Fun for the whole family

[Grievous Angel]

As the father of a toddler, I have had dozens upon dozens of hours of the Wiggles, Sesame Street, and Barney thrown at me. I've listened to it all and encouraged her love of music in the hopes that maybe one day she'll come around and want to listen to what Daddy likes.

It's finally starting to happen. As of this week, my daughter Molly's favorite song is The Water Song. Otherwise known as The Wild Rover from the Pogues' "Red Roses for Me" album. I popped the CD in the car stereo with her one day, started driving around, and as we got to the last song, she wanted to hear it again. And again. And again. And so on. I now can't put her in the car without her wanting to hear The Water Song. I have no idea what it is that made that particular song click with her, but I'm encouraging it wholeheartedly.

It's a small victory for this paternal music geek. The Wiggles may have her heart at the moment, but the Pogues are starting to leave their mark as well. I can only hope that one day in the not-too-distant future, Molly will want me to turn off the "Yummy Yummy" video and ask to listen to "If I Should Fall from Grace with God." At the very least, maybe I've seen the last of the damned Teletubbies.

[firehazard]

GA, many congratulations. It's a great moment for any parent when this happens. May your daughter always have such fine taste in music. I well remember when my kids first started requesting The Pogues on the car stereo. And in fact they still do.

Mind you, "Put Down The Duckie" is a fantastic song. I'm still looking out for that rare Pogues bootleg performance of that one.

[mats]

My oldest daughter starts to dance everytime she hears Streams Of whiskey. I´m trying to learn her the chorus and so far she can sing I am going, I am going. Not bad for a 4 year old Swedish girl

A few days ago I was watching a Dubliners DVD and then she said:

"This sounds just like I am going, I am going.......and the they say booze"

[Clash Cadillac]

When my daughter Seattle was 3 she got mad because we has the nerve to put in a Blues Clues video when she wanted to watch her Bob Marley video. Now she is six and a couple of days ago we were riding in the car listening to James McMurtry and she told me she wanted me to put the song we were listeing to on her iPod "also some Pogues and Shane MacGowan songs". Then she said "I want Dirty Old Town, thats a Shane MacGowan song right?". I explained that Shane was the singer for the Pogues and that in a way she was right. I am such a proud daddy.

We have actually talked about taking the kids to Europe next year for one of the December shows if the boys are still kicking around. Although I have been wondering if any of the venues are kid friendly. We really need a booth or table on a second level as the kids would only be 6 and 7 next year.

[Christine]

Clash, she sounds like a lovely girl! Well worth the effort to try and take them somewhere.

But I'm afraid Brixton Academy is definitely no good. They have upstairs seating, where all under-14s have to sit, accompanied by an adult. But it still is theatre-type rows, without table or booth. They don't actually check for kids who look more or less 14, you can get away going downstairs with a 12 or 13-year old, but it's too full and loud and chaotic for your age group.

I would try summer festivals, much easier as they come with face painting stalls, bouncy castles and whatnot. I took mine to the Finsbury Fleadh when they were 5 and up, and it was brilliant. Mind you, at any given time, out of my three one was whingeing, one was queuing up for the loos, but the third one was enjoying the show. As any parent will tell you that ratio counts as a success!

[firehazard]

Clash, I'd echo what Christine says about not just Brixton, but all all of the "Academy" venues where The Pogues tend to play in Britain. Certainly they don't play any "table or booth" venues. You'd probably be ok at the Birmingham NIA if they play there again instead of the Academy, though I don't think that's likely. Of this year's venues, maybe Nottingham Arena would be the most, erm, "family-friendly", from what I've seen. I don't know what the Manchester venue's like from that point of view.

And yes, Christine, we started our kids off with festival live music too.

[Christine]

And yes, Christine, we started our kids off with festival live music too.

No wonder yours have good taste now! Sadly, my efforts seem to have failed somewhat as one of them went to see Justin Timberlake anyway.

[firehazard]

No wonder yours have good taste now! Sadly, my efforts seem to have failed somewhat as one of them went to see Justin Timberlake anyway.

Ahem, erm, shhhh, don't tell anyone, Christine, but two of mine got themselves tickets for JT. Though I'm not sure it was exactly the music they wanted to see.

Anyway, it was a rare lapse.

[Clash Cadillac]

Clash, she sounds like a lovely girl! Well worth the effort to try and take them somewhere.

But I'm afraid Brixton Academy is definitely no good. They have upstairs seating, where all under-14s have to sit, accompanied by an adult. But it still is theatre-type rows, without table or booth. They don't actually check for kids who look more or less 14, you can get away going downstairs with a 12 or 13-year old, but it's too full and loud and chaotic for your age group.

I would try summer festivals, much easier as they come with face painting stalls, bouncy castles and whatnot. I took mine to the Finsbury Fleadh when they were 5 and up, and it was brilliant. Mind you, at any given time, out of my three one was whingeing, one was queuing up for the loos, but the third one was enjoying the show. As any parent will tell you that ratio counts as a success!

Christine | Firehazard,

Thanks for the input. The Fillmore would have been perfect this year as the second night we had a table upstairs on the rail. We had not been to this venue before and did not realize it would have worked for the kids (also no babysitter for the first night and we had to be on the floor for a least one of the shows).

The kids first concert was an open air theatre in Santa Fe to see the Violent Femmes 2 years ago. My 5 year old is now very fond of Gone Daddy Gone. This summer we took them to the Winter Park Folk Festival in Winter Park, Colorado where they had a great time.

It seems kids always rebel against whatever their parents like so we can only hope there are no Justin Timberlakes in our future (it is the Mother's job to take little girls to these shows anyway, isn't it). Right now the girls love Highschool Musical so I have not been able to brainwash them completely.

[DCHISHOLM]

Clash, MEN Manchester in the seats would be ok. The Kids would also be able to look down at the crowd which is a great sight. My daughter went with us when she was 9 and had a great time.

[runjohnnyrun]

I've got 15 and 13 year old daughters and a nine year old son. Their tastes are all over the map. The boy claims his favourite band is the Pogues, but I'm pretty sure he's just going by default as he's well aware of my obsession with the band. To be honest, the fact that he's aware of anything outside of hockey is a good sign.

At this point, my 13 year old daughter is struggling. Lots of Hilary, Gwen, Britney and Beyonce. I've tried - oh Lord how I've tried - to introduce real music to her but to little avail. We'll get there though. Patience.

My 15 year old is the real gem. Went through the Spice Girl and Avril Lavigne phase, but then we had a glimmer of hope - she got deep into Green Day. Not my favourite band, but I thought it was an encouraging sign. As she was starting to display an interest in music outside of the mainstream, I decided to take her to a Social Distortion show. She loved it. The real turning point though, occurred when I took her to a Joe Strummer tribute show. Changed. Her. Life.

So now I'm desperately hoping for an East Coast tour next spring, because I've promised her she'll be by my side, jumping, dancing, screaming, and singing along to our favourite band.

[Eric V]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.... all you old dads talkin' about yer kids likin' teh Pogues... .......

So anyways, yeah! Mine too! India is almost 8. Would love to take her to a show. Took her to Decemberists this summer and it didn't make the impression I was hoping for. I've posted several times about kids and music and taking them to shows, so I won't rehash.... I can even stand the Duff, Cheetah Girls, etc... stuff as long as it makes her want to sing or play an instrument.

[Maija]

My daughter, 8 1/2 thankyouverymuch, is quite innovative in her music hearing too. It's a wild mixture of Hannah Montana (ohgodIhateit!) and Kaizer's Orchestra (a weird industrial kind of rock band), but she can quite happily mosh around the kitchen to Cruachan as well. I also found a charming little note with "perl iam" on it, something she had written down from the radio after hearing a song she obviously liked.

I will play more Pogues as soon as the concert season is over, and with it the danger of me blowing the Christmas budget on a sudden and unexpected trip to the UK.

@EricV: I want to sing and play an instrument. Can I stand in as your daughter?

[Eric V]

@EricV: I want to sing and play an instrument. Can I stand in as your daughter?

Yes, Maija, you can. India has been asking for a sister a lot lately. I'll go inform her. Welcome to teh family! Now, go clean your room!

[Johan From Sweden]

My daughter, 8 1/2 thankyouverymuch, is quite innovative in her music hearing too. It's a wild mixture of Hannah Montana (ohgodIhateit!) and Kaizer's Orchestra (a weird industrial kind of rock band), but she can quite happily mosh around the kitchen to Cruachan as well. I also found a charming little note with "perl iam" on it, something she had written down from the radio after hearing a song she obviously liked.

I will play more Pogues as soon as the concert season is over, and with it the danger of me blowing the Christmas budget on a sudden and unexpected trip to the UK.

@EricV: I want to sing and play an instrument. Can I stand in as your daughter?

Maija, Your doing fine, i realy like Kaizer's Orchestra, saw them twise last year one time at Roskilde Festival in Denmark and one ime here in Gothenburg, realy like there sound and energy on stage

My son is soon 7 and he allways want´s to listen to Pogues or Shane MacGowan as he says, Gues i did something right then