Gorilla Specials: Josh Sneed Delivers A World-Class Stand-Up Set In ‘Do Over!’
Josh Sneed has been a comic for twenty-five years, and has perfected his timing, sense of humor, delivering for his audience, storytelling ability, and even sound work. In a food-heavy special, In Do Over!, Sneed puts on a master-class that runs through the best of his material in order to show that food comedy doesn’t […]
Gorilla Specials: Gavin Matts Takes A Wild, Anti-Comedy Journey Toward The Idea Of ‘progression’
Situated somewhere between anti-comedy and not, Gavin Matts explores the human condition as he perceives it in his special, progression. To be clear, anti-comedy doesn’t mean “no jokes,” but Matts doesn’t seem to be as keenly interested in crushing as he does getting as close to a sense of honesty as he can, while still […]
Gorilla Specials: After Watching Noah Gardenswartz, You Too Will Seek To Wear ‘Sweatpants In Perpetuity’
Noah Gardenswartz is a great comic to watch if you want to learn the mechanics of stand-up. Not only is he thoughtful and silly, but he constructs jokes in a way that’s clear-cut and obvious while still being true to his own voice and style. Each joke has a clear premise that makes room for […]
Gorilla Specials: Damien Power Makes A Terribly Funny Case For Being ‘Alone In The Crowd’
It’s rare to see such an unrestrained, almost honest special outside of a Marc Maron, Drew Michael, or Jerrod Carmichael release. Damien Power, however, takes the stage and lets it rip in a semi-associative way that plays out the way shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel tell you it should. There’s vulnerability, even if it […]
Gorilla Specials: The Odds Are Good That Jatty Robinson’s ‘Odds Are Even’ Will Blow You Away
From the jump, Jatty Robinson’s Odds Are Even is warm and electric in a way we don’t see much anymore in stand-up specials. Decked out in a gorpy sweater advertising himself and the special (a move so brilliant it’s bound to be copied), Robinson whirls through an act-out of this bit: “Good to see my […]
Gorilla Specials: Todd Barry Wants To Tell You About The Genius Of The ‘Domestic Shorthair’
No one harnesses the power of mocking absurdity quite like Todd Barry. His quiet, calm delivery belies a talent to build jokes with layers of heightened absurdity that get increasingly more cutting and silly, until Barry, like a comedy contractor, figures out where the joke begins to crack and goes no further. There’s no better […]
Gorilla Specials: Harriet Kemsley’s Taken A Hilarious Journey To Becoming A ‘Woman Child’
On stage for her special, Harriet Kemsley radiates hugh-energy as she prowls the small stage like a caged lion. Animated and prone to gesticulating, she lobs jokes like a comedy Andre Agassi, sending one after another into the small audience, crushing each time. Punctuating premises with up-spoken punchlines, Kensley demonstrates again and again what makes […]
Gorilla Specials: With His New Special, Sean Patton Is ‘Number One’
If you’re lucky enough to be friends with comedians, you’ll find that it can be hard for them to find their space in the scene, even if they know what it should be. If a stand-up is too alternative they might not thrive in clubs, or vice versa, even if they fit perfectly well in […]
Gorilla Specials: Be Enthralled By The Storytelling Web Spun In Blake Wexler’s ‘Daddy Long Legs’
Comedians are often formed, like anything, by the environs they come up in. Club comics, or those who end up working with club comics as openers or road companions, can often seem bullet-proof. Having to deal with hecklers, drunks, loud crowds, and very often tourists, club comics often need to be loud, confident, and immediately […]
Gorilla Specials: Joe Zimmerman’s Debut Special Is A Future ‘Cult Classic’
Joe Zimmerman is a uniquely calm comic whose slightly dry delivery makes his clever punchlines land hard. While pacing the stage, he delivers his jokes as tidy observations, with precise act-outs and an aversion to the risk of having a joke lose steam. Within these bits, there’s somehow room for absurdity, irony, and steep sarcasm. […]