Entertainment Weekly

What's Rocking Our World

December 19, 2003

Ian MacKaye has been part of two of the most influential bands of the past 25 years (Minor Threat and Fugazi), but he introduced his newest outfit, the Evens, in a most unusual place: an internet-only children's program called Pancake Mountain. The show debuted a month ago at pancakemountain.com, and MacKaye (who espouses the virtue of the letter e in an original composition titled "Vowel Movements") isn't the only alterna-icon to pop up. Also kidding around are punk pioneer Bob Mould (Husker Du, Sugar), who plays a corporate stooge in one sketch, and folk favorite Vic Chesnutt, who performs "I've Been Working on the Railroad."

Described by creator Scott Stuckey as "Saturday Night Live meets Pee-wee's Playhouse," Pancake Mountain is currently lining up even more talent, and already Henry Rollins and R.E.M. have expressed interest in taking a dip in the syrup. Furthur proof that when it comes to rock & roll, it's all about "doin' it for the kids."

B+

--Dalton Ross