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Live review: Mike Birbiglia at the Paramount
When comedian Mike Birbiglia played Austin about two years ago, it was at Antone’s opening for a band nobody had heard of. It was good to see a near sellout crowd at the Paramount Saturday night for the Boston storyteller who’s enjoyed a career spike after regular appearances on NPR’s “This American Life” and, to a lesser extent, the nationally syndicated “Bob and Tom Show.”
His hour and 20 minutes Saturday were built on five or six main stories that branched off into hilarious vignettes. Getting regularly beat up in an all boys Catholic school, arguing with his GPS, throwing up on the Scrambler at the carnival, adventures in sleepwalking and urology, and sticking the finish in gymnastics were just some of the topics that had the crowd roaring. During that latter bit, the pudgy comic rolled on the crowd to imitate a fallen gymnast, saying, “this is the opposite of what I’m trying to do.” He’s got the timing of Tommy Chong circa 1973.
He’s really the closest in style and outlook to Jim Gaffigan, who also doesn’t use profanity. But where food is Gaffigan’s main riff, it’s sleep for Birbiglia, who offered a hilariously rich description of what it’s like to be out and about at 4:30 a.m.
For an encore, Birbiglia came out with a guitar and did two songs from the three-year-old album “Two Drink Mike.” That was lazy. He also took requests for retired material and did “Joey Bag-O-Donuts,” about how he survived a tough job by pretending a beloved former employee was his brother. Also lazy, but very funny.
Birbiglia has altered his act slightly as he’s found success with the NPR crowd. There weren’t any hip-hop references- once a big part of his set- and the routines are longer. But he still makes full use of a rare comedic mind and his delivery elevates. Next time through, he’ll play Bass Concert Hall, going from Antone’s to 3,000-seaters faster than anyone since Los Lonely Boys.
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By Steve
November 16, 2009 2:38 PM | Link to this
Great show with lots of energy.
You forgot to mention the terrific opening act - Austin’s own Mike MacRae.