Blonde Redhead were great tonight. Of course almost everyone at the Warfield was there to see Interpol. That’s fine. We enjoyed the opening band and then left, haha. Beating the crowds is very nice. We decided to stay out though, and go to the Canvas Cafe for cider.
The art at the Canvas right now is particularly trite, btw.
So it was “open mike comedy night.” Holy mother o’ god. Brian and I were “treated” to seven or eight of the worst comedians I think have ever been allowed onto a public stage. Not only that, the audience (including us) was sparse and unforgiving. One guy did his entire set as the crowd sat in stony silence. Like, crickets chirping silence. My cats are funnier than these guys.
I actually found myself giggling in embarrassment a couple times as bit after bit fell hopelessly flat.
But it made me realize that comedy is HARD. I would never do it. I had a feeling these guys were told by their friends, “You’re so funny! You should be a comedian!” You know, my friends have told me I’m funny before, and I have certainly made them laugh, but that does not mean I am able to deliver a stand-up routine, or should pretend that I can.
Bad comedy makes me appreciate good comedy even more.
These guys had no rhythm. No timing. And very little tact. A couple of the jokes might have been funny had they been delivered better or been a bit more polished. But most of it was just utter, utter garbage. One dude’s idea of a joke: “Aren’t you guys tired of homeless people here in the City? The other day this homeless guy asked me for fifty cents… I was like ‘Do I look like a crack pipe?'”
Yeah guy. Real hilarious. I bet it was funny when you told that to your drunk friends at a bar. I was happy that everyone else in the cafe shared the same bullshit meter, as that “joke” died a million deaths.
Anyway. Another good thing tonight: I bought PANTS! I really needed new pants, and after watching enough of TLC’s “What Not To Wear”, I have finally learned that short chicks like me should NOT ever wear cropped pants, and should make sure the hem falls as close to the heel as possible, so the leg is lengthened. It’s TRUE! And you know what else? I like this SCARF!
Finally: My back feels better today, thank dog. Maybe this disability leave thing will really help me? knock wood.
A friend and I (and another person, but that’s another story), quite by accident, found ourselves at a similar event long about a year ago, and the experience was similar if not identical. Oh, yes, we had execrable jokes (“What’s funnier than date rape? AIDS. AIDS is funnier than date rape.” YES FOR SERIOUS), but for some reason the people here laughed.
People in SF have far better senses of humor than those in DC.
I think I was spoiled in that my first live comedy experience was at a small club in London many years ago and I was laughing my ass off all night. But then everyone knows English people are funnier.
It’s the accents.
Act 1 of This Episode of This American Life is about two people who try out the comedy routines availible on a bar’s karaoke system. Jonathan Goldstein, author of Lenny Bruce is Dead and an upcoming rewrite of the Bible (hear excerpts here and here) bombs in such a huge way.
I love TAL. I will try to listen to that. They better not still be only offering RealAudio streams though.
Very nice pants! I especially love the first ones. Is it hard to find items to match them though? I’m pretty bad at finding stuff to go with other stuff lol. OMG I too, watch endless episodes of what not to wear. The only thing keeping me from spending thousands of dollars on a new wardrobe…is that I don’t have it. Ha. When I do though…watch out! I have expensive fantasy taste. I want a few new pairs of dress shoes, a couple pretty dresses, new wide leg pants from VS, lots of ultra cute dress shirts and hair accessories. Someday!
Well, the pants I got are pretgty neutral in color, so I can wear most things with them I think, and if all else fails, wear black or white!
I know what you mean, wish I could blow a bunch of cash on clothes… someday though. It’s hard to know what really looks good, too. I am really lucky that my company gives me such a nice employee discount.