July 6 & 7
Derek Sheen and Friends
One of the downfalls of a second-tier comedy city like Seattle is that our comics eventually move away to New York or LA, depriving local audiences of the opportunity to witness the full maturation of their abilities. On the other hand, provincialism prevents us from appreciating the brilliance of those who stick around. Derek Sheen is one such local leading light who’s stayed put, a spark plug with an ear for trenchant turns of phrase, who’s deserving of a wider hometown following. He’ll be performing material from his forthcoming fourth (!) album.
Laughs
July 7
Steve Martin & Martin Short
Comedy buddies Steve Martin and Martin Short have been touring for the past few years, developing a two-man act that’s part vaudeville, part roast, part musical variety show. A streaming version of this throwback extravaganza, An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life, was recently released on Netflix, and their autumn bromance continues on the road. Short and Martin are still two of the funniest men in showbiz—at 73 and 68, respectively, they’re vital vestiges of a bygone era, durable specimens with off-the-charts charm and superhuman comedic longevity. They still got it.
Paramount Theatre
July 14
The Bodega Boys Live Ft. Desus Nice & The Kid Mero
Time and again in Trump’s America, Black Twitter sets things right. Nothing cuts through the miasma of MAGA lies and cringing white supremacy like a well-considered takedown from someone who was born knowing where the bodies are buried. Desus Nice and The Kid Mero are two such dismantlers of bullshit, Black men from the Bronx who honed their wits on Twitter and later on their cult podcast, The Bodega Boys. Now they break down the various inanities of the age on their Viceland show Desus & Mero, serving up new styles of cultural commentary for a nation in dire need of rectification.
Moore Theatre
July 24
The Mads Are Back: Live Movie Riffing with Trace and Frank
Trace Beaulieu and Frank Conniff played the original mad scientists on Mystery Science Theater 3000 (Beaulieu also provided the voice of Crow) before leaving the series in the mid-’90s. They never received a penny in royalties despite their roles on one of modern comedy nerddom’s foundational TV shows. Nowadays the once-novel idea of riffing over a film—also known as live-tweeting or commentary tracks—is commonplace. Here’s a chance to see it done live by two of the people who originated the genre. The Mads will be on hand for a meet-and-greet after the movie.
