Greensboro-based kindie rock group prepares for national stage

The group of three dads won the grand prize in this year's John Lennon Songwriting Contest. It's now getting ready for the national release of its next album, Because I Said So!, in September.

The group is made up of Chuck Folds (younger brother of Ben Folds), Steve Willard and Eddie Walker. All three had spent a couple of decades touring clubs and playing to adults when they started focusing on family entertainment in 2007. They've released two CDS of original music and performed at the Kidzapalooza stage at Lollapalooza last year, the family music industry conference Kindiefest this year and, among other places, the NASCAR Coca Cola 600 Speed Street Festival.

Their song, "Monster Under the Bed," won a top prize at this year's John Lennon Songwriting Contest. The band's influences include everybody from the Bee Gees to Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello and U2.

Their newest album - out Sept. 18 - has a new level of maturity, says Folds.

"As our children get older, our music grows up, too," he said. "Our first CD had a much more 'kiddie' feel. Our second album was a little more pop, with the lyrics and music becoming a bit more sophisticated. Because I Said So! is the most multi-generational of the trilogy, and a few songs on the album could fit right in to either a kids' radio show or one on the adult end of the spectrum."

"We try to write using language that is familiar and meaningful to children, while on another level referencing a depth that kids may not understand," he said. "It's like SpongeBob cartoons. There's plenty in those cartoons that grownups will 'get,' but that goes right over kids' heads. As with any good work of art, we want our songs to have multiple layers of meaning for anyone, at any age."

I'll have more about and from the group in the next couple of months before their Aug. 25 concert at the Lazy Daze Festival in Cary.