HopscotchWonder

Sister act
Hopscotch Wonder showcases its music
Herald TImes Reporter • March 12, 2009

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Buzz up! Hopscotch Wonder fans aren't shy about vocalizing their requests for "The Kool-Aid Stand Song."


They often call out the song's name from the audience, said Bethany Lindemann, who with sister Hope Lindemann makes up the acoustic folk duo.

"The song became pretty popular in Sheboygan," said Bethany, 20, of Manitowoc. "People kind of like our honest, somewhat obscure lyrics."

She and Hope, 16, of Cleveland, trace the duo's start to the Weather Center Café in Sheboygan, where they received an enthusiastic response to Bethany's original work when they sang and played their guitars at an open mic in June.

"We had been playing individual acts and we thought we'd try to mesh it together for a change," Bethany said. "We realized it's more entertaining to watch two interact musically up on stage."

Hopscotch Wonder will perform starting at 7 p.m. on March 21 at Stumpjack Coffee Company, 1606 Washington St., Two Rivers.

Their signature song, "The Kool-Aid Stand Song," blends in experiences from real life.

"Our sister, who was 6 years old, Susannah, wanted to have a Kool-Aid stand," Bethany said. "I was sitting on the porch and playing my guitar, making up a song as I went along."

It goes partly like this:

"It's a Kool-Aid stand today,

Barefoot Susie needs some money,

She's going to the Dollar Store,

She wants some red lip gloss,

She wants some smelly perfume,

A 6-year-old's dream about to come true."

Their songs often touch on childhood and are influenced by the fact that they grew up in a family of 11 children belonging to Barth and Roberta (Bobby) Lindemann of Cleveland.

Even the name, Hopscotch Wonder, reflects that childhood theme.

"Growing up in a shuffle of diapers and strollers … has given me a sense of humor that shows up in my lyrics. With so many younger siblings, childhood, seemingly, never ends," Bethany said.

Bethany and Hope are among a number of young female singer-songwriters featured lately at Stumpjack, said David Smith, co-owner of the coffeehouse.

"To me they sound like what you'd think of as a young Sarah McLachlan or Norah Jones starting out," he said. "They all have that indie genre vibe to them — nice songwriting, the lyrics are clever, they have a knack for melody. It's very relaxing, memorable stuff."

To hear some of their music, visit www .myspace.com/ hopscotchwonder.

Bethany and Hope each picked up a guitar for the first time when they were in about sixth grade.

The music was something she needed, "especially going through the 'woe-is-me' hormonal years," Bethany said.

"I was home-schooled at the time and my tone-deaf father taught me," she added with a laugh.

"I was inspired by Bethany to teach myself," said Hope. "I recently picked up a ukulele and (Bethany) is experimenting with mandolin."

She likes "putting images into somebody's head," Bethany said. "The music helps to create a mood to go with the ideas or lyrics."

"I like the storytelling aspect of it and just the fact that you can make someone feel a certain way by playing music," Hope said.

Their repertoire includes more than 20 original works and cover songs, including Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi" and Simon and Garfunkel's "Old Friends/Bookends," Bethany said.

After hearing them play, Don Burhop, host at the Weather Center Café, helped get them other gigs and recording space. They have played at Paradigm Coffee & Music and Earthfest, both in Sheboygan, and the teen lounge, Level, in Plymouth. They also have available a five-song self-titled demo CD at their performances, with enough material to a fill a planned full CD, Bethany said.

Musical influences include Regina Spektor and Kimya Dawson.

They're attuned not only to the musical aspect of their work, but the theatrical as well, said Bethany, who was wearing large dangling yellow earrings on the day of the interview, while Hope sported a red beret.

"We've sort of adapted a color code. It's awful," said Bethany with a self-deprecating laugh. "Hope loves red and I wear gold and black — our McDonald's colors."

Bethany attends Lakeshore Technical College in Cleveland, with plans to purse its criminal justice program in fall, and Hope is a sophomore at Etude High School of the Arts and Academics in Sheboygan.

"We rarely, if ever, practice," Bethany admitted. "Oftentimes, the first time we will be accompanying each other on songs will be on stage, and that is also the first time hearing the song."
- Herald Times Reporter