Kicks with David O (and kids)

In recent years, composer-performer-musical director David O has become synonymous with his kids-oriented work, such as the original musicals “The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip,” “The Legend of Alex” and “Imagine.” But his latest gig is more grown-up: music director and arranger for “Divorce! The Musical” at the Hudson Theatre.

The Salinas native and CalArts graduate’s work has also been featured at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Mark Taper Forum and the Hollywood Bowl. And he co-created the L.A. Master Chorale’s “Voices Within” program, in which fifth-graders learn collaborative skills while writing songs.

He recently chatted with Liesl Bradner about his favorite pop culture fascinations.

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Heavy rotation on your iPod:

Random mix ranging from John Adams to Michael Franti and Spearhead, David Byrne to classic bluegrass, New Lost City Ramblers. I tend to get tired of the same things. . . . I’d rather listen to something I haven’t heard before and tune into KCSN or Indie 103 online.

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Soundtrack for commuting:

I have a 9-year-old and a 3-year-old, so depending on which kids are in the car, it’s either “It’s a Small World” or “Can’t Touch This.” They have pretty broad tastes.

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TV time:

My wife and I have a standing date to watch “SNL” after I get home from my Saturday night show. I’ll fess up to still being completely hooked on “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Desperate Housewives.” If my 3-year-old is watching “Yo Gabba Gabba!” I’ll totally dance along. It’s so much fun.

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In your bedside library:

The last thing I read was “Infinite Jest” by David Foster Wallace, and I’m still recovering from that. I haven’t been reading so much as listening to podcast NPR shows.

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Top Web destination:

I am hooked on the Geekdad blog on the Wired magazine site [blog.wired.com /geekdad]. It’s a blog that ranges from do-at-home math and science projects with kids to things to build with Legos and “Star Wars” trivia. I’m using my parenting to exercise my inner geekness.

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YouTube picks:

“Yo-Yo Ma Shreds” or “such-and-such shreds.” A bunch of artists take video clips of great musicians performing and dub in really bad, awful, horrendous music.

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Guilty pleasure:

Listening to really bad recordings of music that weren’t meant to be listened to. . . . There’s a camaraderie among musicians saying, “We’ve been there, we’ve had those screw-ups.”