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Archive for the ‘State Theatre’ Category

Cirque du Soleil: Ovo (Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA, July 12, 2025) (matinee)

Posted in Acrobats, Cirque de Soleil, New Brunswick, NJ, State Theatre on July 12, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: July 12, 2025] Cirque du Soleil: Ovo

My family loves going to Cirques.  We have gone to many and we’ve enjoyed them all.

But my daughter recently said that she really wanted to see a Cirque du Soleil production.  And I swear about five days later, they announced this show at the Wells Fargo Center.  And I was able to get 3PM tickets which means we would be home during the day!

On the way down, we learned that 95 was under construction and it was down to one lane in parts.  Google Maps said the wait was 20 minutes, so we left extra early.  By the time we reached the slowdown, people were literally backing up in the breakdown lane to get to the previous exit.

And they were smart because we sat in traffic for over an hour.  We missed at least 30, possibly 45 minutes of the show.  We walked in with two acts to go before the intermission.  Damn. (more…)

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Adam Ant: Antmusic 2024 / The Beat starring Dave Wakeling (State Theatre, New Brunswick, NJ, April 3, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Adam and the Ants, Adam Ant, New Brunswick, NJ, State Theatre, The Beat, The English Beat on April 3, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 3, 2024] Adam Ant: Antmusic 2024 / The English Beat

My friend Garry got me into Adam Ant at a time when I didn’t like much beyond heavy metal.

I knew of him of course (he was all over MTV) but it wasn’t until I started to really listen to him that I found I really liked the stuff he was doing.

I’d never seen him before and really wouldn’t have gotten a ticket to this show if it wasn’t so close–Philly would have been too far for my level of commitment on this one.

When I found out my college friend Alison was going (I haven’t seen her in decades), I was pretty psyched for the evening.

Then it started raining.  A lot.  It rained for two days.  (more…)

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The Head and The Heart (State Theatre, New Brunswick, NJ, November 4, 2023)

Posted in Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, New Brunswick, NJ, State Theatre, The Head and the Heart on November 5, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: November 4, 2023] The Head and The Heart

My wife and I saw The Head and the Heart in 2019 and it was terrible (not the band, the crowd)

I wrote:

But holy crap, the people around me sucked so bad that they ruined the whole night.  I am writing this ten days after the show and I hate to say that I am still annoyed by them all.  …

So I had quite possibly the worst concert experience of my life at this show.  And I want to reiterate it had nothing to do with the band.  There may have been a song or two in the middle that I wasn’t too excited about, but overall, they sounded great, played some really fun songs and seemed to be really enjoying themselves.  I wouldn’t mind seeing them again to make up for this show, but I probably won’t.

So last time they came around, I decided not to see them.  But I figured they were coming to the State Theatre, how bad could the audience be?

And indeed, they weren’t too bad.  They talked a lot during Drew Holcomb, but were largely good during THATH.  The strange thing to me was how many kids there were there.  Like dozens of them.  Which is fine, it was just surprising as they’re not a notably kiddie band.  Although when I asked some parents about this, the dad said they were not offensive, which is very true. (more…)

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Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors (State Theatre, New Brunswick, NJ, November 4, 2023) [THE HEAD AND THE HEART]

Posted in Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, New Brunswick, NJ, State Theatre, The Head and the Heart on November 4, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: November 4, 2023] Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors

I had purchased these tickets a pretty long time ago–a chance to see The Head and the Heart again after the disastrous last time we saw them.

Then The Last Dinner Party announced that they were playing a couple of shows i the U.S. and I grabbed a ticket trying to decide if we could blow off The Head and the Heart.  But I thought it would be more fun to see a show with my wife, so we went.

Then Drew Holcomb came on and I was sure I’d made the wrong choice.

Holcomb is a Tennessee country singer.  Ouch.

His voice wasn’t the worst in terms of twanginess.  But his songs were so generic and bland it was sad.  His lyrics were also really meh.

In the first song he lists a bunch of things that “I am” an endless list which included (more…)

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Diavolo (State Theatre, New Brunswick, NJ, April 13, 2023) [rescheduled date, rescheduled again and again] [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Acrobats, Diavolo, New Brunswick, NJ, State Theatre on April 13, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 13, 2023] Diavolo [rescheduled from April 28, 2020, April 29, 2021 and March 25, 2022]

After all of these postponements, I wondered if we would actually get to see it this year.

It turned out that this date was on my kids’ Spring Break and we decided to go to the beach during the day.  By the time of the show we were in no condition to go anywhere–exhaustion from the heat and the sun kept us at home.  Sorry Diavolo.

~~~~~

And now, the resurgence had made a third postponement.

By 2023, I wonder if any of the same people will still be in the troupe?

~~~

One might have thought postponing this show an entire year would have been sufficient.  But now they have postponed again for nearly another entire year.  I think I’ll be very ready to see a Cirque by then.

I love going to see Cirques–all kinds of fun acrobatics and stunts on display.  When my kids were younger, we went to a lot of them.  Then we stopped for a while and I felt it was time to do it again.

Diavolo is in fact a dance company, but they perform amazing acrobatics and physically demanding pieces (as you can see from the reviews like: “Diavolo’s performers are fearless, elegant and strong with a sense of timing by which a Swiss watch could be set, and the way the troupe interacts with the moving sets, makes for a truly spectacular and awe inspiring show”).

I found out about this show after it was cancelled, but when I saw that it was rescheduled for April of 2021, I was really interested in going to see it with the family.

VOYAGE is Diavolo’s newest adventure, inspired by travels in space and the 50th Anniversary of the first Moon Landing. A young woman dreams of traveling distances only astronauts can, escaping from the ordinary world into a surreal landscape of infinite possibilities. Gravity-defying bodies join her on a large wheel structure that rolls along the stage and on the journey in a universe that is alive with kinetic energy, fantastical whimsy, and surprising transformation.

TRAJECTOIRE is a signature Diavolo work that takes the audience on a visceral and emotional journey through the ebb and flow of the human experience. Watch as performers jump on and off a “Trajectoire” which is a 3,000 pound boat made of wood, aluminum, and steel that continuously rocks back and forth. Watch the performers struggle to find their balance on a voyage of destiny and destination in a daring display that shows the transcendence of the human soul against all odds.

diavolo

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Blue Man Group (State Theatre, New Brunswick, NJ, May 25, 2022)

Posted in Arrested Development, Blue Man Group, New Brunswick, NJ, State Theatre on May 25, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: May 25, 2022] Blue Man Group

Blue Man Group began in 1987. In 1997 I was working in New York City in Greenwich Village and every day I thought I would love to check out this crazy looking show.

I never did.

Over the years, Blue Man Group became a phenomenon, a punchline and much more.  I had no idea that in 2017 it was purchased by Cirque de Soliel.  It even became a plot line on Arrested Development.

And all that time I still thought that I’d like to experience the show.

So when State Theatre announced that Blue Man Group was touring, I purchased tickets for the four of us, figuring we would all enjoy it.  I gather that in the 35 years the show has changed, but some things are still the same.  They’re still all in Blue.  There are still marshmallows.  There’s still music and there’s still a kind of sensory overload.

The set was wild with lights flashing and scaffolding and walls on either side that were designed for climbing.  The set is lit up long before the Blue Men come out and you can really study everything that’s up there.  We were pretty far back so we couldn’t see it very closely.  But there were screens with Pong on it and other things that seemed futuristic and retro at the same time.

I knew that the Blue Man Group played music–they have even done a Tiny Desk.  And that they make a lot of their own instruments (mostly weird things out of PVC).  I didn’t realize there would be a (really loud, rocking) backing band [apparently Corky Gainsford on guitar Chris Reiss on the strings and drummer Chris Schultz].

Audience participation is a fun thing with the Blue Man Group.  There are parts that are clearly scripted–bits in which they come out an interact with the audience.  But there are also ways in which the audience’s reactions result in the Blue Men reacting in turn–as if they are aliens unsure about what to make of the audience in general.

And I think that’s what makes the whole thing so magical.  The three guys really do keep in character the whole time–and that character is truly alien.  Truly like beings from another world doing their thing, trying to communicate with humans in some way.  It is strangely affecting and strangely moving. (more…)

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Diavolo (State Theatre, New Brunswick, NJ, March 25, 2022) [rescheduled date, rescheduled again and again]

Posted in Acrobats, Coronavirus, Diavolo, New Brunswick, NJ, Postponed, Quarantine, State Theatre on March 25, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[POSTPONED: March 25, 2022] Diavolo [rescheduled from April 28, 2020 and April 29, 2021 moved to April 13 2023]

indexAnd now, the resurgence had made a third postponement.

By 2023, I wonder if any of the same people will still be in the troupe?

~~~

One might have thought postponing this show an entire year would have been sufficient.  But now they have postponed again for nearly another entire year.  I think I’ll be very ready to see a Cirque by then.

I love going to see Cirques–all kinds of fun acrobatics and stunts on display.  When my kids were younger, we went to a lot of them.  Then we stopped for a while and I felt it was time to do it again.

Diavolo is in fact a dance company, but they perform amazing acrobatics and physically demanding pieces (as you can see from the reviews like: “Diavolo’s performers are fearless, elegant and strong with a sense of timing by which a Swiss watch could be set, and the way the troupe interacts with the moving sets, makes for a truly spectacular and awe inspiring show.”).

I found out about this show after it was cancelled, but when I saw that it was rescheuled for April of 2021, I was really interested in going to see it with the family.

VOYAGE is Diavolo’s newest adventure, inspired by travels in space and the 50th Anniversary of the first Moon Landing. A young woman dreams of traveling distances only astronauts can, escaping from the ordinary world into a surreal landscape of infinite possibilities. Gravity-defying bodies join her on a large wheel structure that rolls along the stage and on the journey in a universe that is alive with kinetic energy, fantastical whimsy, and surprising transformation.

TRAJECTOIRE is a signature Diavolo work that takes the audience on a visceral and emotional journey through the ebb and flow of the human experience. Watch as performers jump on and off a “Trajectoire” which is a 3,000 pound boat made of wood, aluminum, and steel that continuously rocks back and forth. Watch the performers struggle to find their balance on a voyage of destiny and destination in a daring display that shows the transcendence of the human soul against all odds.

diavolo

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Cirque Dreams: Holidaze (State Theatre, New Brunswick, NJ, December 8, 2021)

Posted in Acrobats, Cirque Dreams, New Brunswick, NJ, State Theatre on December 8, 2021| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: December 9, 2021] Cirque Dreams: Holidaze [moved from December 29, 2020]

My family loves going to Cirques.  We have gone to many and we’ve enjoyed them all.

But we haven’t been to one in a few years, and the kids are older now, so we weren’t sure how much they’d remember about this kind of show.  But we figured they’d enjoy it.

And, it was holiday themed!

The show is about 90 minutes long (with an intermission).  And like most cirques, it features acrobatics: juggling, balancing, strong men, a Cyr wheel, and men and women spinning through the air.

The big difference between this show and other cirques is that there was a lot of singing!

Christmas was not so much the theme as the plot of the show.  Set a the north pole, two people set about going to different stations to collect things for a gift for Santa.  So they would travel from one act to another, watch the performer do his or her thing and then collect an item for the sack.  A tenuous story, but you don’t really need a narrative for a show like this (although it is fun to have one).

The acts were fun–a guy who balanced on a cylinder on its side (after adding more and more things to it–it was quite impressive and his feigned fear was very effective).  He then juggled as well.  There was another juggler who bounced the balls off of boards to creative a very cool visual effect. (more…)

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King Crimson (PNC Bank Center, Holmdel, NJ, September 4, 2021) [rescheduled from June 22, 2020, State Theatre]

Posted in Adrian Belew, Count Basie, Holmdel, NJ, King Crimson, New Brunswick, NJ, PNC Bank Center, Red Bank, NJ, State Theatre, The Zappa Band on September 5, 2021| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 4, 2021] King Crimson

This show was originally scheduled at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, which would have been an amazing place to see King Crimson.  The sound would have been incredible, and it’s only 30 minutes from my house.  When this was first rescheduled, it appeared that they’d be playing at the Count Basie in Red Bank, which would have been fine–great sound, but a further drive.  Then it wound up at PNC Bank Center, which has less great sound, but is a nice venue and is very easy to get to.

A few days before the show I heard an ad on the radio that said this was King Crimson’s final tour. I hadn’t heard that before.  And maybe if they had originally played in 2020, they might have done another stretch into 2021…who knows.  Anyhow, an article recently said that yes, this was probably the final tour, but they didn’t want to make a big deal about it.  So it’s possible that this will be my final King Crimson show (five times in eight years is pretty good–especially for King Crimson).

The last few times King Crimson has played two 90 minute sets.  But this time they had the Zappa Band opening for them.  Which meant that they’d do only one set.  Sadly, for the same amount of money.  But oh well.  What this meant was that they did a 90 minute set that almost felt like a greatest hits (of the last few tours) package.

I decided to splurge somewhat for this show–not paying for a VIP, sorry Robert–but I was reasonably close and more or less in the middle.

The back row has remained consistent throughout these tours: Tony Levin (bass, Stick, keyboards this time, too); Mel Collins (saxes, flutes); Jakko Jakszyk (guitar, vocals), and of course, Robert Fripp (guitar and more).  From this vantage point I could see everyone very clearly, which was ideal.  A very obnoxious couple sat down next to me but there were, thankfully, two empty seats on the other side of me so I slid over and was able to sit between the heads of the two people in front of me for an unobstructed view.  The obnoxious couple left mid set…huh. (more…)

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Diavolo (State Theatre, New Brunswick, NJ, April 29, 2021) [rescheduled date, rescheduled again]

Posted in Acrobats, Coronavirus, Diavolo, New Brunswick, NJ, Postponed, Quarantine, State Theatre on April 29, 2021| Leave a Comment »

[POSTPONED: April 29, 2021] Diavolo [rescheduled from April 28, 2020; moved to March 25, 2022]

indexOne might have thought postponing this show an entire year would have been sufficient.  But now they have postponed again for nearly another entire year.  I think I’ll be very ready to see a Cirque by then.

I love going to see Cirques–all kinds of fun acrobatics and stunts on display.  When my kids were younger, we went to a lot of them.  Then we stopped for a while and I felt it was time to do it again.

Diavolo is in fact a dance company, but they perform amazing acrobatics and physically demanding pieces (as you can see from the reviews like: “Diavolo’s performers are fearless, elegant and strong with a sense of timing by which a Swiss watch could be set, and the way the troupe interacts with the moving sets, makes for a truly spectacular and awe inspiring show.”).

I found out about this show after it was cancelled, but when I saw that it was rescheuled for April of 2021, I was really interested in going to see it with the family.

VOYAGE is Diavolo’s newest adventure, inspired by travels in space and the 50th Anniversary of the first Moon Landing. A young woman dreams of traveling distances only astronauts can, escaping from the ordinary world into a surreal landscape of infinite possibilities. Gravity-defying bodies join her on a large wheel structure that rolls along the stage and on the journey in a universe that is alive with kinetic energy, fantastical whimsy, and surprising transformation.

TRAJECTOIRE is a signature Diavolo work that takes the audience on a visceral and emotional journey through the ebb and flow of the human experience. Watch as performers jump on and off a “Trajectoire” which is a 3,000 pound boat made of wood, aluminum, and steel that continuously rocks back and forth. Watch the performers struggle to find their balance on a voyage of destiny and destination in a daring display that shows the transcendence of the human soul against all odds.

diavolo

 

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