From Peaches to Babypants; Seattle musician rocks out with Snoqualmie tykes

Library hosts kid musician, Caspar Babypants

By Allison Espiritu

Staff Reporter

Seattle musician Chris Ballew, former front man for The Presidents of the United States of America, got his audience rocking during a performance Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the Snoqualmie Libray.

Just because the audience was mostly toddlers didn’t slow down Ballew, performing as Caspar Babypants, one bit.

With the Presidents, Ballew gained fame with songs such as the infectious 1996 hit “Peaches.”

Now a dad of two, Ballew is back on stage as Babypants, making “simple sing along music for baby’s brains and parent’s ears.”

By his side are his band mates Fredrick Babyshirt and Ronald Babyshoes. On occasion, he’ll have the talents of his daughter and son, Josephine Babyhat and Augustus Babyspecs helping him out on stage.

Ballew said the unplugged performance at the library was great. He was a little nervous about not having a microphone, but esaw it as a great way for him to “get up and dance and be more mobile.”

Playing for children is a dream come true, Ballew said.

“I love to play for kids,” he said. “They’re so weird. One minute they’re dancing, and the next they could be crying — it’s something that never happens at rock shows.”

For those who missed this week’s performance, Caspar Babypants will be performing Friday, Oct. 16 at Redmond Regional Library at 10:30 a.m. and Saturday, Oct. 17 at Sammamish Public Library at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

• For more information about Caspar Babypants, visit www.babypantsmusic.com/fr_index.cfm.