Hilariously trippy preview for SNL’s Fred Armisen’s appearance on Yo Gabba Gabba!
PREVIOUSLY: I hadn’t been to the Mann since the mid-80s. I was in high school back then and as I recall they had a sweet system going to promote underage drinking. Any time there was a show, somebody would set up kegs in the semi-wooded areas just beyond the fences. How many? Twenty, fifty, a thousand, who knew? But it was beer paradise for thirsty 16 year-olds who otherwise had to take their chances and trek to that “special” distributor in Springfield that (almost) never carded. Outside of the Mann, you’d just pick a keg that seemed mostly full, pay $5 for a cup and start pounding. I don’t know who the keg providers were (23 year-olds out to make a buck?), but no one cared. I must have gone to 25 “shows” in this manner, and sometimes you could just barely hear snatches of the music. Randomly, the only performer I specifically remember is Steve Winwood. Does this still happen at the Mann? I strongly suspect it was not happening Sunday afternoon, when I made my return to the Mann, 24 summers later. I wasn’t there for beer or rock n’ roll — I had my wife, plus my five- and three-year-old sons on hand to see Yo Gabba Gabba! Live. If you 
are unfamiliar with this program, it’s pretty much the coolest kids show around, starring five costumed “creatures” and hosted by loveable, orange-clad, 85-pound DJ Lance Rock (Lance Robertson, pictured below right). It’s earned an older following as well, due to some big-name guests and trippy sets and costumes (Dare I invoke Sid and Marty Krofft here? Brobee definitely has a Sigmund and the Sea Monsters thing going). Yo Gabba Gabba! has featured musical guests like The Aquabats, The Shins, Weezer, Jimmy Eat World, Devo, The Killers, Flaming Lips, members of The Roots, and MGMT, Of Montreal, Hot Hot Heat, and The Ting Tings as well as plenty of other celebrity guest stars. I wasn’t expecting any particular star power on Sunday, but I was much more excited for the show than I would have been if we were there to see Mickey Mouse Clubhouse or Handy Manny. MORE