Photo courtesy of ADAMS PHOTOGRAPHY/SHORE FIRE MEDIA
Ruth Eckerd Hall welcomes The Imagination Movers for two shows Sept. 22.
CLEARWATER – Known for their signature kid-oriented power pop, The Imagination Movers will visit the Tampa Bay area on the second leg of their Rock-O-Matic Tour, playing Saturday, Sept. 22, 1:30 and 4:30 p.m., at Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen Booth Road.
Supporting their most recent CD/DVD release “Rock-O-Matic,” Rich, Scott, Dave and Smitty will summon up all that high-octane rock that has made them a favorite with kids and parents alike.
Stars of the Emmy-winning Disney Channel television series “The Imagination Movers,” the band has developed a unique style of indie rock targeted toward kids. The songs are hip enough to appeal to parents, too. On the Rock-O-Matic Tour, the guys will be playing all their favorite songs from their wildly popular television series as well as debuting new material from their brand-new “Rock-O-Matic” CD/DVD. The new disc features some of the guys' most infectious music to date, enhanced by a new collection of live-action and animated videos.
The Imagination Movers have become one of the top-rated kid’s music artists on Ticketmaster.com. The guys scored the highest-rated and most popular live family act of 2011.
The key to the Imagination Movers' appeal is they combine danceable power pop songs with extremely catchy choruses and a knack for inspiring audience participation. It doesn’t hurt that the guys throw in a heaping helping of onstage silliness. Put it all together, and it’s a surefire recipe for a live musical event that will engage the littlest of kids along with their older siblings, parents and grandparents.
To keep the parents involved, the guys cleverly pepper their live shows with musical references to their many inspirations, including U2, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jack Johnson, the Beastie Boys and all sorts of classic and modern rockers.
The Imagination Movers have partnered with the National Down Syndrome Society’s “Buddy Walk” program, which features more than 250 annual fundraising walks. While on tour, the band will set up ticket giveaways with local Down Syndrome associations. This will allow families to take the stage at the concerts to promote the “Buddy Walk” in their town.
About the band
The Imagination Movers’ lineup features Rich Collins, Scott Durbin, Dave Poche and Scott "Smitty" Smith.
In 2003, the four New Orleans friends started gathering after their kids’ bedtimes to write songs and brainstorm ideas about a children’s television show. Two years later, they had become the latest sensation of their musical city, attracting parents and children alike with an eclectic pop sensibility and lyrical tunes about healthy snacks and playing catch and conquering childhood fears of bedtime. Lines to the Imagination Movers’ shows stretched down blocks.
When the levees broke after Hurricane Katrina, the far-reaching disaster turned the Imagination Movers’ world upside down – but it didn’t put an end to their dream. Even while band members salvaged their belongings from flooded homes – and Smith reported to his day job as a firefighter and first responder – they never stopped living according to the band’s motto: “Reach high, think big, work hard, have fun!”
This motto has served the band well.
Over the years, they have sold nearly a half million CDs and DVDs. Their television series has aired in more than 50 countries.
“Rock-O-Matic,” the band’s new CD/DVD, was released in February 2012.
“Rock-O-Matic” features the band’s most irresistible songs to date, including the anthemic title track – reminiscent of Queen’s “We Will Rock You" – as well as the dancehall party groove “Everybody Sing" and “Dear Old Dad,” a ska-inspired ode to fathers everywhere.
The DVD features live-action and animated music videos as well as skits that recall old-school Movers comedy heroes like Monty Python and the Monkees as well as the type of high-energy high jinks the Imagination Movers are famous for on their own hit television series.
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