Rock Concert Movements
Well over a year ago, Mike and I went to see the Blue Man Group when they came to town on The Complex Tour. It was before I had a weblog. It was before I even knew about weblogs, so it might have been a couple of years ago. I could find out the exact date that it happened, because I’m sure I wrote about it in my personal journal and I could just do a search of the entries to find out when I mentioned it, but you don’t really care about the exact date and neither do I.
After the concert, I was so stoked. I wanted to tell everyone about the experience. I hadn’t written down any of the truly funny things that happened. I wanted a complete list of the Rock Concert Movements that were mentioned in the concert. The announcer explained to the Blue Men the exact movements that they had to master in order to be Rock Stars. They were given to us out of order and so quickly that there would have been no way for me to write them down, even if I knew that they were coming.
A couple of years later, I found myself at Fry’s in Las Vegas. They were selling the DVD to The Complex Tour. I picked it up and bought it without another thought. I would finally have the complete Rock Concert Movement List so that I, too, could become a Rock Star. Culled from the DVD, my memory and other websites on the subject here are the Rock Concert Movements:
Rock Concert Movement #1 The Basic Head Bob Rock Concert Movement #2 The One-Armed Fist Pump Rock Concert Movement #3 The Up and Down Jumping Motion Rock Concert Movement #4 The Behind the Head Leg Stretch Rock Concert Movement #6 Two Armed Upward Thrust with Yell Rock Concert Movement #8 The Black Out Rock Concert Movement #10 Getting a Closer Look at the Audience Rock Concert Movement #15 Bringing a Guest Vocalist Onstage Rock Concert Movement #23 Getting the Audience to Sing Along Rock Concert Movement #27 Saying Hello to the People in the Cheap Seats Rock Concert Movement #28 Getting an Audience Member Onstage to Dance Rock Concert Movement #48 Introducing the Band Rock Concert Movement #63 Bringing out Venus Hum Rock Concert Movement #78 The Fake Ending Rock Concert Movement #91 Enjoying the T-Shirt You Bought at The Complex Rock Tour Rock Concert Movement #237 Taking the audience on a Jungian journey into the collective unconscious by using the shadow as a metaphor for the primal self that gets repressed by the modern persona and also by using an underground setting and labyrinth office design to represent both the depths of the psyche and the dungeon-like isolation of our increasingly mechanistic society which prevents people from finding satisfying work or meaningful connections with others.
I love the Blue Man Group. I love both of their albums. I loved watching the DVD last night. It wasn’t as good as the live concert because the show really is a audience participating cathartic experience. I should have bought this T-Shirt at the concert, but I don’t remember it being available. The only reason I wrote this entry is because I wanted a list of the Rock Concert Movements after I got out of the concert and it was nowhere to be seen online. Not even the Blue Man Group’s Official Website had anything about it. It’s not like the list spoils the beauty of the concert. It’s completely incomprehensible unless you’ve seen the concert.
If you get a chance to see the Blue Man Group (New York, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Berlin) check out their regular show. The Complex Tour ended in the fall of 2003, and they are not planning another rock concert tour right now. You’ll have to get your butt to one of these cool cities and see them for yourself. You can buy the CDs and DVD, but nothing can compare to the live experience.
Like you, I am a huge BMG fan. Before the show began (after Venus Hum performed) there were two of those scrolling text signs on either side of the stage. On the right were messages stating that no photography and recording devices were permitted, on the left were messages telling you to ignore the words on the right (or the other way around – I don’t remember.)
Anyway, on the left I noticed that a Rock Concert Movement scrolled by – I don’t remember the exact number, but it was in the 30’s I think (37 maybe?) — “The waiting-around-for-the-show-to-start-motion”
Other funny messages flashed up as well, like, “It’s time to pee.”
Overall, I concur – a truly unforgettable experience.
Comment by Manganic — 2/7/2005 @ 7:59 pm
Delighted to find this list! I recently bought the Complex Rock Tour DVD and have been watching/listening nightly. I wish I’d seen the show itself.
Comment by St. Chris — 6/13/2005 @ 2:22 pm
I have been a bmg fan for years now and from the sound of it you guys haven’t been to one of there permanent live shows in new york, boston, vegas. I did not get a chance to see the complex as it did not come anywhere near my area. but I live about 2 hours from boston and like to go once or twice a year. most of the theatres the complex was in were huge. you need to see it in the small theatre’s that are devoted to bmg. it is so much more intimate (they will walk on your head. I also have one of the canvases that they had up on stage hanging up in my bedroom.
Comment by Jeremy — 11/19/2005 @ 1:32 pm
I too, am a HUGE BMG fan from all the way down under here in Australia! I wish that they would tour over here, I would be camping overnight for those tickets!
Love your blog by the way, feel free to drop by on mine, and if you wanna chat, add me to your MSN Messenger:
the_emancipation@hotmail.com
Cheers, Landon
Comment by Landon — 3/10/2006 @ 11:26 pm
I agree with you, the live shows are much better. I am a huge BMG fan. I went to see the show in Chicago at the Briar Street Theater. It was great. I even got a pair of drumsticks used by BMG themselves. They took me backstage and put me in a suit, hung me upside-down and painted me with blue paint. I got to keep the suit. Definately the best performance I have ever seen.
Comment by Bryan — 3/19/2006 @ 5:26 pm
I got to see the blue man show in Las Vegas for christmas and i felt all crabby the next day ’cause i was bored and all i could think about was Blue Man Group. I got their second album, dvd, and i got to keep my plastic poncho from the show! (and a roll of tp, by the way) i’ve listened to my cd a gabajillion times, and im still not sick of it.
Comment by Bri Zabonski — 6/27/2006 @ 3:11 pm
I just happened across your blog while doing a search for the Rock Concert Movements. Being a fan of Blue Man Group and the Complex Tour myself, I thought I would quickly post a message here and let everyone who cares know that Blue Man Group is going back on tour this Fall. Check out their website for all important information!
Comment by Bob DeBusk — 8/1/2006 @ 2:42 pm
Hey, thanks for the list, that was exactly what I was looking for! I think the audience on the DVD is kinda boring, but it’s a nice concert and a very nice band!
David Magnusson, Stockholm, Sweden
Comment by David — 10/17/2006 @ 2:30 pm
I saw BMG in Colorado Springs, CO., on 10/27/06! The nbew tour Kicks Ass! I got to see them at the Luxor in Vegas….
Comment by Tetzman — 11/2/2006 @ 1:16 pm
Yours is one of the top sites on the google search for rock concert movements, so I thought I’d pass along my list of rock concert movements that i’ve been working on using the Complex DVD and my memory from the concerts I go to…
http://www.bullfrog117.com/other/rock_concert_movements.php
Thanks for helping me update my list!
Blue Man Group for life!
Your Attention Please: http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1798554
Comment by Jeremy Heckman — 2/8/2008 @ 10:40 pm
Im a huge bmg fan too!.
I loved since first time i saw them on tv. I saw bmg in Las Vegas and im dying to see them again and again and I need to share my experience with people that loves bmg too and talk about them, cause they are awesome!.
If you know some club fan, on monterrey mexico or texas or something closer to that let me know, my email is alfredoaguirre.v at gmail
regards
Comment by kEpEx — 2/9/2009 @ 4:32 pm
Thanks for list of rock concert movements! (I was looking for them)
Comment by aiste — 2/17/2009 @ 2:46 am
Addendum: I didn’t see rock concert movement #37 flashing the Floppie the Banjo Clown hand puppet. Floppie has his own website now: http://howtobeamegastar.com/floppie/
BMG is great! Saw their show in Vegas.
Comment by Brian — 3/2/2009 @ 1:28 pm
Thank you so much! Dinner conversation tonight that we needed to resolve so we can properly educate our toddler on proper rock concert etiquette.
Comment by Doug — 3/15/2010 @ 4:28 pm
Ready Go.
Comment by Mike N. — 3/21/2010 @ 3:33 pm
Saw the show at the Venetian on 10/20/10 – FABOULOUS!!!!!!!! It totally ROCKED!!!!!
Like you said, get off your butt and go see the show!
Rods and Cones was awesome too.
Comment by Tom C. — 10/23/2010 @ 10:03 pm