I'm going to see The Wiggles this afternoon! (Do they have a live band at their shows?)

[bbernardini]

Kind of a last minute decision. I saw that they were playing in Philadelphia, and thought my son would enjoy it. It's probably going to be the last show I ever see at the legendary Spectrum before it gets torn down. (If I didn't go to the show today, my last show would have been The Cure w/ 65daysofstatic opening.)

Anybody know if they have a live band at their shows? From what I've read, the Wiggles themselves play and sing live, but I can't find any information about whether or not they have a live backing band.

[bbernardini]

1. Wow. Nobody knows?

I can't believe a post in the Lounge about The Wiggles hasn't received any response. Must be a Sunday thing.

[mzteris]

2. drink heavily before you go

OMG - the WIGGLES?

I think I'd rather shoot myself.

[bbernardini]

3. Way ahead of you.

On the drinking part, not the shooting myself part. The way I see it, it could be worse...it could be Barney or Bob The Builder. At least these guys sing and play live. And it gets my son out of the house for a while, which hasn't been easy with the recent hot weather and heavy rain.

[SwissTony]

4. Lucky you!!!

I don't know if they have a band backing them. I know they started off in a couple of rock bands, so they can play.

I find them quite creepy, actually.

My punishment for being a dad was to have to sit through all the CareBears movies.

[MilesColtrane]

5. My guess is that they play along to pre recorded tracks.

If the Wiggles are anything like other touring shows, the producers are looking to maximize their profits and they will not pay for live musicians unless they must.

Most touring Broadway-type shows would have gone to all tape years ago if it hadn't been for the solidarity of the musician's, actor's, and stagehand's unions.

There's even a ballet company in my area that has performed much of their season with taped music. The board members decided that the company didn't have enough to pay for an orchestra, so they flew their music director to China to record some of the scores over there on the cheap.

I'd be interested to find out if I'm right. Please post when you get back.

[bbernardini]

6. You're right, although they have a large troupe of dancers on this tour.

Well, dancers/gymnasts. The Wiggles themselves all do quite a bit of live playing, though.