Playlist Rewind: Ralph's World

Photo by Flickr user elemenous

I know. It shocked me too, but it's true. I saw a children's performer live in concert and it was great.

Truly great.

What made it so great?

Well, to start they picked an amazing space. The World Cafe Live is, perhaps, the best venue I've ever seen to hold a kid's concert. Small enough to keep an eye on your explosive toddler, but large enough to provide a dance floor—it's nearly perfect. We (meaning my nine-month-old daughter and myself) meandered throughout the venue, enjoying the nonstop excitement (read: crazy, spastic, dancing children) of the lower level to the more mellow, laid back vibe of the balcony. I have rarely enjoyed myself more at a music venue and that surprised me.

I was also surprised at the fully armed and well equipped bar that was open and very operational well before noon. If you are a caretaker who likes to drink, The World Cafe Live is the place for you. And you'll have company. I don't think I passed too many dads who weren't clutching Solo cups full of beer and I also got to sit next to a charming grandmother who clutched a martini in her Lee press-on nails, all the while force-feeding a reluctant toddler bright orange mac and cheese from the "child friendly" buffet. That's right. There's food. For an additional ten bucks a head, seven for the 12-and-under crowd, we could partake in some of the most greasy, bizarrely colored, diabetes-inducing food under the sun while we waited for the concert to begin. Just looking at this food made me want to throw up. My advice for next time? If you feel like you can't possibly make it through the show without eating (and believe me, I get it, it's lunch time and hungry kids are cranky kids) I suggest you bring your own snacks. With the exception of a single fruit platter I didn't see much in the way of non-heart attack causing options.

But I'll tell you what. Everyone dropped their hot dogs as soon as the man of the hour hit the stage with the rest of his band, a bassist, a drummer, and keyboarder/guitarist who kinda looked a little embarrassed to be there.

But he shouldn't have been.

The music was excellent, just as good live, if not better, than what you get from the band's CDs, and Ralph plays a wealth of his expansive catalog. The man's currently got eight albums out and another one on the way, so there is ample material. All the favorites are covered, people sing along, and children dance the polka. What I like best about Ralph's World? Even though their target audience is made up of people who still sometimes wet themselves, they don't dumb it down. There is no lip synching or pretending to play a guitar, the band knows their stuff and delivers. It's real music and honestly, it's good music.

I prefer it immensely to the nonsense my husband listens to.

Now, I have to warn you that Ralph Convert falls into the pattern I've seen at so many "kids' events." You're not only there to enjoy the show, you're there to buy stuff. Lots of stuff. Stuff with the performer's name on it. Ralph reminded us several times that he has books for sale ... and CDs ... and that the new album is coming out soon—but honestly, I really didn't mind. You know what you're signing up for when you make plans to see a concert, and I didn't care because the guy is a great performer. I watched as he waited to take the stage, just so that he could greet every single child that came in to see him. He shook every hand, signed every scrap of paper/C.D./teddy bear that was shoved into his path with humor and good grace. Ralph Convert genuinely likes children; you can tell immediately. He even remembered the name of a little girl who was having her birthday and gave her a special shout out from the stage.

Ralph's World is completely kid-friendly and it was very nice to visit. Now, I don't think I would want to live there, as I can only take so much violent ring-around-the-rosy and runny noses, but all and all, the concert was a blast. I highly recommend checking out Ralph Covert and his band the next time they come through, or maybe another kids' performer on the World Cafe's list of upcoming acts. The venue is just so great for this kind of event that it more than makes up for having to circle around the still-drunk Penn students on their walks of shame as you look for parking.