Steven Erdman, creator and lead performer (aka LARD Dog) of the popular, all-ages musical group LARD Dog and The Band of Shy, gave New York Family the inside scoop about the group’s new music video “Belopio.”
The band aims to reach an audience of all ages. They employ fun, quirky dance-along tunes for kids and hint at subtle pop-culture references for adults, and their songs feature upbeat lyrics like “slurp the noodle of life!” The Parents’ Choice Award winning group is comprised of a variety of talented musicians and performers known as The Band of Shy, led by LARD Dog, a cartoon alien come-to-life. The group’s new music video called “Belopio”—filmed in front of the Unisphere in Queens—embodies the band’s overall image, inspired from a time period Erdman describes as “bygone.” (You can see the new music video below.)
“The video paints a picture of being from another time and era,” Erdman said. “It reminds me of newsreel clips featuring a band performing at the 1964 World’s Fair.”
Belopio, the 10th planet after Pluto, is the main subject of the new video.
“Before there were Martians, Hippies, Yippies, or Yuppies, there were the Belopians, a secluded society of Earth obsessed space jazz musicians, artists, and pretzels makers, who lived on what is now known as the 10th planet, the one just after Pluto called Belopio,” said Erdman.
The band aims to embrace the concept of letting loose and letting go. The “Belopio” video encompasses the notion of letting go and being frivolous, while loving yourself and embracing who you are. Their upcoming performance at Symphony Space, Life’s a Real Dream, conveys these same themes and is sure to have plenty of surprises—but we won’t ruin them! We can reveal that they plan on incorporating multimedia and theatrical aspects in their upcoming show, and your kids may even learn the story behind the meaning of behind LARD Dog’s name.
With inspiration from Robert Benchley, Monty Python, Barbara Hepworth, and Ernie Bushmiller, Erdman molds music geared towards an older audience into an upbeat, clean, and playful performance that is perfect for parents, kids, and everyone in between.
“It’s our hope that our music will inspire you to dance, sing, smile, or scratch your head—or all of the above,” says Erdman. “Its more than just a musical performance; it’s an overall experience.”
Get an exclusive look at LARD Dog and The Band of Shy’s “Belopio” music video below, and be sure to check out their upcoming show at Symphony Space!
Learn more about LARD Dog and The Band of Shy on their website houseoflard.com.
