Party Music

The soundtrack to your next party

September 20, 2011 by Sharon Garofalow 2 Comments

You guys know that I love music. And my parties are often planned around the music that I want to play. It is where I draw inspiration for the colors and the mood and sometimes the overall theme of a party. While I love to put playlists together (selfishly mostly for myself, not my guests) sometimes, I just want to take a few pieces of the entertaining puzzle off my plate. My go to for party playlists is Grizzly Bear Modern. This husband and wife blogging team based out of Los Angeles put out amazing downloadable music for your enjoyment.

The 24 means that there are, yes, 24 different mixtapes for you to choose from. They are all about the same length and I would recommend downloading about 4 of them to cover the majority of your party.

I have not gone through every single one of the mixes but they feature a ton of new music and bands you might not know about but also sprinkle in some oldies too. Take volume 21 for instance, it features some of my fave newish stuff by Sleigh Bells and Washed Out but also Elton John, The Beatles and a little Rusted Root for good measure.

You simply must download volume 24 for the James Black and Bon Iver track. I’m seeing Bon Iver tonight and I’m ridiculously excited.

Be sure to read the rest of their blog also. As there logo says, talk about way more than just music and their style is berserk. Which means I love it.

Now pick a playlist and throw a party.

Sharon

all images from Grizzly Bear Modern

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Party Music

Kids Can Rock Too – Rad Rock from Your Musical Library

September 6, 2011 by Sharon Garofalow 1 Comment

I got a new car a few months back. It came with Sirius XM which I adore. For a while, I got away with listening to XMU, First Wave or Alt Nation. But one day I made the grave mistake of changing it to the kid’s station, Kid’s Place Live. I don’t actually hate everything about it. In fact, some of the music they play is actually good. But do you know what it is like to talk to a young child on the phone? Pretty painful right? Yeah. Well, they have several call-in type shows on that channel. Why oh why?! But my son, who is obsessed with Ghostbusters heard the theme song on the channel one time and now he’s afraid if we change it, he will miss the song. I bought him the song on Itunes, but nothing beats hearing your fave song on the radio.

Here are some of the gems we found through Kid’s Place Live mixed with a bunch that I love. I am pretty free with what I will let my kids hear (curse words can be prime teaching moments) so listen to the songs for yourself before trusting my judgement. I had to put my son’s other favorite song on there because we listen to it at least once a week, Iggy Pop (he dances just like Iggy, btw – it. is. awesome). These songs are not for bedtime and are pretty much just all around fun. Use it at your next kid’s party or just in the car on the way to school.

Are you ready to rock!

A few more songs that playlist.com didn’t have that you need to check out are:

Up Up Up – The Givers (free download – holler!)

Gotta Keep on Trying – The Not Its (so one of the singers from this band used to sing in a band called Velocity Girl that I loved in high school – totally cool and the website is rad, rad, rad)

Surfer Turtle – Cat and Bird

Princess Racer

The Donkey Song (love love love)

The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead – XTC

Don’t dumb down your kids music. Share the greats with them. The Beatles, The Beach Boys, whoever your favorites are chances are your passion will be contagious and your kids will love them too.

Sharon

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: family, Kids, Kids Parties, Party Music

Three Little Birds Adorable Bob Marley-themed 3rd Birthday Party by Jackie Culmer

September 5, 2011 by Sharon Garofalow 2 Comments

Maybe it is because my family is infatuated with Rastamouse ever since we saw it on YouTube last week. Maybe it was because I had a very brief phase where I wanted to dreadlocks, wore a lot of red, yellow and green and bought incense (from the swap meet) in high school. Or maybe because it is just freaking awesome but I had to share the most adorable kid’s birthday party that I came across the other day. Not only is Jackie Culmer a kick-ass photographer (I will be sharing the pics she shot at my neon and neutral bday party on Wednesday!) but she also rocks the house with her party design.

This is absolute perfection for me. The theme is totally original, casual and cool. The graphic design is crisp and fresh.

It is the perfect balance of kid and adult friendly and is styled without being fussy or too themey.

And what music inspired party would be complete without a cd favor? I want one!!!

Check out the rest of the party on Jackie’s blog, The Silver Spoon and Paper Plate. And check out what she did last Halloween while you are there here, here and here.

She knocked my socks off with the photos she took for my party a month ago, can’t wait to share!!!

Sharon

all photos via Jackie Culmer

Filed Under: Orange County Resources, Real Parties Tagged With: Birthday Parties, Halloween, Inspiration, Kids Parties, Party Decor, Party Ideas, Party Music

Recipe for a simple summer party

May 19, 2011 by Sharon Garofalow Leave a Comment

Music often prompts me to plan parties. At least in my head. I can see decorations and how much fun the guests are having as a song plays. The other day, on the way to my happy place (Target), I heard this song by the Tune-Yards called “Gangsta.” Until this song, I hadn’t made up my mind about this band. I sorta like them but there was something so different about this song. It sort of sounds like a car crash. And M.I.A. (who I don’t enjoy but will sing along to if it is playing…).

I can’t find this song in a player so if you want to hear it, go listen here.

So it got me to thinking. What would a party based on this song sound like? And then it hit me. Sometimes a party doesn’t need to be decorated to an inch of its life to be perfect. So here is my recipe for a super simple summer party:

-Great friends

-Bubbles

-Ice Cream

-Blankets to sit on, and/or a teepee

-Good music (whatever playlist I’ve made with all my fave songs…I’m kinda bossy)

-Good wine in cheap plastic cups

-Iced Tea

-Just hanging out

Simple.

Our friends Jimmy and Vanessa throw really good parties. They are laid back, there is lots of laughs and you always have a blast. I’m going to take their lead (after a very special birthday party in July

and scale back. I’m calling it Back to Basics. Who’s with me?

Photo Sources:

Sharon

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Inspiration, Party Music

I heart this song

March 7, 2011 by Sharon Garofalow 1 Comment

I’ve been listening to my Ipod in the car lately and it seems on every drive I hear the song “Know Better Learn Faster” by Thao. I really like it. I’ve never been one to listen to a song and really take to heart the meaning of the lyrics. But I really like what the song says. The chorus, or is it the hook? who knows, says “But I need you to be better than me and you need me to do better than you.” Isn’t that what we want in every relationship? Someone who makes us better? Who draws out the best in us and makes us want to do more? Deep. Here is the song in case you want to hear it.

One day I looked at the picture that comes up when the song comes on. What is that!? Is it confetti? Is she holding a stick and blindfold? Could this be a party scene? So I pulled it up on my computer and lo and behold, it’s a freaking party. And it’s a cool party. With a pinata. What appears to be an anatomically correct heart pinata. And everyone is having so much fun. Cool. I wish I was at that party.

Sharon

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Inspiration, Party Music