Occasional String Band brings silly tunes to kids

KPBX Kids’ Concert-goers expect the very silliest in music, and they got that with the Occasional String Band April 14 in the Spokane Valley Mall.

“We’re hardly a serious band,” says Keith Milligan, manager and percussionist. “Note that no one plays synthesizer or karaoke machine. Nothing but the best in aural nutrition here.”

The OSB plays a mix of folk, bluegrass, blues, and sometimes a smidgen of jazz and swing music. Among their mix of influences, the band lists Lyle Lovett, Grateful Dead, Frank Zappa, Jimi Hendrix, "songs we cannot play, weather, events, astrological forecasts, and many other subjects on which we are incredibly ignorant yet maintain strong opinions."

The band has been around for about five years, playing for mostly grown-up audiences. They have played a few times specifically for kids, and are looking forward to doing so again. “Children really get into the music,” Keith says. “They’re so attentive, they’re fun to play for.”

The band members are Steve Schennum (guitar, vocals, mandolin, harmonica, bass, irritation), Geoff Haworth (bass, vocals, guitar, rock solid good taste), Phil Kleinman (dobro, pedal steel, web mastery, reliability), and Milligan (percussion, guitar, vocals, management). Their first CD is called “Balding Men with Day Jobs.” Their forthcoming “Grey Dust Hits” (“That makes sense when you say it really fast,” Steve says) includes the vocals of Inland Folk’s Dan Maher.

The Spring KPBX Kids’ Concerts are underwritten by Windermere Real Estate, Boise Cascade, and AT&T Wireless Services.