Bad Scene
This week, I found myself at a comedy-music performance show where people under the power of the performer on stage, fittingly a puppet show, were booing America and cheering for vasectomies. It was disturbing on a mass hypnosis level. It may have been a comedy show, but the cheers were not ironic and quite spirited in anger. I went alone (and for the headliner) and felt slightly awkward not applauding along with most of the room to such strange things.
Had I stumbled into some death cult? The opening act, Randy Feltface, a puppet show reminiscent of John Oliver style humor, but from Australia, complimented people wearing masks and started the set off making fun of the vaccine-hesitant operating in a higher amount of misinformation. Hilarious is not how I would describe the "comedy" set. It felt as though people were laughing harder at the political points than any humorous wit. The observational humor was pretty average, like how our pharmacies have lawn furniture, isn't that weird?
I guess vaccines are great if they work (to help the immune system) but are they funny? Or is shaming people that do not feel comfortable accepting a vaccine into their life? That's neither right nor funny; instead, perhaps a component of a new religion. And if we are going to go over how countries handled policing COVID policies, is Australia, where Feltface is from, a shining star of what disarming the citizens of a country (ultimate gun control) can do? Tyrannical times require appropriate rhymes.
The average age of the audience seemed to be around 27. I felt like one of the older ones in the crowd, and I went solo and found a decent spot central towards the front but also where the sound is more optimum; usually my favorite part to see a show unless its rowdiness reaches mosh pit level. By the show's end, the rowdy late arrival group bumping into me had spilled a drink on one of my shoes and crushed several Brooklyn Lager cans on the floor. At one point, after a significant bumping, I turned around to find the group posing for a phone photo with my frowny-glaring face in it. They seemed entertained by my dissatisfaction commemorated. The scene was bad.
About 15-20% of the audience was masked, which is not unusual in our current times, but it did affect the venue atmosphere, and I'm not talking about air filtration. I'm referring to the N95s and blue medical masks, although some mega Nick Lutsko fans wore decorative masks as an ode to the headliner. But I've worked in many settings where mask-wearing has been a requirement for the entirety of a 10-hour day. As a result, I do not seek out leisure activities where I would have to inhibit my breathing in such a way for any extended duration. If it's not a respirator mask, it's a sad joke that conveys a false sense of security, much like another product of these times. I want to steer clear of anything likely to deliver microplastics to my lungs.
There was a couple directly in front of me that seemed like they were having a great time. I could tell from the bobbing heads and selfie moments; The N95s hid their facial expressions. Before COVID, not knowing how people really looked was more fun in an interactive theater experience, Sleep No More, where all attendees wore decorative masks, and the cast did not.
I did not intend for this to be a review of a show opener, but I was overcome by what I witnessed. My apologies to Nick Lutsko and The $100K Band, the headlining act at the Bowery Ballroom. There is a sweaty intensity to Nick's over-the-top satire that is an enjoyable antidote to the seriousness slugged around in news media. It seemed like a great opportunity to compare a live show to Nick's truly hilarious YouTube videos. This was also the first show I have attended in years that required purchasing a ticket, and therefore a bit of a comeback special for me seeing a show in New York, despite seeing some small jazz shows here and there in the same timeframe.
Had I arrived after Randy's set, my experience would have been entirely different.
I can compliment Nick Lutsko and The $100K Band on their performance; they were great. For those unfamiliar with his work, Nick is a satirical singer and songwriter of hits like "I Wanna Be at the RNC," introduced to me by friend and fellow podcaster Sir Seat Sitter. I also appreciate Lutsko's poking fun at the sanctimonious state of awards ceremonies with his glorification of his Webby Award. I'm not sure what Nick's politics are, but I can appreciate the absurdity in his sense of humor regardless of where his ideas are based.
If I had not been so annoyed by the opener, I might have more of a review of Nick Lutsko's set. But it was a struggle not to leave before the headliner hit the stage. The energy in the room scared the shit out of me. It felt like I was watching a pandemic cult church service after entering the wrong venue by mistake. At any moment, Stephen Colbert could show up with dancing syringes.