Opposite - A New Cartoon!

Here is a new cartoon music video from Debbie and Friends based on one of our favorite songs, “Opposite.”

Just like before, there is a spider cameo in this one. See if you and your kids can find it!

Thanks to Robert Heath of Barkley Studios and Goichi Hirata for the Character designs, and Greg David for the backgrounds and production, both from Planet Sunday. Thanks also to my wonderful band and producer, Mike Carrera!

Enjoy!

Debbie

Opposite - A cartoon in development

Here’s a sneak preview of our new animated music video in the works. It’s based on one of our favorite songs, “Opposite.” Check out how well the guys in the band can dance!

This is a pre-production teaser, and features the amazing animation work of Greg David and Goichi Hirata from Planet Sunday. It also features the wonderful character design work of Robert Heath of Barkley Studios. The final version should be out by the end of the summer.




The band and I hope you enjoy it!

-Debbie

On the Radio

I had the great fortune to be interviewed on “Mommy on a Shoestring Radio” with Beth Engelman and Jenna Riggs this week. Here’s a link to the Podcast. Our segment begins at 27:14, but the whole show is terrific.

If you get a chance, be sure to check out their blog. It’s filled with great ideas and activities for the whole family, AND, there will soon be a Debbie and Friends CD giveaway posted!

EarthFest 2010 Fun!

Debbie and Friends at EarthFest 2010

Thanks to everyone who came out to share EarthFest with us last weekend. We had a great time with all of you! For those of you who couldn’t join us, the following is a video shot by our good friend Amber Bobnar of Boston Children’s Music. It’s the “Simon Says” song complete with the “BAND FREEZE” section!

Earthfest 2010, Boston, May 22 @ 11am

Debbie & Friends on the Kids Planet Stage 11am!

Please join us on Saturday, May 22 @ 11am on the Esplanade in Boston for Earthfest 2010! It’s a FREE event and there are all kinds of fun things planned for kids and families in the “Kids Planet” zone including environmental activities, games, and of course… musical performances!

Here’s a link to more information.

The band and I look forward to seeing you there! Don’t forget: we go on at 11am!

The Debbie and Friends Band

“Where’s the Spider” Contest!

All Debbie & Friends cartoons include a very quick “spider cameo.” It happens so fast that it’s easy to miss!

The Spider Cameo in “Home Run Ronnie”

I have a challenge for you, our awesome fan families…
FIND THOSE SPIDERS!

To enter the contest, watch our music videos in the player below and try to find the spider in each one! Parents: simply jot down the approximate time the spider appears in each video, and send me an email with the answers for all six: Debbie [@] debbieandfriends.net on or before June 14, 2010.

For Example:
Home Run Ronnie: spider appears at 3:57
…and so on…

The band and I will throw the names of all the entering families into a hat on June 15, and draw the name of the lucky winner who will receive a Debbie & Friends Prize Package that includes a D&F T-shirt, two CDs, an egg shaker, and a personalized note.

To view the movies in fullscreen mode, click “Fullscreen” at the bottom of the player.

Have fun and good luck finding those spiders!

Live Performance with Video

Debbie & Friends in Concert with Video.

As a kid’s/family performing group, Debbie and Friends are always looking for new ways to actively engage our audience. A typical D&F concert includes our fan families doing everything from starting up the band with a clapping beat, to fixing rhymes, playing the “Simon Says” song game, dancing, singing, and interacting with all five members of the band.

Our good friend and booking agent for the Midwest region, Jeni Cosgrove, challenged us to find a way to to incorporate our animated cartoons into our live show format. It sounded like great fun so we decided to give it a try!

How?
First, we created a version of one of our cartoon music videos without recorded music. Then, we added a click track. During the performance, the click track is sent to our drummer, Bill D’Agostino’s wireless earphones so that he can lock in with the click and remain in sync with the video from start to finish. The band plays along with Bill so that we are all in sync playing, singing and dancing along with the video.

The Result?
The families in our audience LOVE it! And we do, too. In addition to adding a multimedia dimension to our show, we’re promoting our music video catalog and visits to our Web site, You Tube channel, and Jitterbug.tv. The cartoons all contain movement parts, so the families in our audience continue to be active participants throughout the show.

I highly recommend giving live performance with a music video a try! (Thanks Jeni!)

The following is our “Little Red Riding Hood” animated music video. This is one of the animated music videos that families sing and dance along with during our shows.

Debbie & Friends Band Coloring Page

For some rainy-day fun, this link will take you to a page to download a full-size version of the Debbie and Friends Band coloring page.

Get a Full-Size Version here.

Willy’s Video Contest & Travel Challenge!

Dear Friends,

I’m happy to announce that our cartoon music video, “Willy Won’t,” is in round two of a music-video contest!

Please view the two competing videos and vote for your family’s favorite here.

Then, for a fun challenge, work together as a family to try and name all of the places that “Willy” visits. Double-click the image for a larger version.

Send me a message with the answers at debbie[at]debbieandfriends.net. The first five responders with the correct answers will win a copy of the new D&F CD!

Good luck and have lots of fun, just like Willy!

CD Release Concert Memories!

Thank you to everyone who came to our show at the Regent Theatre in Arlington, MA on Saturday, March 27, to celebrate the release of our new CD, MORE STORY SONGS & SING ALONGS!

Here are some pictures from our fun time together!

Special guest vocalist, Darcel Wilson.

Our friend Dak with D&F Guitarist, Eric Saulnier

So much fun!

We had a great time!

Our new CD is available on our Web site at a special discount.
http://debbieandfriends.net/music.php

Thanks again, everyone! I hope to see you at another D&F concert soon!

-Debbie