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Milkshake
The band, the people, the music
If you have young children you are no doubt familiar with the
band, Milkshake. They are a Baltimore based band but have
travelled all over the country and over the years can lay claim
to 4 CDs, a DVD, appearances on PBS KIDS, Nick Jr. and
Discovery Kids' ToddWorld. Their most recent album, Great Day,
was nominated for a Grammy in 2010.
If you are lucky enough to have attended one of their concerts,
you know all about their catchy tunes, high energy and love for
children, which is evident in their lyrics and interactions with
their young audience. But we wondered: how did this group of
rock-centric adults in pink tutus and tattoos land the “kid music”
gig?
Well, their musical career didn’t exactly start out that way.
The two founding band members, Lisa Mathews and Mikel Gehl,
have been friends and musical mates for a long time. “He’s like
a brother to me. I’ve actually known him longer than I’ve known my husband!” Lisa laughed, when we had the chance to chat the other day. “It’s a funny story, the way we met.”
It turns out that Mikel was in a band here in Baltimore. They were looking for a female vocalist and placed an ad in the “Village Voice” in New York. Lisa, who was living in a fabulous rent-controlled apartment in Greenwich Village, decided she was ready for a challenge and promptly left everything behind to join them. They worked together for several years and eventually birthed the alternative rock band, “Love Riot”. Together, they went on to become fairly successful and were featured, along with their music, in the well acclaimed television series, Homicide.
Things were going well and then, in 1999, Lisa became pregnant and decided that life in the smoke-filled bars was not for her. She opted to leave the band and pursue her new role, as Mommy to her beautiful baby girl.
Knowing Lisa’s talent and love for music, Mikel continued to encourage her to keep her foot in the door. What Lisa found was that her daughter became a huge source of inspiration for her and she decided that she wanted to focus her musical energy on songs that would matter and appeal not only to her daughter, but to other children as well. Soon after, Mikel also became a parent and began to think that Lisa just may be on to something – and Milkshake was born.
“All of a sudden, so much of what we did with our kids started to become songs,” reminisced Lisa, “and it was so gratifying to head into the studio to do new music while my daughter looked on from her bouncy seat, smiling."
Several years have passed and success is following them still. Their goal has always been to allow their music to grow with their children, and this is evident as you listen to the progression of music from CD to CD.
Mikel and Lisa's children are now ten and eleven and are just as much a part of the music as they were from the beginning, appearing in videos and even occasionally accompanying them as Milkshake tours the country. “They're really looking forward to our upcoming trip to Park City, Utah. They can’t wait to head out to the slopes!”
Milkshake’s 2nd Annual Valentine Spectacular
No worries, Milkshake isn’t heading out of Baltimore just yet! Join Lisa, Mikel and the entire Milkshake band at Grace Fellowship Church in Timonium on Saturday, February 11th as they celebrate one of their favorite holidays with Milkshake's Second Annual Valentine Spectacular. Along with Milkshake in concert, there’ll be chocolate kisses from Moo, a chance to buy great books for kids from Usbourne Books, face painting and other fun activities before the show. As an extra incentive to attend, a portion of the proceeds from books and ticket sales will go to Arts On Stage, a non-profit organization in Maryland presenting live, professional and educational theatre for students.
The concert begins at 10:30 and ticket prices are $12 each, children under 2 are free and a family four pack is only $45. To purchase tickets, visit www.artsonstage.ticketleap.com/milkshake or call 410-252-8717.
“Got A Minute?”
Between traveling and life as busy parents, it’s hard to believe that they have time for anything else, but they do! Calling it their most challenging and exciting project yet, the new album, Got A Minute?, was inspired by a series of one minute videos they created for PBS Kids several years ago. “We were amazed at how much could be said in such a short amount of time. That’s when we dreamed up Got a Minute?, an album consisting of those original PBS songs and 20 - 30 new original, quick hitting tunes lasting 2 minutes or less.” For a quick peak at one of the PBS KIDS songs that will be included on the CD, click here.
The process of recording additional material, mastering, artwork and manufacturing will be expensive. They need your help. So a page has been created on Kickstarter for their dedicated fans to make donations to the project.
With pledge awards and updates, they want you to know how important you are to the project. Rewards include downloads, CD copies, limited edition Kickstarter-only T-shirts and tutus, as well as house concerts and even song topic ideas and a visit to the recording studio while Milkshake is in session.
“We’ve loved being a part of your family experience and thank you tremendously for bringing us so much happiness. Please do what you can and help spread the word to make ‘Got a Minute?’, another super-fun Milkshake CD! And visit and like our Facebook page and keep in touch with other things Milkshake.”
------Jennifer Kline
Milkshake has graciously agreed to give-a-way a Valentine Spectacular family four pack to one of our readers.
All you have to do to enter is send an e-mail to milkshaketickets@thezonemag.com and include the name of your favorite Milkshake tune.
One lucky winner will be drawn on Monday, February 6th so don’t hesitate, send your e-mail today. Then head over to Milkshake’s Facebook page to watch for the winning name to be announced!
The winner will receive a personal e-mail with details of how to claim your prize.
*Give-a-way!*
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