Kid Magic

Laurie Berkner totally knows that kids really dig being silly. Like dancing, jumping, funny-face silly. Like, cry-halting, positive mood-swing silly. It's as though she's tapped into what those Yo Gabba Gabba! kids are dancing to, bottled it, reformulated it with piano, bass, her acoustic guitar and child- and adult-friendly voice...

By Merritt Martin

October 30, 2008

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Laurie Berkner totally knows that kids really dig being silly. Like dancing, jumping, funny-face silly. Like, cry-halting, positive mood-swing silly. It's as though she's tapped into what those Yo Gabba Gabba! kids are dancing to, bottled it, reformulated it with piano, bass, her acoustic guitar and child- and adult-friendly voice and put it out on CD. Her latest, Rocketship Run! (the first since 2002), is full of rompy frolic-inducing tunes that'll take a tyke from tantrum to totally distracted in about 2.54 seconds. How do I know? I baby-sat my niece a while back, and after she discovered Mommy was gone we had a bit of a meltdown. But after quickly moving to a different room, pulling out some crayons and turning on Ms. Berkner, the dancing was near instantaneous. That accounted for my first interaction with The Laurie Berkner Band (also featuring Susie Lampert and Adam Bernstein), but for many 'rents and kids, they've got a few albums and/or DVDs already. Now how about a live show? The Laurie Berkner Band takes the stage 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie. Tickets are $25 to $35. Call 214-373-8000 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Sun., Nov. 2, 1:30 p.m., 2008

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Merritt Martin has written for the Dallas Observer for over two decades. She has also contributed to Eater, DMN and USA Today. In addition to arts and culture writing, she spends entirely too much time extolling the virtues of pears, black clothing, and her cat Kenneth.

Contact: Merritt Martin

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