review by Tabitha

To know The Alphabeticians – is really to love them. You can find them playing at coffee shops, boutiques, libraries, schools and most any kid-friendly event around town these days. But did you know that they are also available for birthday party performances?

As a mother of a just-turned 3 year old -  I know the stress and pressure there is around throwing a party for your son or daughter’s special day. You have to find a location, make a guest list, purchase favors, find entertainment … the to-do list goes on! Well … thanks to this local kids band – it’s about to get a WHOLE lot easier!

When Marshall turned three a few weeks ago – I really wanted to do something a little different – and have some great local entertainment, so I decided to invite The Alphabeticians to come and play. I learned that an Alphabeticians Birthday show is more than just your usual coffee shop performance! The performance includes 45 minutes of unbridaled musical entertainment, a t-shirt and CD for the lucky birthday kiddo as well as a special song, written and performed LIVE at the performance. We readied the backyard the day before and figured out where the “stage” would be we were getting excited for 24+ preschoolers to arrive. Unfortunately – the weather didn’t cooperate. We had the most RAINY Sundays here in Portland in many years and had to scramble a little to make everything work – inside. Luckily Mr. Hoo was extremely flexible and squeezed into our little house along with all the craziness. He sang a few songs for the kids – as well as Marshall’s very own Birthday song! This really is one of the coolest, and most unique things I’ve seen! The band writes and performs a song that’s personalized for your son or daughter(s). All you have to do is send a list of a few of your child’s favorite things – color, interest, etc. and the band writes and records a song JUST for your child!

We videotaped Marshall’s … it was really so great!

Since our experience wasn’t a typical Alphabeticians performance, with the rain and all, I really wanted to get the perspective of a few other parents who had had The Alphabeticians at their child’s birthday parties for this review. Here’s what they had to say:

Stacey – mother to Lauryn – who raves about The Alphabeticians performance at her daughters fifth birthday party at The Warehouse Café.

Lauryn started taking music classes with Mr. Hoo in early 2011 and since that time her appreciation and love of music has just grown tenfold. She loves to sing and talk to us about all kinds of music – but especially rock and roll and begged for a guitar for Christmas so she could play just like Mr. Hoo. Having the band at her birthday party was an automatic request when talking about having her party and using the space, food, and help with the party from the Warehouse Café actually made for a most unique birthday party. Imagine getting up on stage with your absolute favorite band in the whole world – as a HUGE fan, Lauryn really felt special having her very own birthday song as well as getting to sing some of her favorite Alphabeticians songs right up on stage with them.

“Our daughter and her friends had a awesome time at her 5th birthday party which included a performance at the Warehouse Café by her favorite local rock band the Alphabeticians. They sang a very special birthday song just for her and invited her up to rock out on stage with them. She was a star and her friends all danced and had an excellent time. After the music we decorated guitars and many parents confessed to having a great time as well – exclaiming the party to be very unique. I know we won’t forget her 5^th birthday.” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“If you are looking for an alternative to bouncy houses, princesses, and light savers I highly recommend having a rock the house birthday party with this band!  I would also give like to props to the Warehouse Café – we had the band play in the café and Rebecca handled all the food, supplies, and clean up. The food was local, yummy, and all there for me to just show up and enjoy the party. This obviously added to our fun! We will all remember this birthday for years to come.“

Julie – mother to Allison – who loved the performance at her daughters ninth birthday party.

Julie and her family have known Mr. E for many years. So when his new band – The Alphabeticians – put on their first performance at Mt. Tabor Coffee House, Julie and her family were there. The kids absolutely loved the band and their music, and to this day they go whenever they can. When she started planning her daughter Allison’s 9th birthday party, she really liked the idea of something different. She was a little trepidacious, since her daughter and her friends were more into music like Justin Bieber. However, the band came and were so good at interacting and involving the kids that soon everyone was dancing, singing and playing instruments right along with the band. Allison even got to go “on stage” and perform with the band!

  

Deanna – mother to Carter – was thrilled to have a private performance by one of his favorite bands for his third party.

She said they first saw the band perform at Flying Cat Coffee. They got their CD (of course) and went to see them play every chance they could. She had also had seen Mr. Hoo first hand teaching at local business, Mentor Graphics child development center and at their art and curriculum show. So when she started planning Carter’s third birthday party, a performance by The Alphabeticians was first on her list. Next she put together music-themed goodie bags with microphones and sunglasses. The birthday boy received a cool blow-up guitar, so he could play along with the band – and a CD with a copy of the performance of his special birthday song. Deanna said that working with The Alphabeticians on planning was really easy and that they were so pleasant to work with and very accommodating.