Atlanta and Boise, People!
I had a good time on these last couple of tour dates. I never really know what to expect. I don’t know why that is. I’ve been doing this a while.
I have been going to Atlanta for a long time. The past has become kind of present lately. I’m not sure what happened to time during the pandemic but it seems like everything that happened before it is something I have to excavate out of my memory and put in chronological order. I’ve been to some cities many times over the years, in many different venues.
This was definitely the second time I performed at the Buckhead Theatre in Atlanta. It was a great show. The last time I was there I didn’t have a great time. The show started too early at 7 and I was mad about it. People were straggling in until 7:35. Not their fault. Atlanta has insanely bad traffic and Friday is a weeknight but I didn’t want to penalize the people who must’ve left the night before to get to the show on time, so it was just a disjointed show.
I told my booker that I didn’t want to start any shows before 8 but for some reason it was set at 7 again and I lost my shit a bit but then realized I can just talk to the people. I got on the God Mic from backstage, let them know the situation, made a few jokes, had the sound guy crank the song list I made and we all just hung out for a while listening to music until most of the people got there.
I think that it became kind of part of the show. Made it more intimate, connected.
I don’t always understand why I do the material I do. Lately I have been pretty hard on myself and bordering on embarrassment about some of the things I’m talking about. I guess this is the challenge, my method.
My last special opened a zone for me to go deeper and darker personally to see if I can get it to funny. Some of the new stuff is jarring and a bit disturbing and I don’t always know how it’s going to land. I have to believe through repetition it will find its footing. It is. When it starts to take hold I can riff about similar things and go a little weirder. Good times.
I wish I could just do jokes but I’d be bored. I have some that I like and I do them. Because of my process I do walk away from shows wondering what I’m trying to do. It seems to be to disarm the darkness within me and hopefully other people.
Why can't I just be entertaining, a song and dance man? Why do I have to put myself through it every show in front of people?
I guess that’s my thing. Keeps me on my toes and I haven’t had to run away yet.
I had to be reminded that I had been to Boise years ago on a tour with Andy Kindler and Eugene Merman. We played a rock club called Neurolux. I asked the 700 plus people at the Egyptian, where I played this time, if any of them had gone. No one had. I kind of remember it being like forty people, maybe standing. I didn’t go back there to check it out. It would’ve been like returning to the scene of the trauma. I guess it could’ve been a therapeutic full circle experience but I didn’t have the gumption.
The Egyptian was a great old movie theater. That style of theater was seemingly popular at some point. There’s an Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. The one in Boise was stunning. Whoever designed it must have been or have known an Egyptologist. The detail is almost frightening. Like you're performing in an actual ancient holy place. I didn’t want to piss off Ra or Anubis. I hope they were entertained. I believe the people from Boise were.
Today I talk to Tig Notaro. We talked a long time ago. Before she went through most of the things that defined her life and career at this point. On Thursday I talk to actor David Krumholtz who has been in many things and you probably know him. I like him. Kindred spirits. Good week.
Enjoy!
Boomer, Monkey and LaFonda live!
Love,
Maron
