Paint Yourself Navy
Blue Man Group
Wachovia Center
3601 S. Broad St.
Thu, 7:30 p.m., $46.50-89.50
(800) 298-4200
www.comcast-spectacor.com
What do you get when you combine rock music (with an emphasis on the percussion element), kooky props, sophisticated lighting, magic and blue paint? A pretty entertaining show, if you ask me. If you've never heard of Blue Man Group, you've been missing out. Founded in the 1980s, the Group consists of a trio of mute performers who appear on stage with their skin painted blue, wearing (you guessed it) blue latex caps and black clothing. Most of their shows are interactive and thought-provoking, with hilarious satirical commentary (minus the words) on modern life. Be sure to sit in the first few rows if you like to get dirty. Lovingly called "the poncho section" of the audience, spectators nearest the stage wear raingear to protect themselves from flying food, splattering paint and other such substances. With their "How to Be a Megastar Tour 2.0," the Blue Man Group will have you rolling on the floor of the Wachovia Center.
-Lauren Talman
Hey! It's that chick
Kathy Griffin
Tower Theater
69th & Ludlow Sts., Upper Darby
Sat, 8 p.m., $32.50-39.50
www.livenation.com
K. Griff knows the alphabet. A, B, C, D - no need to continue. A self-proclaimed D-list celebrity (so what does that make Paris Hilton?), Kathy Griffin has proven her comic prowess time and time again -- as an actress, a red carpet commentator and a stand-up comedian - and yet we still find ourselves asking, "Ummm . who exactly is she?" Her resume (she was Brooke Shield's bitchy colleague on Suddenly Susan) and her red hair have us thinking of her as Reba McEntire for the mature set, minus the singing. But then again, her color may be from a bottle so you can never be too sure. Although Kath first made her mark on sitcoms, it's on stage where she's most griffin-like (if you remember her, it's probably for ridiculing celebrities on topics ranging from eating disorders and plastic surgery to substance abuse and sexuality). Catch the Griff riff on the flip.
-Gillian Levinson
No hand me downs here
Brand New
The Electric Factory
421 N. 7th St.
Wed, 8 p.m., $19
(215) 627-1332
www.livenation.com
People's favorite bands say a lot about their personalities. If we accept the stereotype that Blink-182 fans are immature and U2 fans are way into social justice/curing AIDS, then it follows that Brand New fans are in a perpetual state of agony. We're talking nihilist, existentialist, transcendentalist agony. Why else would they subject themselves to such aggressively depressing music? Exhibit A: songs titled "Guernica" and "Good To Know That If I Ever Need Attention All I Have To Do Is Die." Whether the members of Brand New and their fans share some sort of unspoken bond due to shared scarring childhood experiences or they simply like to affect a pained emo exterior, we say "whatever floats your boat." Your black, leaky boat sinking in an ocean of sadness, that is.
- Heather Schwedel
My Homeboy, still a baboon
The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial
Harold Prince Theatre, Annenberg Center
3680 Walnut St.
Thu, 7:30 p.m.; Fri, 8 p.m.; Sat, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Sun, 3 p.m.; $44
(215) 898-3900
www.pennpresents.org
We've all seen the bumper ornaments that not-so-subtly express a car driver's take on the origin of man. At a stoplight, one might simultaneously observe a sticker on one car depicting a fish with legs that reads DARWIN, while on another car rests a fish sans legs that says JESUS. And therein lies the central conflict of Scopes. Often called one of the greatest trials of all time, the 1925 case marked the start of the still-raging battle between proponents of evolution and believers of creationism. It all started when Tennessee high school teacher John Thomas Scopes was accused of teaching ideas from Darwin's The Origin of Species. And in 1925 Tennessee, teaching evolution was against the law. Step back in time and witness the heart-pounding trial that still sends ripples through the scientific community.
-L.T.
Feels Like Norah
Norah Jones
Tower Theater
69th & Ludlow Sts., Upper Darby
Fri, 8 p.m., $39.50-59.50
www.livenation.com
There's only one way to describe the soothing and soulful sounds of singer/songwriter Norah Jones: like buttah. Whether you're studying, kicking back after a long day or trying to rock yourself to sleep, Norah Jones has that uncanny ability to make you feel all warm and cozy inside. Her 2002 debut album, Come Away With Me, blended acoustic pop with sensual jazz sounds and skyrocketed Norah Jones to the top of the charts. She received five Grammy Awards in 2003 for that album, including "Best New Artist" (a pretty prize for any musician). Jones' third album Not Too Late was released in January of this year and has sold over 2.2 million copies worldwide. With the help of guitarist and songwriter M. Ward, Jones starts her nationwide tour this month. If you need to unwind, this is the perfect concert for you. But be sure to bring a sleeping bag - she could lull you peacefully into dreamland.
-L.T.
