Big Shorty debuts at Hero's Open Mike 5/19/10

I made it to Isaac Ames's open mike last Wednesday at Hero's Sports Lounge & Pizza Co.

Josh Hollinger took to the stage first, continuing an audacious trend apparently geared toward blowing your mind. This week, he read aloud from a book with plenty of sexual content and themes that racially nervous folk like me would describe as "urban." Listening to Josh's voice describe sex with a male hood rat from the female perspective (at length, if I may) was bizarre and funny on a different level than I'm used to seeing locally, especially at an open mike. His path is a bold one, and although the noncommittal crowd didn't respond overwhelmingly to his presentation, I admired his bravery and technique.

Happily, I witnessed a First Timer take his maiden voyage on the U.S.S. Open Mike. Larry Valdez, a.k.a. "Big Shorty," took to the stage in the show's second slot, and did a fine job for a first-timer. He clearly had prepared, having his material fresh in his mind, rarely if ever needing the small notebook he took onstage with him. He was confident and relaxed in his delivery, even in the face of a dispersed crowd.

Much of his comedy was specific to his own experiences. He cracked on his appearance (being not terribly tall) and his formerly married status. The crowd wasn't terribly generous that night, but to their credits, every comic got laughs, including Big Shorty.

Julie Walker is a comedienne I am happy to see more often at comedy events in the area, and I note with interest her progress both with material and presentations. She's one to watch, I think.

Kevin Albritton is always a treat to catch. He did quirky, funny, self-aware comedy that I never get tired of watching.

Roberto appeared and brought the show home with his usual, clever material. Something else that is all too common to his performances is chronic microphone failure. Mikes just seem to hate this guy, and this night was no exception. If I was him, I'd carry batteries and a back-up mike, just to combat fate. Good comedy, though.

Somewhere in the middle, I had a good set and broke in a few new jokes. But the best part of the night for me was chilling with beer and wings and shooting the shit with some of the comics in attendance about stand up and related topics. I'm lucky that I get to hang now & then with a good group of people.