Riffin’ Griffin is a newish project for Jesse Norell and they’ve just put out a new album, Drawing the Silver Lining. The album is kid-forward and adult friendly. It is more rock than the debut album and should appeal to young and middle school kids. (Teens might dig it too – but they won’t let you know!) You can check out the show tonight (Aug 21) at the Hilde Performance Center (Kidsfest) starting at 5:15pm and 6:45pm.
Please tell us about your music and your transition from Jesse Norell to Riffin’ Griffin.
Hey Ann! As you know from our conversation in 2022, I put out a solo record called Aorta Borealis about my daughter, Alyssa, who has Down syndrome and fought to survive heart surgeries when she was very young. While that album starts in a pretty somber way, the end is all about the joy of having survived together. So I asked myself, if that record was another 12 songs longer and continued the arc towards joy, would I just be writing children’s music by the end? Maybe I should try that! People also kept asking me if I was ever going to make music WITH Alyssa rather than just about her so we started by recording a cover of one of her favorite songs: “Leftovers” by local kids’ music legends Koo Koo. I thought it would be fun to add some Rage Against the Machine guitar riffs to their hilarious rap lyrics and we had an absolute blast with it! After that I just couldn’t stop. =)
Drawing the Silver Lining is your second album under the moniker Riffin’ Griffin. There is a definite key change from bubbly fun music with young kid messages – like reading is great (A is for Apple) to more solid rock and older-theme messages like we’re all cringe (I Am Cringe). You’ve brought the heart string songs of Jesse Norell to a younger crowd that is ready for lessons, but maybe not tears. How planful have these changes been? Or does is come with being a parent of kids who get older every day.
GREAT question. Many of the songs on the first record were written while I was passing time with my kids when they were little. I would make up silly songs and they became part of our family DNA. The new album is me writing new songs from scratch. I was thinking about things I wanted my kids to know or things I wish my younger self knew. I think kids are facing mental health challenges younger than ever and I want to be able to offer something helpful in addition to all the silliness. On songs like T-Flex, I get to sing lyrics that are silly and meaningful at the same time (Stomp Like a tyrannosaurus rex/ throw your tiny arms in the air and flex/ even though they can’t reach above your chest/ we’re just doing our prehistoric best). I could have included other silly songs like Butt Stomp on this record, but I wanted to keep with one theme instead of saying “Here are songs about kids and their mental health… plus a song about Super Mario’s butt.”
I know your kids were pretty involved in your earlier album (Raising a Ruckus). Are they still involved? What do they think of new work?
My 11-year-old son, Tyler performs with us at almost every show! He sings, raps, leads actions, schleps merch, and he’s our hype man. Alyssa still adds her voice on some of the studio recordings when she gets excited to sing. I always want to make sure my kids are having fun and having a good experience so I don’t force it. They really like the new songs, particularly the ones we play live.
You must have parents and kids come to the shows. How do they react differently? Are there song songs that are parent-magnets while others get the kids on the dance floor, or at least swaying?
I have had some parents admit to me that they stream Riffin’ Griffin songs even when they’re kids aren’t around. Other parents might take longer to be convinced that this band is actually just a good time for EVERYONE! At our shows, we usually end up with the “kiddie mosh pit” in the middle with parents standing along the perimeter so I really focus on the kids and keeping them involved. Parents often have the best time when they see the delight on their kids’ faces and they can quietly bop along or make stank-face (the ultimate compliment) in the back.
Please tell us about upcoming shows.
We’re everywhere in the Twin Cities this summer! We already played for the Ordway at Flint Hills Family Fest and Crush-A-Whirl at Turbo Tim’s. We’re playing a ton of parks and libraries and kid-friendly festivals. For smaller spaces like libraries, it’s usually just me and Josh Grinolds on guitar. Be sure to check RiffinGriffin.com and click on SHOWS to see which dates will be played with the full band. PSA adults: it’s ok to come by yourself!! You’ll have a good time!
Mostly Minnesota 