Music Review: “Future Hits” Rocks Oak Park Public Library

By Jose P.  Moreno

Composed of a Chicago Public School teacher, a classically trained flutist, and an assistant professor of audio from Columbia College, Future Hits plays music catered to children, while remaining entertaining for adults.   

At first, one assumes simple songs that sound like “Wheels on the Bus” and such will be played. But during a June 20 performance at the Oak Park Public Library, the first song, “Sign by the Sea,” has an entertaining vibe, as if Coldplay and Radiohead decided to do music for children while retaining their distinctive qualities.

Supported by a beautifully played flute, the song has a calm and entertaining quality. The following song, “Cross the Street” has various tones, from the `wah’ pedal-led solo and chorus, to the vocals, drawing homage to the style of The Strokes, among other bands.

“At the Library” has a mellowed-out sound with almost hypnotic vocals in between verses, quite easily describing the childhood experience of being in the library. The vocal harmonies bring the Beatles to mind, with the song’s themes pertaining to childhood.

One of the keys to the songs’ attractiveness: they are brief enough to maintain children’s short attention span, varying in topic from hanging out on the beach to visiting “Grandpa's Farm.”

Matt Baron, an English-as-second language teacher with Chicago Public Schools, heads the trio of musicians. The others are Emma Hospelhorn and Ben Sutherland.

For more information, visit futurehits.org.

Moreno is an intern with Oak Park-based Inside Edge: Public Relations & Media Services. Inside Edge PR's principal is Matt W. Baron; the Future Hits frontman is Matt L. Baron. They met for the first time at the library performance.