Washington Post Express

Too Cool for School: The Sippy Cups

Written by Express contributor Tony Sclafani

The group's stage show is a rock 'n' roll circus of comedic stunts, bizarre puppets, an aerialist stuntwoman and covers of songs by the Rolling Stones, the Velvet Underground and Syd Barrett. Wait, what?

FORMER DEL FUEGOS singer Dan Zanes isn't the only rocker who now plays for the elementary school set. The Sippy Cups are also made up of rock musicians-turned-kid rockers. The Bay Area group, which plays D.C. this weekend, contains past members of indie acts such as the Squids, the Loud Family and Thin White Rope.

The transition to parenthood is why the Sippy Cups decided to make a youthful noise, says keyboardist Alison Faith Levy. The group fills a niche for Generation X, which is now hitting middle age.

"People our age have been through the college-rock scene and the indie-rock scene, and we're having kids now," she said. "A lot of our audience is people like us, who are cool, savvy parents with young children that want their kids to have the experience of seeing a real rock band … parents who don't just want to listen to what Disney is putting out."

But what sets the Sippy Cups apart from the other munchkin minstrels is their psychedelic tack. The group's stage show is a rock 'n' roll circus of comedic stunts, bizarre puppets, an aerialist stuntwoman and covers of songs by the Rolling Stones, the Velvet Underground and Syd Barrett. Wait, what?

"Our first goal is finding songs from bands we love that have something about them that speaks to kids," says Levy. "[The Velvets'] 'Rock and Roll' actually speaks to kids' experiences of there being nothing on the radio, but just wanting to have some fun and hear some music."

The group mostly does its own songwriting, though, and its talent was recognized when "Electric Storyland" CD was given a top 10 ranking by the Fids & Kamily Music Awards. The companion DVD also won a 2008 Parents' Choice award.

"Our shows are a collective experience for parents and kids. The songs are kid-themed, but they're sophisticated enough so that parents are satisfied."