Marc Maron (Queen Elizabeth Hall, 4.9.15)
I've been a fan of Marc Maron's stand-up and his hugely popular podcast "WTF With Marc Maron" for a long time. Yesterday presented the first opportunity for me to see him live at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on the South Bank. As Maron noted early on, it's a venue that sacrifices sound quality for visitor comfort, as sound echoes off the concrete walls. Fortunately I was in row G and this didn't detract from my experience, but it might have been a different case further back in the 900 seat auditorium.
First up was Jarleth Regan with a brief 15 minute set. He appealed to the podcast fans in the room by mimicking one of Maron's frequently used intros before ending on a neat routine about attempting to retain physical fitness as a 35 year old man and his response to a challenge set by a local keep fit group.
Then it was straight into Maron. This post feels a little redundant, as I doubt there is anything negative I could say about last night's performance to match the critique of Maron's "inner blogger" that he returned to from time to time. Save for an early routine about his time in Ireland and a comment about the "Mumfordication" of the world, there were few concessions to the British audience.
It mattered not, as there's a universal quality about the material derived from his grumpy, neurotic personal. Maron's adept on the subject of self-loathing and anger, as an early routine about a "kayak of rage" demonstrates. My favourite routine in the show concerned his experience of going to see The Rolling Stones, fearing that they would validate all his anxieties about old age and mortality. Maron isn't a particularly physical comedian (he spends much of the show sat on a stool), but his mimicking of a prancing Mick Jagger was a delight.
Later on, Maron even succeeds in getting a couple of solid gags out of the old chestnut of the absurdity of the story of Jesus. It's peculiar to see a stand-up for the first time who I already feel I know so much about through his work. A mention of his cats leads to a cry of "BOOMER LIVES" from the crowd, a reference to his lost feline frequently mentioned on WTF. There's something both hilarious and truthful about the following routine in defence of his lifestyle as a 50 something singleton, talking to a married friend with both parties desperate to prove to themselves that they made the right choice. A closing bit on the subject of ice cream neatly encapsulates one's changing circumstances later in life.
Anyone expecting a slick, well structured night of stand-up may well find themselves disappointed. But anyone hoping for 90 minutes of insightful, humourous storytelling will be richly rewarded by Maron's company.
First up was Jarleth Regan with a brief 15 minute set. He appealed to the podcast fans in the room by mimicking one of Maron's frequently used intros before ending on a neat routine about attempting to retain physical fitness as a 35 year old man and his response to a challenge set by a local keep fit group.
Then it was straight into Maron. This post feels a little redundant, as I doubt there is anything negative I could say about last night's performance to match the critique of Maron's "inner blogger" that he returned to from time to time. Save for an early routine about his time in Ireland and a comment about the "Mumfordication" of the world, there were few concessions to the British audience.
It mattered not, as there's a universal quality about the material derived from his grumpy, neurotic personal. Maron's adept on the subject of self-loathing and anger, as an early routine about a "kayak of rage" demonstrates. My favourite routine in the show concerned his experience of going to see The Rolling Stones, fearing that they would validate all his anxieties about old age and mortality. Maron isn't a particularly physical comedian (he spends much of the show sat on a stool), but his mimicking of a prancing Mick Jagger was a delight.
Later on, Maron even succeeds in getting a couple of solid gags out of the old chestnut of the absurdity of the story of Jesus. It's peculiar to see a stand-up for the first time who I already feel I know so much about through his work. A mention of his cats leads to a cry of "BOOMER LIVES" from the crowd, a reference to his lost feline frequently mentioned on WTF. There's something both hilarious and truthful about the following routine in defence of his lifestyle as a 50 something singleton, talking to a married friend with both parties desperate to prove to themselves that they made the right choice. A closing bit on the subject of ice cream neatly encapsulates one's changing circumstances later in life.
Anyone expecting a slick, well structured night of stand-up may well find themselves disappointed. But anyone hoping for 90 minutes of insightful, humourous storytelling will be richly rewarded by Maron's company.
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