Keeth Apgar is telling a group of kids he wants them to blow the roof off the Marysville Library.
“Usually we have to be really quiet,” he says into his microphone. “But not today.”
The crowd of children launch into “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” belting it out as Apgar leans away from his mic and, like a rock star, mouths the words.
Later on, Nala Walla, the other half of the children’s music duo Harmonica Pocket, bounces into the audience to do handstands. She also mystifies the crowd with her hula hoop skills.
“She’s good at that!” one 5-year-old shouts repeatedly.
This is Harmonica Pocket, an increasingly popular children’s group made up of Apgar and Walla. The duo, who occasionally work with other musicians, plans to play a number of dates throughout the spring and summer in Snohomish County.
The group was started by Apgar, a lanky, soft-spoken 32-year-old who has been writing music for nearly 20 years. He started using the Harmonica Pocket name in 1999. Then, it was a reference to a loose confederacy of musicians and artists. In 2004, he expanded the definition to include his foray into children’s music.
Now, Apgar and Walla, 35, live near Port Townsend in a small community “interested in art and performing and growing food,” Apgar said.
The pair’s musical act sometimes reflects their environmentally friendly lifestyle. For instance, the song “One Tree Said” includes singing fish and trees that encourage people to only take what they need from the world, no more, lest they be greedy.
“One Tree Said,” along with sillier fare like “Spiders in My Breakfast,” are found on the group’s latest CD, the acclaimed 2008 release “Ladybug One.” The album, a joyful and poppy blend of acoustic songwriting and world music, reflects Apgar’s degree in ethnomusicology — the study of other cultures’ music.
“There are so many sounds in the world,” Apgar said of his decision to include sitar and African thumb piano. “I would love to see more of them introduced. I think that’s a really positive experience for people, especially little kids.”
The album also has been praised by parenting organizations for its whimsical storytelling. Even Time Out New York was impressed — well, sort of — calling the group “hippie-dippy without being overly hokey.”
“Hopefully none of them (the messages) are too overt or preachy,” Apgar said. “One of them is, turn off the TV and go outside and play. And you know basically, the bigger message is to just be creative, use what you got. Make up some games. Have some fun.”
During shows, the group’s message of creativity comes to life with audience-participation games such as one called the Nothing.
The game starts with the duo talking about how they have nothing to do — no video games, no TV. Then, using some basic mime, Apgar and Walla start passing a nonexistent object back and forth. They act as if its weight is changing. They make funny noises, pretending the sound comes from the Nothing.
Then, kids are passed the Nothing. At first, they cup their hands to hold empty air and wait for a sound. Slowly they catch on, realizing they need to make a noise. Some squawk. Others give a roar. Their friends laugh, and reach out to hold nothing.
Eventually, the non-existent object is put away.
“That sure was a whole lot of nothing,” Walla says, with a smile.
The group’s two Marysville Library shows attracted more than 200 people. The crowd included three kindergarten classes, plenty of toddlers and some parents.
“They kept both of those very large groups so engaged and entertained,” Marysville children’s librarian Pat Timko said. “A lot of times presenters kind of lose the audience for one reason or another. They just captivated them.”
Granted, at this point, the pair has had some practice handling a crowd.
“We are full-time artists,” Apgar said. “The children’s show is really taking full front. It’s a positive for us.”
Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455 or e-mail arathbun@heraldnet.com
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