From Presidents to Babypants, Chris Ballew Brings Hip Kid Tunes to Crossroads Bellevue April 30

There was plenty of hopping. There was spinning. There was swaying and wiggling, too.

And there were kids and parents who just let the bouncy tunes from Caspar Babypants flow through their ears last month at the . Their bodies moved in all sorts of directions.

That's what families might expect as Caspar Babyants, better known as musician and Presidents of the United States of America frontman Chris Ballew, plays a free show at at 1 p.m. April 30. The show is sponsored by the Bellevue library.

Ballew writes original songs with tunes and lyrics that are friendly for kids, and performs classic children songs, such as "Frere Jacques," with a modern twist.

As Caspar Babypants, Ballew and his bandmates Ron Hippe and Fred Northup played the kids' tunes with clear sounds and purposeful repetition. Northup even played a metal washboard.

An estimated 550 people sat on the ground and on chairs to listen to Caspar Babypants peform songs from the new album, "This is Fun!" as well as previous tunes. It was a free show.

This year, he said, he is focusing his efforts on Caspar Babypants though the Presidents will continue to perform for fans.

"I'm really making this music to help parents and kids relax together and sing together," Ballew said. "I'm doing this to help make a long car ride more tolerable or a boring rainy day at home be more tolerable."

The crowd included moms, kids as well as a few dads and grandparents. The turnout was one of the largest in the new building, which opened in 2010, said , managing librarian.

Ballew explained that he likes bringing Caspar Babypants to audiences at libraries, especially ones in the King County Library System, because parents and kids come prepared to listen and participate.

"The curse for a performer for kids is a bouncy house and I will never find a bouncy house at a library," he said. "I really appreciate that."

Amy Best, a Bothell mom who grew up in Sammamish, brought her 3-year-old son to the concert--making it the third Caspar Babypants performance the two have seen.

"We have all their CDs," Best, 33, said. "They're so fun. It's catchy. All the words are fun. Good tunes. Good beats. It's fun for parents and kids."

She also is grateful to hear Ballew live because she has long enjoyed listening to the Presidents.

For Ballew, part of the enjoyment is watching young people interact with and interpret the music. "I love how kids relate to the world," he said.

"To me, little kids and especially toddlers, 4-, 5- and 6-year-olds are some of the most enlightened people on the planet. I love being around that energy, that freedom."

Patch asks you:

Are you going to the show?