Week of a Thousand Larfs
As you may know because you are stalking me, your buddy Brendo recently had a birthday. I celebrated by attending a bunch of music and comedy shows with friends! Here are reviews of who I saw because I encourage your stalking. I just really need the attention.
Hannah Einbinder at Largo
If you’ve seen the show Hacks, you are familiar with Einbinder’s comedy voice. I liked Hacks, but didn’t go ga-ga over it. But Einbinder and Jean Smart were both terrific in it. By the way - do you notice that these days people go nuts over something they like? You never hear anyone say “Yeah, it was pretty good” anymore. Everything is an orgasm. “Holy cripes! You have to watch Hacks! It’s the funniest thing EVER!” It was a good show but deserving of a “Holy cripes!”? Is anything really cripe-worthy anymore? What’s with all the enthusiasm there, Rebecca?
ANYway, Einbinder’s stand-up set was terrific. (Almost cripe-worthy!) She has a unique but relatable voice which rings true emotionally as well as comically. The annoying thing is she is only 28 years old. Some find that charming. I find it annoying. But seeing her at this stage of her career, I got the sort of ‘young John Mulaney’ vibes - you feel like you’re watching something special that is just going to explode into greatness. There were also some really funny sets by two comics I hadn’t seen before: Robby Hoffman and Sandy Honig (from the wonderfully insane Adult Swim show Three Busy Debras). Plus, the legendary Sarah Silverman was there working on new material and we even got a surprise drop-in set by Adam Sandler! It was one of those “Only in LA!” moments that makes you all hate when people from LA say it.
This was my first trip to Largo - I really liked it! An intimate theater with none of the comedy club bullshit. I can see myself becoming an annoying Hollywood comedy nerd who hangs out and bothers minor celebrities to be on my podcast. Looking forward to that phase of my life.
The only negative part of the evening was that Madden flew down from San Francisco to join me. Cripes I hate that guy!
Ron Funches and Nikki Glaser at the Hollywood Improv
The Improv is more of a traditional stand-up comedy room i.e. two-drink minimum, get seated in the front row so the comics can make fun of you. And make fun of us they did! Madden and I were joined by our friend Jeremie and the “you three are closeted gay guys” jokes were fuh-lying from the stage. We were good sports about it and all… but is being called gay even funny anymore? It’s like calling someone a closeted accountant or something. “You’re totally an accountant, dude. I can tell by the way you’re dressed!” I mean - I’m not an accountant, but would it be funny or weird in any way if I were? It’s just a totally normal, non-comedic thing to be. I don’t know about you, but I would be thrilled to be a gay accountant. Sounds much better than the whole “underemployed straight guy” nonsense I’ve been rocking for the last several decades.
ANYway, Glaser made a bunch of dark suicide jokes and then promptly called me a sick fuck for laughing so loudly (see my article on depression for context). Unwisely, I took one of Jeremie’s edibles which happened to kick in right as Funches hit the stage. He was funny as hell, but the spaces in between his jokes were thirty-five minutes long, or at least according to the time dilation in my brain. I have partaken in THC twice in the last decade… both during comedy shows. Waste of money on all counts? You betcha!
Mercifully, Madden left town before I could punch him in his stupid face (God, I hate that guy!) just in time for me to be joined by my friend Joe who flew out from Rhode Island to stick it to the mouse!
The Crossword Show at Dynasty Typewriter
Joe joined me at Dynasty Typewriter (another cool comedy theater space) for the Crossword Show starring Zach Sherwin. I first met Zach a decade and a half ago when he was doing goofy rap songs in the Comedy Studio in Harvard Square. In the ensuing time, he has developed a truly extraordinary event in the Crossword Show. The premise is simple: Zach hosts two guests - this time Rachel Bloom and Irene Tu (Jody Sweetin canceled, the piece of shit) - as they solve a crossword puzzle together. Based on the answers in the puzzle, Zach takes us on a quirky journey through the world of history, music, literature, entertainment, and - mostly - words. As his brainy labyrinth of comedy unfolds, you realize you are in the presence of an actual genius.
I was a little annoyed by it.
Debriefing after the show, I realized that my delight in reveling in such a nimble, outside-the-box brain was slightly counteracted by my own insecure ego. Zack is so much smarter than me. It almost ruined my night. I’m such a fragile little animal, aren’t I? Lucky for me, my higher functions prevailed and I got the fuck over myself. I strongly recommend you see this one-of-a-kind show the next time you have an opportunity. Your brain will be buzzing for days.
Extreme and Living Colour at the House of Blues
It was time for the main event of Joe’s trip. When Joe and I formed our first band back in high school, Extreme and Living Colour were two big deal bands for us. So he flew across the country to join Jeremie and me at this show.
The music was terrific. Against the laws of biology and physics, Living Colour singer Corey Glover’s voice is still as insanely powerful and dynamic as it was 30 years ago. Both bands were in great shape, played incredibly, and put on a dynamic show. There was the tiniest hint of “still trying to be cool and looking like a 60-year old dork” from Extreme front man Gary Cherone, but nothing compared to the usual embarrassing nostalgia shit shows you get from a lot of 80s hair metal bands (*cough*’MOTLEYCRUE*cough*). Nuno Bettencourt and Vernon Reid are still agile monsters on guitar and the musicianship, energy, and charisma were top notch all around.
But… the House of Blues is a general admission club. So a bunch of middle aged stinky white guys were crammed the fuck in there to stand around for three hours. More like Extreme Back Pain, am I right? We chose to not line up for an hour before the show, so we ended up near the back. Thus, we were treated to mostly watching the show on people’s video screens. I know I’m an old man yelling at a cloud here, but how could people still be doing this? You’re going to film the whole song, are you Scorcese? I’m sure the audio quality and shot selection will be Oscar-worthy. You know you’re going to watch that video exactly zero times because it’s unwatchable and unlistenable, you fuck. Take a few seconds of video for a keepsake and then put your phone back in your pockets, you feckless fuckwit.
Still, it was a great walk down musical memory lane. I sang along with every word. We left before the encore because Joe did some internet research and learned Extreme was only playing stuff from the new album. No one needs to hear the new album, chumps! So we were out of the garage first. Old guy win!
Kyle Gass Band at the Knitting Factory
Speaking of old guys, the final stop of my birthday comedy and rock tour landed at a surprise (to me) show at the Knitting Factory in North Hollywood. Last minute, my pals Jen and Henry invited me to see the Kyle Gass Band because their friends in Harry Katz and the Pistachios (a fun band!) were opening. If you’re not familiar with Kyle Gass, he is the non-Jack Black member of the legendary folk rock comedy duo Tenacious D. Like anyone with good taste, I am a connoisseur of the D so I was thrilled to see half of the band in person.
As it turns out - half the D? About half as good. I mean - it was fine. The band could really play and it turns out Kyle is a monster on the recorder. But the songs were funny-ish but not quite funny. The set was about half classic rock covers (played very well, mind you), but looking around at the screaming crowd, I couldn’t shake the question: would you millennials all be going nuts for Thin Lizzy songs sung by a fat bald guy with a giant beard if he weren’t famous? I have seen versions of that band many times before without the screaming girls. It’s not inspiring. Plus, general admission again. My favorite moment of the show was when Jen and I found a couch in the back to rest our aching lumbars. Sweet merciful relief.
Overall, it was a terrific birthday week filled with many laughs and mucho rocks. As it turns out, the cool part about getting older is how many amazing people you have collected. And I’ve got some great ones. Except Madden. God, he’s the worst!
Boogie Writes is a completely independent endeavor by one hard-working funnyman trying to make his way in the world today (which takes everything you’ve got.) If you like what you read, please subscribe, support, and tell a friend! Also - do you need advice? Of course you do! Send your queries to brendan@brendanboogie.com with “Dear Boogie” in the subject and get some solid or at least passable advice!