Monster Jam

So, Monster Jam is one of those things I’ve heard about forever but have never actually seen live. Anyone who’s ever listened to the radio has probably heard one of those obnoxiously loud commercials: This Sunday! (Sunday! Sunday!)

This past weekend, Monster Jam came through Washington, DC, and I finally had the opportunity to go. What should you expect?

Noise. Lots and lots of noise.

If you go, it’s a great idea to bring ear plugs or some other kind of ear protection. If you’ve got little kids, it’s almost a necessity. We were unprepared in this respect. Thankfully, the vendors have got you covered. Basic foam ear plugs (which get the job done) are only $2, which was surprising. Still, these might not fit the littlest ears sufficiently, so if you’ve already got something, it’s a good idea to bring it along.

Here a couple videos to give you some idea of the noise level. Also keep in mind the echo adds to the volume:

We got to the arena about a half hour early and were able to watch mini-moto (tiny dirt bikes) and Quad Wars (ATVs) practice races. We had no idea this would be happening, so it was a nice surprise. I’d highly recommend going early, if for no other reason than to check out the dirt bikes. There was no race during the show proper, so this was the only time we got to see them all out on the course together.

Once the monster trucks revved up, the noise was deafening. It was instantly obvious why we had to maneuver through an ad hoc marketplace of ear plug scalpers on the streets outside the Verizon Center. They clearly knew more than we did.

The show itself is broken into several segments/competitions. The monster trucks compete in wheelie, donut, and freestyle competitions, along with running an obstacle course. Interspersed throughout are a few heats of ATV races (Washington vs Philadelphia) and a few performances from XPOGO: stunt pogo stick riders. Who knew?

For this show, eight monster trucks were in attendance. Our favorite was definitely Crushstation, which was made to look like a giant lobster. Grave Digger was clearly the crowd favorite, though, and went home with all the big prizes.

Which brings me to this point: the competitions were scored. It appeared as if members of the audience were recruited to be scorekeepers, but scores were awarded and time was kept for the obstacle course. Results for every show are even listed online.

I’m not sure how….legitimate these competitions are. Much of the event, especially the trash talk between the Washington and Philadelphia ATV team captains, seemed scripted. It felt about as authentic as professional wrestling.

However, we didn’t go for nail-biting suspense of scored competitions. We went to see monster trucks, which my 3-year-old adores, and we were certainly not disappointed in this respect.

It was actually a lot of fun. The trucks, despite their size, can really launch into the air! And sometimes, in an attempt to get as vertical as possible, they get stuck.

And they need a little push.Other times, this can happen:

I tell ya, nothing makes a crowd cheer louder than watching a monster truck go upside down.

Monster Jam seems to be the epitome of stereotypical America: big, loud, and obnoxious. If you’re at peace with that for a couple hours, then you’ll leave happy. Don’t go expecting high culture or an eco-friendly message. Monster Jam is not the place for either.

My kids loved it, and we’ll probably go again….once our ears stop ringing.