Funky Mama accepted as Kansas Arts Commission Roster Artist

Coming to a Kansas school near you...Funky Mama! Ta-daaaaah!

I've been accepted to the Kansas Arts Commission Artist Roster for Fiscal Year 2010. It basically means I'll be included in the roster of touring artists for hire in the state of KS. Just an official stamp of approval for folks to have Funky Mama as their guest in schools or other programs.

Funky Mama Moo Juice Review in the School Library Journal

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6618443.html?industryid=47072#Music

Moo Juice. CD. 36:30 min. Funky Mama Music. 2008. $12.
PreS-Gr 1—Krista "Funky Mama" Eyler brings a tremendous amount of energy and excitement to this collection of 15 original songs and two adaptations. Whether she is evoking a Cajun beat, rocking with the electric guitar, creating a revival feel, or singing a ballad, her full, rich voice takes everyday topics and turns them into songs that children can relate to and parents can enjoy. Some of the standouts include "The Grandparent Song," a jiving list of the variety of names given to grandparents; "No Sleep Tonight," a song for mother's whose babies are up crying again, "Hot Time in the Old Town," about Old Mother Leary leaving her lantern in the barn; and the beautiful ballad, "Hush Baby, Hush Child." Eyler sings about other topics such as potty training, hard-working dads, multi-tasking mamas, and milk, giving them a richness and an amazing musical feel. She is fearless on every song, bringing forth a myriad of feelings from joy to exhaustion to wonder. Listeners will be mesmerized by Eyler's amazing vocals and return to Moo Juice again and again. A superb selection for all collections.—Veronica Schwartz, Des Plaines Public Library, IL

Funky Mama on Hatteberg's People

Larry Hatteberg of KAKE-TV, Wichita, KS, was kind enough to feature me as one of his "Hatteberg's People."
very fun day!

Thank you, Larry!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM1U3wIKkd0

http://www.kansaspeople.com/

Moo Juice: The Musical...begins!

Well....here I go.

This week marks the beginning of Moo Juice: The Musical, officially.

I'll be in the studio starting this week and will be there off and on (as a working-mommy-schedule allows) until the scoring of it is complete. Blah, blah--getting it to sheet music, basically.

It requires electric guitar, keyboard, bass and drums, and some REALLY good singers. I'm lucky that I have really-good-singer friends in this KC theatre community, as well as a great drummer and bassist.

A brief synopsis:

Moo Juice: The Musical is a 19-song rock n' roll show about 5 kids in daycare and their daycare provider. (The adults play the 5-year-old characters.) The majority of songs are Funky Mama tunes with several that haven't yet been recorded. Each character in Moo Juice plays a role in maintaining order in what can be a very chaotic daily environment. The children must behave or their favored field trip to Happy Chippy Cheeseland will be cancelled. Much singing and physical comedy ensue...

I'm a spiritual person. That being said, I asked God about this endeavor because it's, number one, VERY expensive. Very risky and very outside of my comfort zone. Today, at church, I was given an epiphany, if you will, that shouted,

NO FEAR.

So, with NO FEAR. Moo Juice: The Musical will be here.

Moo Juice review and Funky Mama news

Here's a new mention at Children's Music That Rocks for Moo Juice! Thank you!

Also, I've taken a bit of a break from Funky Mama performing this last month due to my portrayal of Patsy Cline in "Always, Patsy Cline" here in Kansas. We were sold out every night and finished our 59th performance this last Sunday night. (We will be bringing the show back next December! Guess you'd better get tickets now at the Chestnut!)

Funky Mama news now...

I've written a musical. It's called "Moo Juice: The Musical" and just think rock n' roll and kids in daycare. I will be scoring it in the studio this Winter and next Spring with the help of some talented folks. I plan on marketing it to high schools and area theatres, but I get to be in the first run!

My gigs start back up tomorrow at Pottery Barn Kids on the Country Club Plaza--10 & 11 am. See you there!

GRAMMY VOTING

I just voted for the 1st time as a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. Yes, I get to vote on the Grammys because I paid my $180 fee and have some published music out there.

I was surprised I wasn't lobbied more. I got emails from Buck Howdy and Laurie Berkner's people asking me to consider their albums.

I joined so I could vote for musicians I believe deserve a chance to really get some well-deserved recognition. If you get to vote, choose wisely. I did.

Funky Mama featured in Tot Trends Weekly

http://www.tottrendsweekly.com/current-issue.php?id=P1516

Funky Mama's Moo Juice
is featured this week in

Tot Trends Weekly!

Check out the link and the magazine. So fun!

Here's what they had to say:

Get your groove on with Funky Mama. "Moo Juice" is the fantastically fun rock 'n roll creation that keeps the kids movin'. "Freeze Dance", "My Dad Rocks", and "Hot Time in the Old Town" are our personal favorites-but we, basically, just love the whole album!

KC KIDS Music review!

http://www.kckidsfun.com/2008/09/kc-kids-music-krista-funky-mama-eyler/
KC Kids MUSIC - Krista “Funky Mama” Eyler
If you’ve spent any time on the Kansas City kids’ festival, fair or storytime circuit over the past few years, you’ve surely had the fantastic opportunity to experience a Funky Mama performance. Krista Eyler, a.k.a. Funky Mama, is a local mom (and former television reporter) who knows how to get your kids moving, singing and laughing!
Funky Mama plays a cherry red electric guitar and her music really has a bluesy rock and roll feel - but it’s all geared to the kids. Her third and most recent release is the full length CD “Moo Juice.” It came out in late summer and I was lucky enough to get a copy to test drive. Things have been so busy here on KC Kids Fun and with school, sports, dance, church - you know the drill - that I haven’t gotten around to talking about it yet!
The CD is good - it’s really good! (Not that it’s a big surprise that it’s good!) Songs like the title track “Moo Juice” -about milk - and “Pop ‘n Hop” - about making popcorn - took my kids by surprise though. I don’t think they thought it was “their kind of music” until they really started listening to the lyrics. And then the smiles broke out.
My favorite songs on the CD are “Sippy” which has a great shout-out, sing-along chorus, perfect for annoying my children in the car and “Ooo, Aah, Ow!” (about hair-brushing) which just causes my daughter to roll her eyes while I laugh. It’s not just funny lyrics though - the music is really solid. And Krista has such a full, soulful voice - so easy to listen to.
The kids swiped the CD from the car and it has now disappeared into the abyss of their bedrooms. I can report though that I regularly hear them singing some of the songs around the house, especially “Down, Down Baby” (a fabulous a cappella song) and “Freeze Dance.”
So, we’re big Funky Mama fans at our house. We highly recommend “Moo Juice” and we highly, highly recommend catching Krista live around Kansas City. She’s playing this weekend (September 27, 2008) at the Plant Hope for Hearts fundraiser at English Landing Park in Parkville. And at the Johnson County Museum on October 1, at a shopping benefit for Abby’s Run in Overland Park on October 4 and at Wonderscope on October 8! Check the KC Kids Fun Events Calendar for more details.