Rockin’ on the corner with Dan Zanes and Friends

By DR. DAN BRENNAN — April 3, 2009

Did you happen to see that guy in the peach blazer, ruffled tuxedo shirt, white pants and shaggy hair dancing around out on a downtown corner? It was quite the scene, with hundreds children singing and dancing. If you missed it, then you really missed out.  Dan Zane and Friends were at the Lobero Theater on March12th, rocking out a sold out “all age party.”

Before the concert started, my boys couldn’t take their eyes off of the dozens of musical instruments sitting up on stage.  Andy, almost two, yelled “gitt-ah!” and started into an impressive air guitar solo. Josh examined the lighting equipment and named all of the instruments that he recognized. As my wife and I looked around, we spotted many of our friends and their excited children and I waved to about half of my pediatric practice.

The lights dimmed as each of the six musicians made their own unique stage entrance, including the charismatic Mr. Zanes, and the “party” was under way. The talented band performed songs in both English and Spanish, playing an array of instruments including the acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, bass, fiddle, sax, trumpet, percussion, accordion, flute, harmonica, spoons and our new favorite instrument, the melodica.

For over an hour kids crowed up to the stage, danced in the aisles, formed conga-train-lines and cheered from high atop their parents’ shoulders. A small number of future groupies attempted to rush the stage, setting up one of the more humorous moments of the evening, as a young usher waved his flashlight, hoping that the five year olds would understand that stage diving was not allowed at the Lobero.

Mr. Zanes and Friends treated us to many genres of music from rock and roll, gospel, latin flare to “junk band” music. Half way through the concert, Mr. Zanes played a heartfelt rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and shared the story of how he and his brother stayed up the night before his daughter’s birthday party learning to play all the chords. The concert was loved by children and parents alike and during the finale, the musicians played their way down from the stage, through the aisles and out to the front of the Lobero to meet the kids.  Josh pulled us over to John Foti and asked him several questions about the melodica, a really fun instrument that looks to be a cross between a harmonica and an accordion.

The Dan Zanes and Friends concert was brought to our community through UCSB Arts and Lectures. We were excited to learn that Arts and Lectures plans to add more family focused programs to their already solid lineup and they hope to bring Dan Zanes back to Santa Barbara on an annual basis.

Our boys already love to sing, dance and listen to music, but it was an amazing experience for them to see the instruments up close, watch the musicians in action and dance with their friends. We will certainly be listening to our new Dan Zanes CD as much as possible, looking forward to another “all age party” next year.

Dr. Dan Brennan is a board-certified pediatrician and Santa Barbara native who enjoys making up silly songs and having dance parties with his wife and two boys. His column can be found in the Daily Sound on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month. Please contact him at 563-6211 or visit   www.SBPediatrics.com.

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