I was wondering where all the moms and kids were. Strolling around the DC metropoitan area on a weekday mid-morning and all you see is a lone tumbleweed rolling across playgrounds, the eery whistle in your ear. An abandoned mitten on a fence.

Finally a friend clued me in. From 10am to 11:30 am most weekdays the mothers, nannies, babies and toddlers are all at Jammin' Java in McLean, taking in a show. Jammin Java is a coffee shop and also a live music venue. At night they feature well-known local bands. Each weekday they offer live music for kids. There are several decent solo acts, guitar-strummers, wacky artists and crooners. But the best day of the week at Jammin Java is Wednesdays. On that day you are in for a real treat.  "Rocknoceros" is three guys who played together in high school, reunited 20 years later to play rock songs for kids. And they do it very well.

Rocknoceros sounds a little like "They Might Be Giants", or if that means nothing to you then also a little like "The Beatles"... musical inspirations from right and left, near and far. They write their own lyrics and music, they play their own instruments. They sing in tune, and in impressively close harmony, taking turns in syncopation, chiming in on time and on key. Their songs are about rockets, hands, the metric system, brushing your teeth, going potty, writing a Dear Abby letter, and more things of interest to kids and parents alike. The lyrics are witty, the melodies catchy, and the rhythms are irresistible, making everyone dance, clap or just tap along. The Bees currently loves "These Hands" because she can clap, snap and wave along with the words. Another favorite is the tuba intro to "The Metric System". I love "Seven Days a Week", and find myself "Woo Hoo!!"-ing out the car window.

Whatever they're playing, this is a band that is not painful to the ears or the eyes. The music is good, and, well, if you enjoy watching a farmer guitarist in overalls, a drummer/keyboardist in a fetching fedora, and a lead singer sporting nice legs in his soccer shorts, then you won't mind the view. It's worth the trek to Vienna on Wednesdays just to take in a show. The rest of the week you can plug the cd in your car and sing as loud as you want. Go ahead - the only person watching is your kid, and she likes it.