I love the Ditty Bops. I love their vaudeville-meets-theater theatrics, their country-western twang thang, their soothing harmonies, their story telling skills and their lyrical fun. I also love that these Los Angeles gals -- Abby DeWald and Amanda Barrett -- have figured out a way to meld their activism into their creative expression.

Last spring, they started an environmental non-profit called You and I Save the World, which helped San Francisco ban the plastic bag. And the year before, they promoted their second album "Moon Over the Freeway" on bike, pedaling rom Los Angeles to New York, while performing concerts along the way.

While I certainly haven't planned a cross country bike trip to promote Samadhi and the City, I have taken the Ditty's lead and pedal around my neighborhood a lot more lately. Soaring gas prices, my cute cruiser and the nice weather have been great incentives to get me out of my car and into the bike lane.

Check out the Ditty Bops new record, "Summer Rains", which they say was inspired by their sustainable L.A. lifestyle (no cars, only bikes, vegetarian and their former driveway has been converted into an edible, organic garden). And if you'd like to see them live, they'll be at McCabes at the beginning of June.