Chris Rock

Summer after freshman year of high school I watched Bigger & Blacker when it premiered on HBO and it's only slightly hyperbolic to say it changed my perception forever. Rock's aggressive but relatable, his astute consternation, his searing commentary was a type of comedy I'd never seen. Funny but with a message, with a punch. His takes on gun control, race, relationships(among other topics) illuminated things I'd never really seen or understood. He made me laugh but also drew conclusions and commonalities that made me see and understand the world differently, better. I was bolled over, stunned, up to that point nothing hit me like Bigger & Blacker. After that viewing I religiously checked HBO for a replay and then caught Bring The Pain by happenstance which hit me almost as hard.

After that summer I was a life long Rock fan, watched all his movies, devoured The Chris Rock Show and waited with bated breath for his two follow up specials 2005's Never Scared and 2008's Kill The Messenger. I even watched(and rewatched) his episode of MTV's Diary. I always love watching him but nothing really had the impact like those first two specials until recently with Top 5 which has that great blend of emotional truth, comedy, and bite that I associate with Rock. He's helped shape my taste and world view for almost 20 years.

A couple months back he announced his Total Blackout tour and I got tickets as soon as they went on sale. Tonight was the show. He's a hero of mine so I went into it with high expectations for what the show would be like and it exceed those.

Rock prowled the stage with his indelible energy, relayed his searing insight, and had the packed crowd laughing for an incredible 90 minute set. It was an experience I'll never forget. And I realized that he does two things that little to no comedians, or artists of any kind, do. He brings people together and he offers solutions. For as controversial as some of the topics he addresses may be he approaches them in a way that are relatable, that include rather than exclude, that make you feel you are a part of.  Regardless of race, age, gender, or class everyone was there to see him and for a brief and precarious amount of time we were united, we were a community. He also offers solutions to problems, some may be punchlines some may be absurd, but they are solutions, and sometimes they are simply straightforward honest applicable ones. He offers insight and advise, imparts real world knowledge and hard won experience. He doesn't operate from an ironic remove, his material isn't pedestrian, it has an edge and a purpose. You laugh of course but you also, perhaps, see the world more clearly.

John Irving

Last night I went to an event at the library with John Irving. Chloe joined me and made it to downtown just as the event was starting. Last time Irving was in town was ten years ago promoting Until I Find You, we were at that event and it was in the same theater. Chloe brought her copy of Garp and in it was her ticket from the last time. Synergy. 

Although the event got off to somewhat of a rocky start, the interviewer seemed a bit dull and self involved, it quickly gained momentum. After the perfunctory reading Irving seemed to come alive, energized and talkative, he was gracious, comfortable, playful, and comically prickly, much more so then last time I saw him. He was more at ease and seemed to be relishing the performative aspect of the evening. He disparaged critics, expressed frustration with the progress of sexual politics, provided some reading recommendations, explained the somewhat ethereal process of where his characters come from, discussed his love of the theatre and how it informed his writing process, and even recited some King Lear and Richard III.

After his somewhat jarring introduction the interviewer was excellent, he asked Irving the right questions to get him talking and didn't interrupt, didn't back track to get his question precisely answered, created a place for Irving to talk at length about whatever he wanted to talk about, which is what we were all there to see. An inspiring evening.

David Mitchell

Tonight Nicole and I went to a reading by one of my favorite authors David Mitchell(best known for Cloud Atlas) followed by Mitchell in discussion with The Matrix co-creator Lana Wachowski. The event was at the Music Box and was packed with predominately Gen Y and Millennial nerds. I don't use that term as a pejorative, I consider myself a nerd being a die hard scifi/fantasy fan and a voracious reader, however there were lots of black frame glasses and socially stilted conversations going on, it was a little much.

Mitchell was charming and joyful, Lana, a personality in her own right, wasn't necessarily the best interviewer but watching the two friends and creative luminaries converse was incredibly cool.

With his last two books Bone Clocks and the newly released Slade House Mitchell has solidified the pattern he's been establishing namely that his oeuvre is all part of one collective universe with repeated characters and themes.  When asked by Lana why he's essentially writing one long protracted story he provided three reasons.

First, that it's cool, he likes the recognition you get when a character reappears and cited a couple examples. Second, when he was writing Black Swan Green he needed a more sophisticated older character to introduce the protagonist to poetry and music. Instead of creating a new character he used an existing character from Cloud Atlas and it worked really well so he decided to keep doing it. Third, he wants to write about everything, use everything, even though it isn't possible, to try to make one maximalist piece of work.

All in all a very fun and interesting evening. If you haven't read any David Mitchell I highly recommend him.

MAC

Jim was back in town for a wedding so Prime was rightfully bumped for the return of Middle Age Comeback, most likely the final at iO's Clark Street location.

It was a packed crowd and Craig asked me to do lights. Felt just like old times.

It was a great show. High energy, a meandering narrative, lots of yelling and goofy voices. It very much brought back how things use to be a couple years ago. Craig and Jim were on a hot streak, MAC and 3033 was the show to see and always packed, every once in a while I'd get to do lights and feel part of something I admired.

It was a nostalgic evening and provided some good perspective for me. Some things change, people move away, but some things are right there waiting to be picked back up.

Heroes

Craig, Nooch, Me, and Andy photo credit to Craig's iPhone

The first improv show I saw was 3033. It was a silent dance show. I was intrigued and interested but I wasn't hooked.

The second improv show I saw was Deep Schwa. I don't remember any of the scenes but I remember who was there: Jeff Griggs, Brett Lyons, Kevin Fleming, Colleen Murray, Meagan Flanigan, and Dan Antonucci. After that show I got the improv bug bad. Since then I've only rarely missed a Sunday night at iO.

The above photo is blurry documentation that Dan came back to Chicago and played with Schwa tonight. It was a great show and a real joy for me. He has such a weird energy and point of view, such a unique style that always gets the most random laughs. His delivery in and of it self is hilarious, he could be saying anything. Throughout the show I was trying to orchestrate a scene with him but it never manifested. There was however this amazing group scene where Dan was a Grandpa, everyone else were kids, and he told us a story about fishing with a girl. The scene was amazing and I didn't want it to end, at points I was deliberately trying to elongate it because I didn't want to leave it. I was sitting there with some of the most talented people I know in a scene with a person who genuinely inspired me to pursue comedy and pursue improv and stick it out in Chicago. It was a magical moment.

The scene eventually ended as did the show. It was a dream come true. Another great Sunday in a long line of great Sundays.

I Am Humbled

I met someone today that I will never forget. Someone who was 30 minutes away from death. A 25 year old. Who, regardless of the circumstance had an amazingly positive attitude and genuine perspective. I thought back on all the bad things I've done, all the trouble I've got into, all the emotional destruction I've caused. I look at this person and I am humbled. I could have died numerous times over the course of my life given all the stupid shit I have done. I've never had a brush that close and if I had I know myself well enough to know I wouldn't be as positive and upbeat as this person.

Humans are wondrous creatures. We can bounce back from almost anything. Given time almost anything can heal. We don't sometimes because we get in our own way. Our attitude gets in the way. Whatever was left of my attitude went quiet today. I hope it stays quiet.

I am humbled.

And grateful to be alive.

Gene Wolfe

Maure got me a ticket to go see Gene Wolfe. He was presented with the Fuller award, a lifetime achievement Chicago literary award. Neil Gaiman presented the award. I got to meet him which was a trip even though I contributed nothing to the conversation. It's weird meeting some one you like so much. He didn't seem that different than everyone else although I expected him to be.

Gene Wolfe is my favorite author. He inspires, excites, and surprises me every time. He's old. He was ushered in and out of the event quickly so I could not interact with him. I was glad I was there. During his speech he said "You are all my friends, especially the ones I do not know." The event was all inclusive. Even if I did not talk to Gene he knew I was there and appreciated my fandom.

Gene is sweet, smart, and poignant. Everything I thought he would be. I don't want to meet him further.

He is perfect in my mind.