SpongeBob & the Hi-Seas
Amoeba Records
Hollywood
March 3rd

One of last year’s most delightful releases was The SpongeBob SquarePants pop-rock kids album, “The Best Day Ever”, loaded with Brian Wilson-inspired glory pop, early rock bop, and surf-garage fun too. The actual band, featuring SpongeBob creator Tom Kinney on vocals and producer-guitarist Andy Paley, played a special show on a Saturday afternoon at Amoeba Records, and it was just as good as the dozens of alt-rock bands and such that perform at the store…maybe even better.

This one was, like the record, great for parents and the kids, of which there were plenty filling the store aisles. SpongeBob showed up for pictures and the band was a joy, considering it was its live debut. Kinney played the goofy rock star with jokes, grabbing the mic stand and taking kicks too. The group’s line-up also included founding Cars guitar player Elliot Easton. And the show writer who does the voice of the evil Plankton turned up for a number.

The harmony-filled, easy-to-sing-along-to songs included the bouncy “Employee of the Month”, the skipping “Where’s Gary”, and of course, the album’s title song, “The Best Day Ever”. No “Riding the Hook”, which, as Little Steven says, is ultimate cool. Still, the show not only teased the album but made one hope for a little longer concert down the road.

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