Barrage - The World on Stage Review

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(More customer reviews)In the lineage of "Stomp", "Blue Man Group" and "Blast", this group of talented violinists, guitarist, percussionists, and bassist are breaking new ground with the use of the violin. The music is stunning, and their personalities are enchanting. It is really wonderful to see excellent musicians having a great time making music. I use this as a teaching tool for my elementary music classes, and the students love it!!!! The guitarist is phenomenal and the selection of music is perfect. Own this, you won't be sorry!

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The Complex Review

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(More customer reviews)One Day some time ago BMG decided to try a new experiment: How well its wacky array of make-shift instruments would work in a more traditional Rock Album, and let me tell you it works, it REALLY works. Where ever the Blue Man instruments were put in, it 'fits' like if it was mean't to have always been in there, it doesn't really stand out all that much if you were not really trying to listen for them. It does however start to get exhausting near the end of the album. The amazingly complex music would start to take its toll on the person's brain compelling to stop for time being, this is definately not a once over album if you want to fully appreciate what BMG has made.
Herein is a small review of all the songs and my top 3 songs of the album
Above:(9/10)
A very nice start
Time to Start:(9/10)
An exceptionally humerous number,
Sing Along:(10/10)
One of the covers of the album, the Dave Matthews Band really makes this track shine. 3rd Place
Up to the Roof:(10/10)
The female counterpart to Sing Along. Tracy easily make this the second best song IMO
Your Attention:(7/10)
A remake of a BMG song, the addition of vocals kinda makes the song itself easier to swallow than its original format, otherwise....
Persona:(9/10)
Piano Smasher:(8/10)
Pure BMG goodness for those who like their original style
White Rabbit:(7/10)
Maybe its just me, but I didn't quite like this song as much as the rest of the album, worth a hear if you like Esthero
Shadows 2:(6/10)
Another remake of a previous BMG song, nothing special
The Current:(10/10)
One word: Woah.....1st place
I Feel Love:(8/10)
An exceptional rock rendition of the disco classic
What is Rock:(8/10)
This is where it gets tiring if you try to give it a once over, otherwise its up to stuff with the rest of the album
The Complex:(9/10)
The album thankfully gives you a break with this song, its about a person who's made it to the top yet wants more out of life than just success, great song
Exhibit 13:(9/10)
If the listener wasn't told what this song is about, they would just assume its a nice BMG instrumental with many foreign languages. If they were told that its about the many pieces of paper that fell from the two towers. THEN it gains its exceptional strength and creepyness, and could actually move some people to tears.
The Hidden Mandelbrot:(9/10)
An awesome quasi-western-style varient to the mandelbrot family. A nice way to end the album

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Their first full-fledged rock 'n' roll album, 'TheComplex', features guest appearances from Dan TheAutomator, Tracy Bonham, Esthero, Dave Matthews, & others.14 tracks including the single, 'The Current', featuringGavin Rossdale. Lava. 2003.

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How to Be a Megastar Live (DVD with CD) (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Blue Man Group return to their rock concert experience in their latest DVD, captured during their "How to Be a Megastar 2.0" tour. If you already own "The Complex" much of this material will be familiar as it nearly the same format as the group's previous rock concert tour. That's not necessarily a bad thing. As in "The Complex," "How to Be a Megastar" opens with "Above," which if you've seen/heard from "The Complex" you know is simply an amazing song. The concert presentation is exciting, with a screen obscuring the stage and only shadows of the Blue Men projected on the screen as, one by one, each takes to their PVC instruments to begin the melody, with a swirling of images of the band and the Blue Men as the song launches into guitar, drums, keyboards, bass, and percussion in an explosive cresendo. Awesome. The remainder of "How to Be a Megastar" essentially follows the same progression as "The Complex" with some new material and new rock conert movements. The premise of the tour is the Blue Men have purchased an "updated" rock concert experience manual from an infomercial and are incoporating the new material into the show. The band is amazing, as it was before in "The Complex." I miss the guest vocals of Tracy Bonham and Annette Strean of Venus Hum. Annette was gorgeous and belted out an exciting cover of "I Feel Love" in her unique style in "The Complex" and is replaced on the current tour with a new vocalist. She's fine, but it's hard to follow in the footsteps of Annette and Tracy.
Bonus material includes a music video for "I Feel Love"; a piece of comedy called "Mono Makes a Plea -- Save the TVs" campaign (bemoaning the switch to digital signals which will effect us all...) and finally, and perhaps most importantly, a documentary called "Inside the Tube." It features the founders of Blue Man (Phil Stanton, Chris Wink and Matt Goldman) as they discuss the group, the philosophy of the Blue Man and the evolution of Blue Man from a theatrical presentation to the rock concert experience of "The Complex." It's a fascinating insight; Stanton, Wink and Goldman are extremely intelligent and creative individuals with a lot of passion for what they do. As far as I know the documentary aired only on PBS during a fund raising drive, with the documentary being sold as an incentive gift for new PBS members. If my memory is correct the documentary was being sold for a $75 contribution; now you can watch it for free!
If you already own "The Complex" and are on the fence about purchasing "How to Be a Megastar," I would suggest it primarily for the documentary included in the DVD extras. The DVD also includes a CD version of the concert, so for less than $20 you're getting a DVD and audio CD; a great deal. If you are new to Blue Man I would recommend starting with "Blue Man Group - The Complex Rock Tour Live" to see what you think. I think you will enjoy it.

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After playing to capacity crowds throughout 2006 and 2007, Blue Man Group's How to Be a Megastar Tour hits the road again in 2008. The live rock show takes the audience through a satirical workshop on how to create the perfect rock concert experience. In the process, they celebrate, skewer and otherwise deconstruct rock stardom in all of its narcissistic glory. Expanding on the Rock Concert Manual concept from The Complex Rock Tour, this time around the Blue Men download a new how-to manual that takes the audience through a uniquely clever and interactive show that guarantees to deliver hypnotic entertainment for all ages. CD/DVD of Blue Man Group's live concert that is currently touring the world. It will feature a live concert on DVD, a distilled version of that show on CD as well as the documentary Inside The Tube and the video I Feel Love as bonus features.

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STOMP Live (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)It is rare for stage shows to get a video release. You can count the DVD releases of still-active Broadway shows on one hand and have a few fingers left over. STOMP, thank goodness, is tossing that rule into one of their oft-used and abused trash bins.
This DVD features a full performance of the wonderfully entertaining stage show, filmed in the UK on the same stage where many of the show's segments were created.
Even after a decade and a half, STOMP still defies easy description. Part concert, part theatre.... Impossible to pigeonhole. But it is 100% entertaining and fun. In STOMP, the world is your drum kit.
I've attended ten performances of this show since 1995 and I never grow tired of it. This DVD is a perfect souvenir of the performance.
There are quite a few bonus features on the disc, including a peek at some new bits being developed for future versions of the show. You also get performer bios, interviews with STOMP creators and directors, an alternate take of one show segment, and a few other bells and whistles.
A few years back saw the release of "STOMP Out Loud" on home video. It featured bits from the stage show and new material created especially for the pay-cable program, but it wasn't the complete show. Not even close. I liked "STOMP Out Loud", but I was a little disappointed that I wasn't getting the full stage show.
But now it's here!!
I cannot recommend this DVD enough. Fun, fun show. Even my fuddy-duddy friends who don't like theatre love this show.
Great disc, good crisp picture and sound.
I've only had it 24 hours and I've already watched it twice.
My personal favorite segment is "Hands and Feet", perhaps the most rhythmically complex and interesting part of the show. It is carefully structured and choreographed but also allows room for quite a bit of improvisation, like a jazz routine.In a perfect world, someone would figure out how to mesh the magic of STOMP with the zany and creative juggling of The Flying Karamazov Brothers......


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Eight performers take the audience on a journey through sound and music, where rhythm is the only language...STOMP has grown from its beginnings on the streets of Europe into an international sensation, with touring productions all over the world, and long running shows in London, Las Vegas and Broadway. This special performance brings together performers from the West End, New York and Vegas for the very first time, to Stomp's home town and the theatre where many of the routines were originated: Brighton Dome.Instantly recognizable household objects take on new life as percussive instruments in the hands of each of the Stompers: brooms, cigarette lighters, water bottles, basketballs and more are each explored for their sonic potential. Dance meets rhythm in "Hands and Feet" and Stomp takes to the air in "Suspension", where the entire set becomes a musical instrument. The show climaxes with the "Bins" routine: a ten minute rhythm extravaganza in itself, using trash-cans, oil drums and plastic drums with trash-can lid combat sequences...Combining physical comedy and athleticism, it's a highly charged performance from an idiosyncratic group who could only come from the world of STOMP.

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Blue Man Group - The Complex Rock Tour Live (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)I love everything about Blue Man Group: the concept; the music; the humor; and, of course, the weirdness. This DVD is NOT of one of the typical BMG shows from New York, Boston, Chicago, or Las Vegas, rather, it is a concert from their recent 'Complex Rock Tour', which is totally different materiel. The DVD was actually taken from two shows, one in Dallas, and one in Minneapolis. I was fortunate enough to be at the Minneapolis show that this DVD is partially taken from, and watching this is almost as good as being there.
The musical performances, showmanship, sound quality, and cinematography on the DVD are breathtaking, and make me want to go see BMG again as soon as possible. There are standout performances by guest vocalists Tracy Bonham and Venus Hum (in the greatest dress I have ever seen anywhere on anyone.) I would have liked to see the Bonham opening set (especially the Led Zeppelin violin recital), but unfortunately the producers didn't accommodate my desires. Here both vocalists are used to excellent effect.
The music itself is potently addictive (I have the soundtrack CD in my car) and intriguing. Of course BMG is known for percussion (which I adore), and that is spotlighted to excellent effect on the DVD. The whole band is wonderful, and provides an excellent, and often whimsical, backdrop for the antics of the three Blue Men. Particular standouts for me are "Above", "Time to Start", "Up On The Roof", and the beautiful, haunting tribute to September 11 victims, "Exhibit 13." Also of note are the comedic links used in which an offstage recorded voice gives instructions in 'Rock Star Movements' which the Blue Men then teach the audience (my personal favorites are Numbers 4 and 237.)
The DVD has a couple of extras, including the music videos for "Sing Along" (featuring a dazed looking Dave Matthews), "The Current", and the magnificently minimalist "Exhibit 13." Be sure to watch these, as they give a totally different perspective on the songs. You also want to catch the DVD credits. I won't say why, but trust me on this one.
All told, this is an excellent introduction to the eccentricity that is Blue Man Group, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in music, comedy, or general oddity.

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COMPLEX ROCK TOUR LIVE - DVD Movie

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