Concert review: Imagination Movers

Three words from my 5-year-old summed up the Imagination Movers concert at Rosemont Theatre on Saturday: “That was awesome!” Making their way across the country on a months-long tour, this blue-jump-suited foursome from New Orleans packed the theater with preschoolers, moms, dads, grandparents, all bopping to the totally likable kid-oriented music.

The rocking, sometimes raucous show—my 3-year-old said she didn’t like the “loud parts”—warmed us up with the hip-hop-lite Choo Choo Soul duo. Then the Movers emerged, basketball championship-style, complete with booming-voiced announcer and fog machine. Songs were loosely strung together with a goal of boosting the “Fun-O-Meter” to its highest level. Guests included their TV show’s sidekick-of-sorts, Nina; a big furry guy I’d never seen before called Eddie the Monster; and the orange-tufted Warehouse Mouse. They each ask the Movers how to get the Fun-O-Meter to the top. The answer, “We don’t know. We’ve never had that much fun!” But they keeps trying— jumping around stage, telling groan-inducing jokes about cheese and playing their catchy, pop-rock tunes with messages about working together, friendships, eating right and other good-for-kids stuff.

The success of this group is no doubt a result of how it began—not as a contrived, carefully cast ensemble, but as friends with a cool idea. Rich Collins, Scott Durbin, Dave Poche and Scott “Smitty” Smith had various careers when they started hanging out after their kids’ bedtimes (all but Smith have kids), writing songs and imagining a children’s TV show they’d like to see. Local performances in New Orleans attracted lines down the block, and it didn’t take long for word to get out (and it probably didn’t hurt that they’re all pretty crush-worthy too). Disney signed them in 2006, and in 2008 debuted the critically and kid-acclaimed Playhouse Disney show that’s all about solving “idea emergencies” with a lot of creative thinking, a lot of songs and the kooky-cuddly puppet Warehouse Mouse.

Several awards (including an Emmy) later, the quartet have definitely solidified their popularity. During their show-staple “Brainstorming,” they roam the theater, ostensibly getting ideas from kids (though we don’t hear answers, and I wish Collins had made it to our section). Their motto-turned-tune “Getting Stronger” (“Reach high, think big, work hard, have fun”) is slightly reminiscent of the Beastie Boys; “Jump Up” works great for antsy kids; and “On My Way Home” shows their softer side with the sweet Nina stepping in for a song. A few musical side trips for parents include snippets of Van Halen and U2 songs.

Finally, lo and behold, the Fun-O-Meter reaches the top level, and confetti rains down. Honestly, it was marginally anti-climactic. Still, we’d go again. And a word of warning: Beware the merchandise table with $25 Warehouse Mouse stuffies.