ben Folds! The songs on this album are written with both children and their parents in mind — no “cutesy” baby stuff  — just intelligent, fun songs that the whole family will enjoy! Danny produced the album and plays all the instruments himself. He has recruited Jeff Thall (Bryan Ferry, John Cale) to mix and Tom Durack (Chic, B52s) to master. Guest performers include Danny’s son Kai, wife Michelle and children’s music superstar Laurie Berkner. The album also features a bonus track, “The Kidney That Lived In Four People,” based on a true story, and written and recorded with Hank Green of the VlogBrothers.

Funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign, No School Today, met its initial goal in only five days and ended the campaign 160% funded, allowing for the production of several music videos to accompany the album. Videos for the songs “Marsupial” (EG Design), “Archaeology” (Yvonne Grzenkowicz), “Ice Cream” (David Cowles), and “Champion of the Spelling Bee” will be released in early spring, in advance of the album. 

A Grammy winning songwriter and producer, Danny Weinkauf has written hundreds of tracks for television, including music for "Malcolm in the Middle,” Sex and the City,” “Jon & Kate Plus 8,” “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” ESPN, CBS Sports, and more. In addition to They Might Be Giants, Danny has recorded with Fountains of Wayne, Candy Butchers, and Lincoln. His song, “I Am A Paleontologist,” from They Might Be Giants Grammy nominated Here Comes Science, has been featured in a national advertising campaign for Payless, and used in museum exhibits all over the world. 

Samples of all the songs on No School Today can be heard on Danny’s website:

http://www.dannyweinkauf.com

Introducing Danny Weinkauf Dot Com!

Check it out! Danny has just launched a new website at www.dannyweinkauf.com! You can listen to samples of all the songs on his upcoming kids album, No School Today, and get a sneak peak of what's in store! There will also be a new video for the song, Marsupials, coming soon! And did I mention this adorable adorable cover art?

Is it just me or does that red-pants-wearing, blue-guitar-pick-wielding, too-cool-for-school kangaroo look like a certain bass player we all know? ;-)

No School Today

A funny think happened recently. I was talking to a friend about the backing band and commenting about how I would gladly pay to see any one of them play a show on their own. And then later that same day, Danny announced that he was going to be releasing his own solo album of children's music! The coincidence was a little spooky but the announcement was most welcome.

Now, I am a HUGE fan of Danny's music. Two of his three songs with TMBG are in my Top 25. So I am beyond excited about the new album. It is called No School Today, and in the very near future, he will be launching a Kickstarter campaign to fund it. Kickstarter is all about the power of the people and Danny will be counting on us, the fans, to make both the funding campaign and the album itself a success. Kickstarter also means that in addition to getting copies of the album, there are bound to be some other fun backer rewards that we can throw our money at!

In my own small way, I'm going to be doing as much as I can to make this project go, so expect to see future posts with all the details of the Kickstarter, and any other updates that come along. Danny needs a street team and by gosh, I am going to be one! It is the very least I can do. Honestly, I wish I could do more.

So, watch this space for more details and start saving your pennies for cool Kickstarter rewards. And if you know any kids or parents of kids, or people who are acquainted with kids, or people that just like fun, family friendly tunes, please tell them about the album! We can make this happen, people!