Nice Things
These are some nice things said by nice people about Bindlestick, who is also nice. Bill loves to hear about how much fun you had at the shows and what your favorite song is. Also, feel free to let Bindlestick know if you have any questions for him or Sock-ra-tease.
"Our new favorite musician, folk singer, guitarist, and gifted lyricist Bindlestick Bill, is a "traveling troubadour" whose unique, smile-inducing songs are inspired by (but not limited to) the Hudson River. From "Geology Soup" – "Rocks on bottom / Sand on top / Once you start slurping / You cannot stop" - to the "Mystery Mammal" –"I'm a super size hairy mammal / Eating grass is my game / I'm a cousin to the elephant / I hope you guess my name" - to "Sometimes Y" – "It's not scary on the bottom of an estuary." – Bindlestick Bill conveys a sincere appreciation for nature that is fun instead of preachy. Perfect for kids from the Hudson River Valley to Silicon Valley."
Thanks for being a very memorable part of a fun afternoon. Zach and Chloe really love your music and enjoyed themselves. Unfortunately, I am yet to explain why at 42 years old I repeatedly sing the chorus of "sock monkey" and am afraid I may burst out in song tomorrow at work. I may need help with that one. Thanks again, it was an experience I look forward to having again. Love the new CD!
With summer in the rear view mirror and the bitter cold of winter about to smack us in the face, Raking Up the Shade is going to take on more significance, radiating a natural, old-timey warmth with songs that evoke barn parties on a hot July night. Just two tracks in, "Scale Squasher" is the album’s first semi-novelty tune, about a gigantic plant from the genus Cucurbita, while "Halloween Night" closes with an Abbot and Costello-esque conversation between Bindlestick Bill and Sockratease, .And even some of the other tunes have a certain quaint charm, though not because of humorous lyrics, but because the modern world is often hyper-produced and cold and detached, and none of those traits are found here.
Bindlestick Bill calls himself a traveling troubadour on his website, and it’s not hard to imagine the 17 songs on Raking Up the Shade written and performed along a dusty trail winding through the Catskills, with banjo and acoustic guitars echoing across the valley.
I can’t thank Bindlestick Bill enough for joining us in our annual Family Night at Gayhead Elementary School. His songs and stories about the Hudson River complimented the 2009 Parents As Reading Partners theme - Reading Along the (Hudson) River. His enthusiasm about the Hudson was contagious and the children were soaking up knowledge while singing and having fun. Just the other day, as my family was driving over the Mid-Hudson Bridge, my 6 year old daughter was telling us that Henry Hudson’s ship was called the Half Moon. I asked her if she learned that in her classroom but she happily told me it was from Bindlestick Bill. And still, 2 weeks after his performance, my children are singing the Mystery Mammal song and talking about Bindlestick Bill. Their random bouts of singing and talking about the Hudson River validate the success of the program. Thank you, Bindlestick Bill, for sharing your love of the Hudson River with our students and their families! What a treat!!!
"Krieger Elementary School recently had the privilege and honor of hosting Bindlestick Bill and his exciting and lively presentation about the history of the Hudson River and lower New York State. This presentation is interactive and has the children sitting on both sides of the Hudson River as Bill sings and places realia on the river to symbolize events overtime. We at Kreiger feel incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to witness history as it happens from the ice age to the modern Hudson River environmentalist efforts."
"Your original songs,demonstrations and educational material that you presented brought back many special memories for our residents who grew up in the beautiful Hudson River Valley. Your wonderful rendition of Bindlestick Bill will remain in the hearts of our residents for many years to come!"
"Your involvement and willingness to be part of the "Full Festival Experience" made it an amazing festival. Our audience gave the festival rave reviews - they appreciated the music, the skills they learned and the enviromental message."
" On behalf of the National Park Service, the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, the Hudson River Valley Greenway and Marist College's Hudson River Institute, thank you for sharing three days of your time and contributing your ideas and insights on the future development of this grant program."
"Thank you so much for your assembly presentations at our school. They were both highly entertaining and educational! The interactive nature of the performances kept the students enthusiastically engaged and feeling like part of the show. The children could be heard singing bits of the songs in the hallways after the assemblies and many were asking when they could buy a CD."
"Thank you tremendously for making our 15th Earth Day Celebration such a fun one,which is embedded in so many traditions. I'm certain the staff, communtity, and students would not be able to "dig up" or "unearth" a finer team of Earth Day performers."
Thank you so much for the enjoyable performance this past Saturday at the library! Both the children and the adults seemed to really have a good time. You have a wonderful program!
"Bill has inspired me to write my own songs."
"He makes learning fun for kids because he makes funny songs."
"Bill has really funny parts, in his songs, I'll sing anything he writes!"