If you are a fan of Whose Line or Robin Williams, you know that chaos is an aspect of good, if not great, comedy. The opening show of the Leveneleven comedy showcase series embraced chaos from the get-go and rode it to a glorious finish. And I mean this is the most positive, admirable way possible!
A new show at a new venue is always a risky thing. So many unknowns. Luckily there seemed to be a nice familiarity among the comics in the lineup, professionally if not personally. So, one element down. Next, the crowd. It was a nice sized, yet kind of reserved crowd that waited the show's start. There was no real way to gauge how they would respond. The venue staff seemed excited and a bit nervous....
And then it was time to light the fuse...
And DUSTY CAGLE was just the right man at the right time with the right material to get the fireworks started!
With his usual energy and charm, Dusty hit the crowd full bore and took no prisoners! The opening crowd work was a stunning as it was flawless (and one of the most impressive examples I have experienced in a long while). Daring audience members to call out horror films for him to give an off the cuff improved synopsis, Dusty took all responses and never missed a beat in firing back hilariously inappropriate, if still accurate, comebacks. The crowd ate it up and relished the chance to share the spotlight. The energy level hit a peak that set the tone for the night. As Dusty settled into his stand up, he never gave the chance for the audience to really catch their breath.
Then, time for the hand off to the opener! Would the crowd stay hot? Could the first comic step into the spot and handle the energy level? Dusty announces the first comic,
Austin Howard!
And the Chapel Hill based comic jumped in and added a manic energy all his own. With his kind of rapid fire delivery and sharp material, Austin more than managed to keep the energy high as he went about his set. Amidst hitting high points with bits about antidepressants and missed opportunity of a Dirty Jobs, the male prostitution episode, Austin managed to get in a bit of impromptu crowd work as well. As turned out to be a recurring theme for the show, a simple comment or question to the audience opened the door to some direct interaction with audience members that brought the energy level and laughs to new heights. Small side conversations with audience members became gold mines and Austin manged to set that bar very high for the following comic...
Billy Coley!
Up next was a last minute insertion into the lineup and (by his own admission) Dusty's entry for comedy charity outreach (which got a much hoped for laugh), Billy Coley. Having been out of the comedy game for a while, Billy was obviously nervous as he took the mic. After the initial joke and reaction, he settled into things fairly well. Launching into a routine based on depression and a lack of a sex/life, both comic and audience warmed up to each other quickly. His routine was highlighted by a bit about a (sexually related) accident that could have kept him away from the show and a few rounds of responses (laughter and otherwise, particularly from one audience member) to it. Wrapping it up shortly after, Billy managed to keep the energy high for the next comic up.
David Decareaux!
David hit the mic with a swagger that I had never seen from him in the few times I had seen him perform before so I was definitely curious to see what else had changed. Let me start with what was the same though. His writing was as sharp and on point as ever and his timing was still quirky and charming. This was evidenced with how quickly and effortlessly he won the crowd over. The biggest thing to me was that the confidence evident in the swagger had found its way into his entire stage demeanor. Mannerisms and reactions were more precise and determined. Things that may have seemed unsure or hesitant in the past now came across as measured and intentional. His interaction with the crowd was as smooth as one could hope for. Even during pauses and breaks between bits, David kept finding ways to keep the crowd intent on him and ready for his coming material. He never let off and I was seriously impressed when he finally relinquished the mic. The next comic had the daunting task of following up in the wake of David's breathtaking manic energy..And a nice change of pace couldn't have been any planned any better....Up stepped....
Dejahzh Hedrick!
Dejahzh took to the mic with his usual laid back, charismatic style. But don't let the style fool you. There was never a chance that the energy level would drop. With his personality, dry delivery style and crisp writing, Dejahzh quickly had the crowd well in hand. And then........ an older couple that was sitting in front of where the mic was set up decided to call it a night. This could have spelled disaster for a lesser comic, but the situation was mined for a bit of interpersonal conversation and comedy gold. Not knowing any better, it could have been mistaken for a planned spot with Dejahzh and the male member of the couple hitting an almost instant rapport. As the couple left, Dejahzh slip almost seamlessly back into his regularly scheduled routine, never missing a beat. Dejahzh mixed in bits of regular material with exchanges with crowd members smoothly and managed to keep the energy level throughout. Not that I would expect anything less! A sometimes bordering on deadpan delivery and facial expressions served Dejazhz even better between David and the following comic. The few times that he became very expressive brought laughter from the crowd in general, and ramped up the responses to his material. It was almost a pitch perfect performance, especially when taking into account the venue, crowd and other performers... But who could follow up such a performance? Why not bring up...
Pat McLeod!
That is right, my former comedy nemesis! A comic who has no problem embracing a high level of absurdity and exaggeration in his comedy was the perfect follow up, and Pat is no stranger to either. Almost as much as like spending time hanging out with a goofy best friend as sitting through a comedy routine, it is always a wonderful thing to catch Pat on stage. And, I dare say, Pat hit new heights! His slightly higher than usual manic energy and follow the bouncing (off the wall) ball delivery style was a hit with the crowd from joke one! He was so successful in drawing in the crowd that a simple question asked to an audience member opened up a sidetrack into unplanned material on several occasions. He became best buds with a table full of audience members, then bounced right back into his material as their exchange wound down. An aspiring comic, Luke Sparks, was invited up to tell one joke (which was well received)..and then right back at it! An exchange was initiated with Leveneleven owner, Dan Morgan...and then right back at it! Pat managed to to pull it all off and keep up with his comedy train of thought. Amazing!
On this night, there was only one comic I can think of who could put the cherry on top of this wonderful, bizarre evening...
Reid Pegram!
The ultimate best comic buddy! Reid is a master of making you feel like you are hanging out with your incredibly funny best friend even when surrounded by the comedy show crowd. In this atmosphere, it was very much like he was holding court with a group of his best buds. The crowd responded as much to that as it did to his material. His interactions directly with the crowd was on par with Dejahzh and Pat's and served as a perfect closer. The rollercoaster ride that is Reid's performance was as enjoyable as it was admirable. Also as a nice bookend to Dusty's show-starting pop culture references, Reid's set was peppered with bits about doing Comic-Con comedy shows and Batman. He finished up the night with a favorite bit about Randy Savage imagined as religious deity that absolutely rocked the crowd.
After Dusty wrapped up the show, energy was still high and it was so cool to sit and listen to so many of the audience members come up to and heap praise on various members of the show. And they deserved every bit of the praise. I have never experienced a show like this before, and probably will never experience one like it, or one that worked out so perfectly, again. So much could have gone wrong, but more than I could have imagined went so very right. I am so glad I got to witness it. And so very proud to have been part of it. I left to head home with very high hopes for, and confidence in, a highly successful, future for the showcase for both the comics and Leveneleven Brewing!
NOTES:
1) THE NEXT SHOWCASE WILL BE SATURDAY, JULY 6TH AT 8:00PM w/
DUSTY CAGLE (HOST)
PAT MCLEOD
GRACE REYNOLDS
TOM PETERS
JD ETHERIDGE (HEADLINER)
DUSTY CAGLE (HOST)
PAT MCLEOD
GRACE REYNOLDS
TOM PETERS
JD ETHERIDGE (HEADLINER)
2) LEVENELEVEN BREWING IS LOCATED AT: 1111 COLISEUM BLVD., GREENSBORO
WEBSITE: HTTPS://LEVENELEVEN.COM
3) PLEASE BE GENEROUS WHEN THE TIP JAR IS PASSED AROUND AS THAT IS HOW THE COMICS MAINTAIN THEIR PROFESSIONAL STANDING!
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