When I’m feeling old and out of touch, I like to check out what the kids are into these days. So on this particular evening, I ventured to the Long Beach Terrace Theater to see what all the young folks are hyping: Elmo’s Green Thumb. The first thing I noticed was the lack of detachment. Kids were wearing Elmo T-shirts and holding stuffed Elmos, flouting one of the key rules of concert-going cool. These little anti-hipsters were excited, and they were not afraid to show it. The music kicked in, and Sesame Street stars — Big Bird, Grover, Cookie Monster, etc. — strutted one at a time onto the stage to huge cheers, all laying down their own verses. I imagined that a Wu Tang show would go something like this. As the woolly crew sang and busted moves, it became clear that the ringleader, Elmo, was pushing an agenda with his music. The lyrics not-so-subtly promoted subjects like recycling, organic food and multiculturalism. There was also a Timothy Leary-esque mantra repeated during the performance: “Rise above, high as a dove.” I couldn’t help but wonder whether the kids were hip to all this jive or whether they were just there for the spectacle. Elmo and his crew sounded good — almost too good — raising suspicions that they were lip-syncing. After all, it must be hard to sing through those furry suits. The show came to a rousing climax as Elmo found the perfect place to plant his flower, and cannons at the sides of the stage shot streamers across the audience. I don’t think that was meant to be symbolic, but you never know with this Elmo character.

— Thomas McMahon