Voldemort Can’t Stop the Rock

potters4Really really loud music in the library maybe sometimes sort of can stop the rock… if you’re attending the concert with small people, people who have tiny and delicate ears.

I’ve been boiling over with excitement to see my favorite literary-themed garage punk band Harry and the Potters live in concert ever since I was blown away with their original hit song This Book is So Awesome a few months ago.

Apparently they planned to hold a concert in their shed but when all the bands canceled, they wrote an entire CD in the course of an hour and performed it that night to an audience of themselves and their 5 friends. Out of that evening was born the legend that is Harry and the Potters.

Now they’ve released several albums and have all kinds of merchandise for sale. They’re touring the country to huge “sellout” crowds at mostly free concerts.

potters3We took Laylee and Magoo and stood in a gigantic line on Friday night outside the Seattle Public Library. The kids danced for money but were thrown none. I don’t know what this world’s coming to but when I see a 2-year-old in downtown Seattle, spinning on his head while waiting to get into a rock concert, I tend to throw down some coin.

I’m pretty sure our family would have won the award for the oldest AND youngest people in line. We would also have won the award for Least Obvious Wizard Costumes and Most Likely To Wear a Color Other Than Black.

potters2After dancing in line for an hour, we made our way into the library, up the giant lime green escalator and into the atrium. Music played on the speakers and Magoo rolled and boiled around on the floor, alternately playing dead and break dancing. At one point the ultra cool security guard said, “Nice moves man,” and at another I said, “Watch out dude or you’re gonna get squished by a goth tween.”

Then the Potters came out.

They sang Voldemort Can’t Stop the Rock.

potters5

We cheered and plugged little ears. Laylee cried that it was too loud and we headed home because it was bedtime and because I like standing in line for an hour to listen to 2 minutes of a concert. I am what they call “a mom.”

My only regret is that we didn’t hear them sing This Book is So Awesome.

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19 Responses to Voldemort Can’t Stop the Rock

  1. April Sauer says:

    Ever since you posted a blog about these guys, I have become obsessed with wanting to purchase their CD. They were in PHX in June and I missed them. I was bummed but I also had a 2 month old at the time; probably not a good way to train up his ears. Maybe someday, when I can get out again without children I will wait in line with all the black shirts, although I would be wearing a costume most likely as I host an annual Harry Potter party myself, during which we play a board game I created. Insert your “Wow she’s a geek” thought here! Glad you had 2 minutes of fun!

  2. Tiffany says:

    A word from an experienced mom–ear plugs. We saw Harry and the Potters in June. We took our three kids and two friends. We had earplugs for all and we jammed the whole night even if we looked a little dorky. My seven year old even braved the crowds to get all 3 signatures on the CD we bought. Now Voldemort Can’t Stop the Rock all the time at our house. And yes, we are counting down the *hours* at our house for that next fantabulous book!

  3. Arizaphale says:

    Oh, I am so annoyed, none of the links will let me HEAR ‘This Book Is So Awesome’! These guys sound like my kind of nutters. Fortunately for me my daughter has always liked loud noises, fireworks, musicals, Rolling Stones! Sorry you only got 2 minutes.

  4. heather says:

    Love the dancing kids! Is Laylee wearing Hello Kitty shoes from Target?! I ask because we own a pair too, if only they made them in my size!

  5. Melissa says:

    Sounds like a typical outing with kids…lots and lots of waiting only to find that you don’t get to enjoy the thing you waited for 😉 At least you got to hear one song!

  6. Mary says:

    That’s the coolest band ever. I had no idea such a thing existed. Your blog teaches me.

  7. I actually just picked up their album at the library the other day, but haven’t listened to it yet. I will, I promise! I took my daughter to an Imagination Movers Concert (local group – now they’ve just been hired by Playhouse Disney) and we had to leave because while all the other kids danced and sang, she cried that it was too loud. Yeah, kid, as if you’re not a walking noise yourself. Sigh.

  8. SURCIE says:

    That first photo is fantastic! (Alliteration unintentional.)

  9. Lisa says:

    I live in a cave and have never heard of Harry & the Potter’s. But I looked at their schedule and we will be visiting a city they will be in on the same day. I showed my kids their web-site and they thought it was awesome. So we are new fans!

  10. A 2 minute concert! What a tribute to the life of a mom!

  11. Kimberly says:

    Wow…never heard of ’em. I feel like such a neophyte.

  12. margalit says:

    My son (almost 15) just introduced me to Harry and the Potters. I like them too! He has a couple of their albums…ok, CDs…I”m old, so sue me…. on his Ipod and we were listening in the car. I loved the lyrics. Nothing like a combination of fun music and great books to make me happy!

  13. Amanda Regan says:

    I’m so pleased you mentioned ear plugs. I took my son to the International Air Show last weekend, it had over 150 planes many of which made a horrendous noise with the afterburn. All around me I could see kids crying, screaming & holding their ears yet ear defenders were on sale everywhere for a bargain price there was no excuse for the parents to be that negligent to their childrens hearing or happiness.
    My son loved the day in his Dora the Explorer ear defenders.
    Why is such an obvious thing like this so difficult for some parents to even consider.

    Well done you for mentioning them, maybe between us more parents will realise how delicate little ears are & think “I’d better buy some of those”

  14. Amanda Regan says:

    I’m so pleased you mentioned ear plugs.
    I took my son to the International Air Show last weekend, it had over 150 planes many of which made a horrendous noise with the afterburn.
    All around me I could see kids crying, screaming & holding their ears, yet ear defenders were on sale everywhere for a bargain price.
    There was no excuse for the parents to be that negligent to their childrens hearing or happiness.
    My son loved the day in his Dora the Explorer ear defenders.
    Why is such an obvious thing like this so difficult for some parents to even consider.

    Well done you for mentioning them, maybe between us more parents will realise how delicate little ears are & think “I’d better buy some of those”

  15. bee says:

    I had no idea such as that even existed! Way cool… in a geeky sort of way! 🙂

  16. Jenny says:

    *flashing some sort of rock and roll hand gesture*

  17. jodijean says:

    mmmmm i love harry and the potters (or even the draco malfoys) you are a cool mom, and it looks like they were having fun in the line anyway.

    i recently decided i need to read all the books back to back … wish me luck

  18. jeana says:

    I’ve never listened to music by Harry and the Potters. I have, however, listened to music by people who are both hairy and potheads.

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