Blue Man Group fills the senses in Everett

Published 11:03 pm Friday, January 25, 2008

EVERETT — Supposedly, the Blue Man Group attacks the senses in a way that’s too odd to describe.

The mute trio, with its explosive drumming and inclination to catch marshmallows in their mouths, must be seen to be believed, people say.

So, understanding our limits, instead of a traditional review, here’s a blow-by-blow of the group’s Friday night show at Comcast Arena at the Everett Events Center.

8:36 p.m.: Words scroll across giant screens, asking the crowd to give a loud, sustained yell. “Even more!” it says. Behind a white sheet, the Blue Men’s silhouettes appear. They begin beating on odd instruments. A silhouetted backing band appears.

8:38 p.m.: The crowd of about 7,000 explodes as the sheet drops. The Blue Men stare blankly at the audience. Then they drum, one hitting a massive bass with a comically large stick.

8:43 p.m.: An infomercial begins to play starring “Saturday Night Live” performer Fred Armisen. He hawks a class on becoming a rock star. The Blue Men decide to order it.

8:52 p.m.: The video instructional teaches basic rock star moves: the head bob, the one-armed fist pump. The crowd learns the moves as the Blue Men pound on an intestinal twist of white pipes.

9:07 p.m.: The Blue Men hit water-colored drums that are lit from below. The water drops look like sparks flying into the air. A disembodied voice asks the crowd to yell if they’re paying attention. Thousands yell.

9:13 p.m.: The voice tells the Blue Men to pay respects to people in “crappy seats,” so they walk to the back of the arena. They stop to visit the lighting guy, in the middle of the arena, and accidentally turn the lights off.

9:22 p.m.: The band launches into “Sing Along,” from “The Complex,” Blue Man Group’s album. A band member sings the part recorded by Dave Matthews, as the Blue Men dance and drum.

9:26 p.m.: At the rock star courses urging, the Blue Men launch into an impressive sampling of cover songs, mimicking bits of “Like a Virgin” and “Whip It” via percussion. Then the band plays “Free Bird.” One of the Blue Men holds up a lighter, only to have another put it out with an extinguisher.

9:36 p.m.: The Blue Men put working TVs on their heads. One TV plays a video advertising the “Mach Six” razor, with a blade for taunting the follicles.

9:46 p.m.: The voice says the audience might be getting “the feeling,” inspiring clapping and saying, “I love you, man.”

9:49 p.m.: The stage lights are off. A techno-rock song plays as the Blue Men — covered in lines of thin, multi-colored lights — dance around the darkened stage. This culminates with a crazily-lit, wonderfully massive performance of “I Feel Love” from “The Complex.”

10 p.m.: After a brief departure, the Blue Men return for an encore. They play an adrenalized version of “Baba O’Riley,” and bring the crowd to its feet to run through rock star poses galore. Thousands of white streamers shoot into the air.

10:11 p.m.: The Blue Men salute the audience, hands lift skyward, and are gone.

Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455 or arathbun@heraldnet.com.