by JULIET WATERS

It feels kind of weird talking about “breakout” albums and “taking it to the next level” with Ralph Covert, even though his latest CD, The Amazing Adventures of Kid Astro, is doing just that. With his band Ralph’s World, his shows have recently gone from audiences of dozens to audiences of thousands.

In the last year, the L.A Times called him a superstar and The New York Times compared him to Elvis Costello. With Kid Astro’s anthems, tributes to Queen and Cheap Trick, Covert’s music may be getting a little big for his label, Mini Fresh (a division of Minty Fresh shared by fellow indie stars Veruca Salt). Still, it feels weird. Probably because what we’re talking about here is generally considered kids’ music.

Covert’s more comfortable calling what he does “kid-friendly” music. On the phone from Chicago, he explains why: “When I was first asked to make a kids’ record, I said no, because most kids’ music is junk. I said what I will try is to make a good record that kids will like.”

Fortunately, as Covert points out, “Kids know quality and, given the chance, they won’t go back.” Same goes for parents. “Parents actually listen to my music without the kids—I hear that again and again. They leave the CD in the player after they drop the kids off at school. And that’s why the kids get it, because the parents get it too. Because it’s good music—or at least that’s the goal.”

Covert’s lyrics, on the other hand, do seem to be mostly written for kids. There are not a lot of bands out there—except possibly the Barenaked Ladies—who might write a song called “Belly Button.” But whether it’s the Robert Johnson standard “Dust My Broom” adapted as “Clean My Room,” or an original Covert composition like “Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum,” which really does sound like early Elvis Costello, there’s always a level of sophistication adults can relate to.

This probably comes from Covert’s years as frontman for his Chicago rock band the Bad Examples. Now that Covert has been at this a few years, however, he’s starting to come full circle. “Some of the Ralph’s World kids are starting to outgrow that world and starting to get into the Bad Examples world, which is cool and surreal at the same time,” he says. For them, Covert’s working on a fall release, Good Examples of Bad Examples.

“Basically, we’ve put together an collection of Bad Examples songs that don’t have any bad words in them, or questionable subject matter.” For new kids on the block, a new CD is out in August, The Green Gorilla Monster and Me. And for Montrealers, next week is a chance to see Covert performing solo, here for an entire weekend of acoustic sets. Something you and your favorite kid may not get to see again soon, or ever.

Ralph Covert plays The Centaur Theatre (453 St-Francois-Xavier) as part of Just For Laughs July 21 to July 24, 11 a.m; July 23 &24, 2 p.m. $15.50 adults. $12.50 children

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