Editor’s Note: Acclaimed Seattle-based children’s rock band The Not-Its! is one of the musical headliners for Buddy Daddy Family Bash, a three-day event billed as India’s first-ever live family-entertainment festival. Guitarist Danny Adamson is sending us reports on bringing their brand of American “kindie” music to this new audience of parents and his experience introducing his family to a new culture. To catch up with the story, read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.
By Danny Adamson
The Not-Its!
Today is the first day of the Buddy Daddy Family Bash, India’s first live entertainment family festival. We play two concerts and have no clue what to expect. The whole concept behind this festival is to get fathers to spend time with their children outside of their normal, busy lives. From a dad perspective, I’m very grateful that my kids are able to go on this trip with me and experience some of the things the Buddy Daddy Family Bash has to offer. The amount of selfies people want to take with us and/or our kids increases exponentially by the hour and it’s cool watching our kids all make friends with the Indian children.
* Check out The Not-Its! music video “Busy” *
Our friend and kindie hip-hop artist, Secret Agent 23 Skiddoo, is also here playing at the festival. It has been great seeing him and hanging out with his crew at the hotel and festival grounds. We play first and alternate sets with him throughout the day. We have no defined start times as they are learning as they go. They’re trying to direct the crowds from performance to performance, for example, when the BMX bike jumpers finish, they say “Go see The Not-Its! on the Bandstand stage in five minutes!”
The crowds are “a bit shy when we ask them to participate, but they eventually shake it off and dance along.”
The two performances we had today were great. The crowds were not huge, as today (Friday, Nov. 13) is a work day for many, but they were definitely enthusiastic. They are a bit shy when we ask them to participate, but they eventually shake it off and dance along. My son Henry (age 12) plays a glockenspiel in one of our songs and he had one of the sound guys standing right up against his back to watch him play it during that song. It was pretty hilarious. The sound guys are actually sleeping on the dirt ground at the festival to protect the stage and drums from the monkeys at night. If I had a nickel for every time that happened …
Danny’s son Henry has been playing glockenspiel on one of the Not-Its! songs in concert.
This festival has more than 50 volunteers, mostly college-aged, who are using this festival as a resume builder. These kids (yes “kids” to us because we are wicked old) have been amazing and are treating us like family. They are super sweet to our children and are quickly becoming good friends to us. The Indian people are so kind and caring. We are excited to be here, to get to know them better and to rock their faces off!
The next installment of the Not-Its! tales of India will appear tomorrow on the National At-Home Dads Network.
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