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Topic: Blue Man Group |
John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 9 Aug 2006 8:16 am |
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| Watched them last night on PBS. My most favorite avant-garde-pop-group since Devo. Great stuff! [This message was edited by John Billings on 09 August 2006 at 02:17 PM.] |
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Cliff Kane
From:
the late great golden state
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Posted 9 Aug 2006 10:53 am
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I saw the show in Vegas last month. A really fun and engaging multi-media experience. My wife and I loved it, as did our seventeen-year-old, and our six-year-old, daughters, so I'd say it's good family fun. It was hard to see the accompanying musicians because of the day-glo and black-light, but I'm pretty sure their Vegas band includes a steel player (non-pedal on a table-top, from what I could tell). 
We almost took the kids to the Pearl Jam / Sonic Youth concert that was at the MGM Grand (I like to be the first to take my kids to rock concerts), but we went with the BMG, and I'm glad we did, it was so clever and fun! |
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Bill McCloskey
From:
Nanuet, NY
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Posted 9 Aug 2006 12:38 pm
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| Although with francises in every city known to man, it is hard to think of them as avant-guard |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 9 Aug 2006 1:16 pm
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Yeah Bill, I kinda agree, but the instruments, and the act are rather avant-garde. But, because of their popularity, I also included "pop".
BTW, from Dictionary on line, "A group active in the invention and application of new techniques in a given field, especially in the arts."[This message was edited by John Billings on 09 August 2006 at 02:19 PM.] |
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Michael Johnstone
From:
Sylmar,Ca. USA
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Posted 9 Aug 2006 1:19 pm
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| From what I've seen they're just guys with blue heads beatin on PVC pipe - although some may find that exciting I guess. |
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Cliff Kane
From:
the late great golden state
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Posted 9 Aug 2006 1:39 pm
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| Yea, it's that, but there is a lot more going on, too. I assume that when they perform outside of a fixed venue it's an abreviated show. Seeing them in their theater at the Venitian Hotel is quite spectacular, and it's hard to describe, but they work with the space and the audience. I would say that they are inventive, entertaining, clever, and relavent. I don't know of anyone doing what they do. They are avant garde, and they are popular and commercial (can they can be both at the same time? I'd say that they are post-modern in the way that they address the ideas of art and performance). |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 9 Aug 2006 4:34 pm
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| Gee Michael, are you one of those myopic guys with a very narrow view of what music is? Taking industrial elements and making music with them is very interesting to me. These are drummers with melody! Totally innovative! And great fun! I've always laughed at people who can't stand humor in music. |
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Ben Elder
From:
La Crescenta, California, USA
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Posted 9 Aug 2006 5:25 pm
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Love Spike Jones. Yawn at BMG.
(And if you're playing Vegas, you can be lots of things, but avant-garde isn't one of 'em..)[This message was edited by Ben Elder on 09 August 2006 at 06:32 PM.] [This message was edited by Ben Elder on 09 August 2006 at 06:33 PM.] |
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Bill McCloskey
From:
Nanuet, NY
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Posted 9 Aug 2006 5:36 pm
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Don't get me wrong, I love the act. I saw it in New York one year for my son's 10th birthday. It was great.
Although I would call it intelligent vaudeville rather than avant guard. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 9 Aug 2006 6:11 pm
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"intelligent vaudeville "
This is not an unreasonable descriptiom. I love humor in music! Zappa, Devo, Blue Men! I just really enjoy it! Many people cannot understand humor in music. I have a light-hearted view. Music is my life, and my view on life, I hear music in my thoughts all the time, and I feel sorry for people who have a very narrow view! But I do admit that I hate opera! |
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Michael Johnstone
From:
Sylmar,Ca. USA
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Posted 10 Aug 2006 12:13 am
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| I love humor in music and the blue heads do have that I guess - in a Disneyland kinda way. They're just whatcha call playin to the cheap seats. As far as avant-guard in the classical sense,I would say they're deeply superficial. If you want to trade in that corndog for some prime rib,I would check out a world class Taiko ensemble like Ondekoza or Kodo or perhaps an African ensemble like Osibisa or the late Babatunde Olatunji. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 10 Aug 2006 6:47 am
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I've known about and enjoyed Olatunji for many years! Same with Kodo. I've been urging a friend to try to get some recording time with Kodo. He tours the Far East usually twice a year, and is very popular over there. I keep telling him he could sell even more cds over there if he would do some recording with some famous Asian musicians. I think Kodo would be perfect.
Oh! And you know where you can put that corndog comment? I find that quite offensive. |
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Mark Ardito
From:
Chicago, IL, USA
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Posted 10 Aug 2006 6:56 am
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I have enjoyed the Blue Man Group show for many years. They have had a residency here in Chicago at the Briar St. Theatre for around 10 years. I saw them back in 96 or 97 and loved it. My favorite part of the show has always been the end.....dang all that paper! Still makes me laugh.
Michael: I'll eat that corn dog! Got any mustard, or do you just use Grey Poupon? [This message was edited by Mark Ardito on 10 August 2006 at 07:57 AM.] [This message was edited by Mark Ardito on 10 August 2006 at 07:58 AM.] |
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Michael Johnstone
From:
Sylmar,Ca. USA
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Posted 10 Aug 2006 9:37 am
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| One man's corn dog is another man's Hebrew National but they all taste about the same when smothered with chili and onions and chased with a beer. So let's all lighten up and enjoy our favorite snack. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 10 Aug 2006 9:49 am
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"enjoy our favorite snack"
That would be CHICKEN FEET! (Chinese girlfriend) |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 16 Oct 2006 8:17 pm
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We just saw them tonight, on their "How To Be A Megastar Tour 2.0". Great entertainment for the whole family.
Lee |
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Darvin Willhoite
From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
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Posted 17 Oct 2006 7:12 am
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My wife, son, and granddaughter went to Dallas and saw BMG Saturday night. They said it was a great show as always. They packed out the AA center.
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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording
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P Gleespen
From:
Toledo, OH USA
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Posted 18 Oct 2006 11:22 am
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This thread has given me a very severe case of deja vu.
I'd swear that this exact thread came up a couple years ago, right down to Michael Johnstone's "corn dog" comment, but I can't find it in the archives.
I think the intelligent vaudeville concept is a great description of BMG.
(edited for spelling)[This message was edited by P Gleespen on 18 October 2006 at 12:23 PM.] |
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P Gleespen
From:
Toledo, OH USA
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Posted 18 Oct 2006 11:23 am
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This thread has given me a very severe case of deja vu.
I'd swear that this exact thread came up a couple years ago, right down to Michael Johnstone's "corn dog" comment, but I can't find it in the archives.
I think the intelligent vaudeville concept is a great description of BMG.
(edited for deja vu joke)[This message was edited by P Gleespen on 18 October 2006 at 12:24 PM.] |
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