George Corneliussen
(I'll keep this short and sweet )
When "The Who" released the album "Who's Next" in 1971, the song that grabbed me the most was "Baba O' Riley". The moment I heard the now famous C,G, and F notes that open the song repeating in the background I was hooked. In the thirty-five years since then I've never stopped liking the song, but the raw passion and energy I got from it back in 71' has long since been replaced with a nostalgia for those feelings.
About a week ago, I was watching my local PBS station and stumbled across a program called "Inside The Tube", a documentary, of sorts, on the musical/performace/art group called, " The Blue Man Group". Even though this group has been together for close to twenty years, I had never seen or heard their work. I decided that it was about time I checked them out, and sat back to see what they had to offer.
In case you don't know, "The Blue Man Group" is just that, it is fronted by three men who paint their faces blue and wear simple back suits, not unlike Chinese peasant clothes. They offer little or no facial expression while they perform.
Created and fronted by the trio of Chris Wink, Matt Goldman, and Phil Stanton, these blue men do no singing, but do a ton of drumming and playing on "instruments" of their own creation that are made from PVC plastic plumbing pipes. They are backed by a dozen or more professional musicans and singers.
You might be thinking to yourself that this act would only appeal to off-the-wall artist types; nothing could be farther from the truth. The music they create is both original and extremely high-energy.
"Inside The Tube" is a "best of The Blue Man Group " documentary, It featured highlights from several of their shows. One of those shows parodies the rock star persona and the rock show itself. Rather than simply making fun of a rock show, these blue men have fun with the concept.
Just as I was warming up to all of this and feeling pretty good about how these guys were developing something new, fun, and exciting, using music (something I personally hadn't experienced in years), I began to realize that they were about to perform an actual rock classic, none other than The Who's, "Baba O' Riley"
However ! Where The Who used primative synthesizers to open the song, The Blue Man Group used three sets of homemade instruments (that they wore like harnesses)that were made from different lenghts of the PVC plastic pipe they use so well. They banged on the openings of the different length tubes to recreate the notes the synthesizers played on The Who's version of the song. The effect was not only musically perfect, the enegry level it created was unbelieveable. My mind couldn't help but wonder how they would play the famous C,G,and F notes that are the foundation of the song.
I didn't have to wait long to find out. Sitting on it's side ( stage left ) was a grand piano with its lid removed. One Of the Blue Men approached the piano with a huge mallet, and began hammering the strings of the piano with it. It was a moment of sheer exhilaration for me when I realized that they had tuned the entire piano to just three notes C,G,and F and as the Blue Man with the mallet "smashed" the piano, out came the three notes anyone who knows the song knows instantly.
I was not prepared for what came next. Traces of a tear actually came to my eye as I felt the kind of exhileration, joy, and excitment, from a piece of rock music I haven't felt in years !
For my money, The Blue Man Group has resurrected modern-music and saved it from the wax museum it had become. I highly recommend that you check them out ! Check Your Local PBS Listing !
PS: I have to believe that somewhere in their past, these guys were fans of the group " The Tubes".
The Blue Man Group Links:
http://www.blueman.com/newspress/
http://www.maximumink.com/articles.php?articleId=419
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Comments: 26
This article just shows me I have no idea what I am hearing when I listen.
Great review of a very unusual unsung group.
If you like music that gets you excited, you should check these guys out.
I do believe they have a DVD out. The local PBS station was offering it as a "thank you gift" during breaks on this show.
I can safely say, you won't be disappointed.
I'm still buzzed from the show.
Give them a listen, and a look.
Thanks for the review. :-)
While their music may need their stage show to be appreciated to the max, The Blue man Group really does have a fresh approach to music.
Their live show is like a variety show where each act is comprised of the same people.
I'm searching my basement for scraps of PVC pipe, as we speak.
You would probably like this group, they combine many different styles. Some of their act even borders on vaudeville.
I've missed a couple of opportunities to see The Group. I think, given your review, I should try a bit harder.
By the way, all the great rock albums in the world were made in 1971.
Dark Side of the Moon. Fragile. Nursery Crime. Who's Next... On and on.
Given the fact that The Blue Man Group has been around almost twenty years, maybe it took them this long to get it right. Judging from the "Inside The Tube" video, it seems like they've got it right.
I guess you can't fool yourself when it comes to passion. Something either has it, or it doesn't.
The Blue Men really do do a great job on Baba O' Riley.
Wasn't their show a wonderful surprise ?