Comedy Album Book Club
  • Blog
  • Who We Are
  • Get In Touch
  • Blog
  • Who We Are
  • Get In Touch

a comedy history podcast

Day 6: Frying pan, fire or slow cooker?

9/26/2018

0 Comments

 
Matt Ardill JFL42by: Matt Ardill
You may be asking yourself where our Day 5 article is, well, we didn’t go to any shows on Day 5. There in lies the rub with festivals. You may be tempted to stay out very late and push yourself too hard but I know my limits. I start doing that, I get snippy and don’t laugh. I may not get to see every show I WANT to see but if I push myself too hard I wont enjoy it, if I don’t enjoy it I deprive the artist of an audience member who will enjoy it and a fan of a chance to see something they enjoy and that's bad mojo all around. That’s just my personal take though, your mileage may vary, just do what feels good for you.

Back into the game tonight though I started with a real treat, Matt Braunger with D.J. Demers opening. Both are great light hearted and welcoming comedians. After a day off they were the perfect duo to get my laugh wheels back up and spinning again especially on a night where the weather took a turn for the weird.

The Garrison
D.J. Demers JFL42
Arriving at The Garrison the weather loomed over us, at some point last evening it rained but the moisture never really left the air. Over the course of the day the moisture hung onto the heat which, somewhere around 4 o’clock turned oppressive. Unsure if it was going to rain or the weather was going to snap and suddenly turn cold I met my wife at 6:30. The front bar had not yet opened but they were letting in JFL attendees to head straight into the performance space. The lights were newly on and the heat was already starting to become uncomfortable in the room. The space itself is a great one, I had previously seen DeAnne Smith there and it has a good sized stage for bands or acts with professional lighting and sound equipment. The well stocked bar at the back makes it easier to lubricate the audience. If you are looking to book a space I would recommend it but this evening the it was more than a bit stifling.

By the time D.J. Demers went on stage we were already exhausted from the heat and dripping with sweat. Demers, A Canadian performer from Kitchener who moved to the states and has performed on Conan and America’s Got Talent has previously performed at Yuk Yuk’s and Just For Laughs Festival. He’s appeared on CBC’s The Debaters as well as having released his own Juno nominated comedy album [Indistinct Chatter].
​
Having spent time living in Toronto he was able to immediately que into the audience and charm us with some home town annoyances. Again, I’m going to avoid spoiling material should he use it again but it immediately resonated and we all felt it deep inside us. His style is conversational and observational in a manner that is inviting and comforting. He touches on relationships, sex and living with physical challenges in a way that is engaging and approachable. Being someone with a disability myself the way he discussed requiring hearing aids reminded me of how I handle my epilepsy. He took something that others might mine for sympathy or treat as an impediment and used it as a tool to empower his comedy. I know for next time to watch for Demers and try and catch him headlining. There’s still a chance you can see him as he’ll be performing at the CraveTV comedy special taping this Wednesday (the 26th) so if you have the token use it to get to see him right away.

Matt Braunger JFL42
Leaving the audience laughing despite the oppressive heat D.J. welcomed Matt Braunger to the stage who received an uproarious cheer right out of the gate. Many were, I suspect, fans of his awesome podcast Advice From A Dipshit or his numerous TV appearances. Braunger, who is a MADtv alum, has performed at festivals from Just For Laughs and co-founded the Bridgetown Comedy Festival also has TV credits ranging from commercial work to diverse shows like iCarly, Agent Carter, Nick Swardson’s Pretend Time and his amazing turn as Bob in Take My Wife (which has a scene in season 2 where he helps beautifully illustrate the pains of the comedy world again no spoilers, go watch that show, it is amazing and stars two of my other favourite funny people Rhea Butcher and Camron Esposito).

Matt’s performance is engaging, energetic and overwhelmingly positive. He put the audience at ease with references to Toronto tying it into his mix of observational humour and story telling so the audience had reference points. His professionalism was truly astounding, he had the vibe of the room and knew just the right pressure points knowing when to break for a remark about the heat, take a pause to let the joke sink into the room or draw a parallel between the subject of his material and Toronto. Braunger never strays into hack or route material, in fact he makes a point of avoiding it. He praises the way his wife gives him a jab to the ribs from time to time and to be honest it’s refreshing. In my marriage I contend my wife is the funny one, always with a zinger or a silly aside that breaks the mood. The entire “being married is a pain” bullshit that many comedians rely on not only is insulting it simply doesn’t resonate with me and seeing his spin on the subjects of marriage, dating and the male courtship rituals was a joy to behold plus he knows just how much to dig into a bit with the perfect amount of specificity to really make the joke really resonate with authenticity. Very aware of his position as a white male in comedy some of the most biting material is reserved for the subject of harassment and it left the audience in stitches.
​
Matt is a tall man, clocking in at over six foot he is impressive on stage with a commanding physicality but is very aware of his body and how to use it. I am of a like age and after a certain point with a certain body you have very little choice but to embrace it and embrace it he does. He uses his physicality on multiple occasions to immense comic effect and his expressive face adds extra punch to every joke. Truly a pleasure to watch if you have the chance go and see him live. It’s one of the most fun times you will have all year.

So, despite the heat and the damp these two were able to get a sweaty moist audience roaring with laughter. That’s something that is no mean feat.

The Garrison Bar JFL42
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Matthew Ardill & Jason Deline

    Partners in crime we collaborate to create the Comedy Album Book Club, a deep dive into comedy history.

    Hosted by actor/comedian Jason Deline the podcast is like a book club with comedy albums. We listen to an agreed upon/curated comedy album, then a panel of comedians sit and talk about it!

    Archives

    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017

    Categories

    All
    2000 Years With Carl Reiner & Mel Brooks
    Adam Bailey
    Adam Kenneth Wilson
    Adam McNamara
    Adam Sandler
    Adam Sandler They're All Gonna Laugh At You
    AD/BC: A Rock Opera
    Alex Pavone
    Allan Turner
    Allie Entwistle
    Amy Schumer
    Andrew Fleming
    Andy Kindler
    An Evening With Mike Nichols And Elaine May
    A Night At The Met
    Anniversary
    Arizona Bay
    Barbra Streisand
    Ben Elton
    Ben Miner
    Bill Burr
    Bill Hicks
    Black Adder
    Bob Newhart
    Brandon Hackett
    Bridget Everett
    Brittany Lyseng
    Brunch
    Cabaret
    Carl Reiner
    Catherine O'Hara
    Cats
    Chanty Marostica
    Chevy Chase
    Comedy
    Comedy Cellar
    Courtney Gilmour
    Craig Fay
    Creative Commons
    Dan Hershfield
    Dave Martin
    D&D
    DeAnne Smith
    Derek Forgie
    Dick Smothers
    D.J. Demers
    Eddie Izzard
    Eddie Murphy
    Eddie Murphy: Comedian
    Ed Sahely
    Elaine May
    Ellen Degeneres
    Encore
    Festival
    Folk Music
    Force Majeure
    Fortune Feimster
    Gavin Matts
    Headliner
    Helena Marie
    Henry Koperski
    Here And Now
    Holiday Special
    Home Alone
    Hot Dog
    Ian MacIntyre
    Improv Comedy
    Interview
    Jackie Kashian
    Jason Deline
    Jazz Music
    Jeff Ross
    Jeremy Woodcock
    Jesus Is Magic
    JFL42
    Joe Mandy
    John Candy
    John Mulaney
    Jon Blair
    Jordan Kennedy
    Jules Osen
    Julia Davis
    Julia Louis-Dreyfus
    Jullian Barrat
    Just For Laughs
    Katie Westman
    Kat Letwin
    Keith Robinson
    Kerri Donaldson
    Kid Gorgeous At Radio City
    Kyle Betts
    Kyle Brownrigg
    Kyle Scott
    Late Night With Seth Meyers
    Let's Get Small
    Level A
    Literally Dead
    Macaulay Culkin
    Marc Evan Jackson
    Maria Bamford
    Marina Franklin
    Mark Forward
    Martha O'Neill
    Matt Berry
    Matt Braunger
    Matteo Lane
    Matthew Ardill
    Matt Lucas
    Mel Brooks
    Meryle Evans
    Mighty Boosh
    Mike Nichols
    Motormouth
    Murray Hill
    Musical Comedy
    Myles Morrison
    National Lampoon
    National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
    Neil Gaiman
    Neil Jones
    Netflix
    New Studio
    Nick Reynoldson
    Nikki Glaser
    Noel Fielding
    Nour Hadidi
    Nug Nahrgang
    Olivia Stadler
    Panel Show
    Patton Oswalt
    Paul F. Tompkins
    Peter Hill
    Podcast
    Press Release
    Press Release Repeat
    Radio Project X
    Randy Quaid
    Reality... What A Concept
    Reggie Watts
    Richard Ayoade
    Robin Duke
    Robin Williams
    Royal Cinema
    Ryan Dillon
    Ryan Hamilton
    Ryan Williams
    San Fancisco
    Sarah Silverman
    Saturday Night Live
    SCTV
    Sean Browning
    Second Season
    Seth Meyers
    Sharilyn Johnson
    Silver Snail
    SiriusXM Top Comic
    Sketch Comedy
    Sony Centre
    Sophie Buddle
    Special Episode
    Stand Up Comedy
    Stand-Up Comedy
    Steve Martin
    Terry Pratchett
    The ABCs Of Love With Adult Baby Cupid
    The Alternative Show
    The Beaverton
    The Button-Down Mind Of Bob Newhart
    The Comedy Bar
    The Cooties
    The Dork Forest
    The Garrison
    The Hero Instant
    The Jackie And Laurie Show
    Theme Music
    The Second City
    The Sketchersons
    The Smothers Brothers
    The Social Capital Theatre
    The Songs And Comedy Of The Smothers Brothers! Recorded At The Purple Onion
    The Ten Minute Talk Show
    The Theatre Centre
    The Young Ones
    Todd Glass
    Tolkien
    Tom Henry
    Tommy Somthers
    Tom Thakkar
    Toronto Festival Of Clowns
    Toronto Fringe
    Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival
    Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival 2019
    Wanda Sykes
    Werewolves And Lollipops
    Winter Garden Theatre

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly