Comedians talk shop as Moontower Comedy Festival returns to Austin

The Moontower Comedy Pageant this week is bringing greater than 100 comedians to Austin, many for his or her first reside exhibits for the reason that pandemic shuttered venues. CultureMap prolonged a heat welcome to 3 of our favourite comics within the lineup for chats about comedy philosophies, help from household, and complicated vogue decisions. The pageant runs Wednesday, September 22 by way of Saturday, September 25, with exhibits happening on the Paramount Theatre, in addition to different venues round city. Get badges and see standalone ticket choices at austintheatre.org.

Margaret Cho

Friday, September 24, 9:30 pm

This Korean American comic rounds out her edgy, punk-rock essence with thoughtfulness and a dedication to artwork, from music to vogue. Margaret Cho’s 1994 TV sequence, All-American Lady, was the primary community sitcom in the USA centered round an Asian solid.

CultureMap: You’ve known as your self an outsider earlier than. How do outsiders join with one another?
Margaret Cho: I believe you need to be on the surface to know what comedy is, as a result of comedy is usually the surprising ideas. That’s what laughter is; it’s like a miniature shock. Comedians are nice at this as a result of they reside exterior of the thought of society. I believe that’s why most comedians typically are immigrants. It’s one thing that’s an outsider or a working-class artwork kind.

CM: Your mom mentioned it might be higher if you happen to died than went into comedy. Did she finally get previous her prejudice?
MC: She’s very taken with it. Korea, though it has a protracted comedy custom, doesn’t have stand-up comedy. We’ve got quite a lot of sketch comedy and quite a lot of one thing that may be like a pantomime of the British equal of satire. My dad and mom by no means actually obtained it both. They’re nonetheless questioning what it’s, however additionally they love present enterprise. They love that I’m an actor. They love being a part of my exhibits and productions.

CM: Have you ever tried to pursue a Korean comedy profession?
MC: I’ve truly carried out sketch comedy in Korea in Saturday Evening Dwell. They’ve Saturday Evening Dwell there. It’s very Korean American however we do the sketches in Korean, which is absolutely fascinating and funky. It’s arduous. I communicate Korean, and I’m getting increasingly fluent, nevertheless it’s nonetheless very a lot a stretch. I positively need assistance [writing jokes in Korean] and in addition, that’s a part of the joke too … getting issues mistaken in translation.

CM: What does musical comedy offer you that stand-up can’t?
MC: The music for me is usually about working with different artists. I’ve labored extensively with David Garza, who’s an exquisite Austin singer-songwriter. Now he’s moved to LA. I’ve written so much in Austin, oddly, with Patty Griffin and with David, and performed at South By Southwest. There’s one thing very long-lasting about musical comedy, perhaps as a result of it takes a very long time to make. There’s one thing actually regenerative about it.

CM: In one in every of your exhibits, you confirmed your tattoos and mentioned, “My physique just isn’t a joke.” If you’re getting a brand new tattoo, do you’ve gotten a humorousness about it?
MC: I’m fairly severe. It’s additionally actually a method for me to attach. Once more, tattoos are also a collaborative course of since you’re working with one other artist who’s working in your physique. You’ve obtained to like someone who’s lined in your blood. It’s type of like giving delivery since you’re creating one thing new and it causes quite a lot of ache and you need to reside with it ceaselessly. There’s a way of euphoria as a result of your endorphins kick in, after which after awhile your physique figures out it’s truly an elective process. Your physique will get tattoo fatigue.

CM: What about comedy fatigue?
MC: I believe that your job is to push by way of that. If there’s one thing that’s actually vital, it must be talked about. We’ve had a protracted break from stand-up comedy too, so anyone who was type of, like, burnt out of stand-up comedy has simply been in a position to begin up once more. I believe the Moontower Pageant will in all probability be the one place the place quite a lot of comedians are simply beginning up once more. It’s been good to do that reset and take time away with the entire world. I believe that folks going to see comedy will likely be actually excited as a result of there’s a lot to say. There’s a lot to confront now.

CM: Is there something you actually like speaking about with Austinites?
MC: It’s a really youthful, stunning metropolis that’s filled with artwork and tradition that’s so totally different from Texas at giant. Everyone’s legs are actually tan, however not their ankles. It’s a boot-and-short mixture, which to me doesn’t make any sense. However that’s Austin. I bear in mind one time I used to be there [during] South By Southwest when it was actually chilly. I believe it was a bizarre winter entrance that got here in 2012 or one thing. And hipsters didn’t know what to do as a result of American Attire didn’t make a jacket. There’s one thing humorous about the way it’s filled with Previous Texas however [also] New Texas. So many contradictions that type of match the boots-and-shorts mixture.

Maria Bamford

Thursday, September 23, 9:30 pm

Friday, September 24, 7 pm

Should you ask comedy lovers, America’s sweetheart is a girl from Duluth, Minnesota, who breaks into erratic impersonations and post-verbal expressions of dread onstage. Maria Bamford applies her sunny persona to advocating for extra accessible mental-health care.

CM: Somebody on YouTube known as you “the jazz music of comedy.” What do you suppose which means?
Maria Bamford: If I’m going to take that as a praise — and I believe I ought to — I believe it means it’s a small, dying viewers. Very particular. It’s important to exit of your method for it. Not everybody will likely be into it once you put it on. Possibly — at the least this can be a hopeful deal — 20 years after the dying of a jazz comedian there’s going to be quite a lot of speak.

CM: Is it quite a lot of strain to be so open about your private life?
MB: If I’m in amongst the jazz of comedy, not many individuals are looking for me. It’s that, “Nicely, , she’s on the Albany Humorous Bone, however we reside 30 miles out. I don’t know if we will make it tonight.” I completely relate. I imply, regardless of my love of Journey, have I ever seen Journey in a stadium, or wherever? Have I even appeared into seeing Journey reside? I’ve not.

CM: You’re quite a lot of comedians’ favourite comic. Do you’ve gotten a favourite?
MB: It’s often whoever I’ve simply seen. That’s the place I really feel impressed: They’re doing it! To maintain doing one thing, no matter it’s, whether or not parenting your youngsters — high-fives to all of the dad and mom on the market. I wouldn’t have youngsters and there’s a cause for that — it’s wonderful. I’m going to open mics and people who find themselves simply beginning have much more ardour concerning the craft than I do. It may be very inspiring to see an 18-year-old younger man who’s excessive as a kite, however actually excited to carry out.

CM: Your mother is talked about all through your work, in particular person and impersonation. What was it wish to have that type of comedic rapport together with her?
MB: My mother handed away this yr, however she was actually supportive. It’s painful to have one do a direct impersonation of you to your face. And that’s what I did, from the age of about 13. I’ve had individuals do impersonations of me to my face and I’m like, [in a rattling breath], “Oh no. …” Even when it’s spot on, it’s harrowing. I like my mother a lot. I hope that my impersonation turns into me, that I develop into her. It’s already occurring. I’ve a bit little bit of a lip quiver. I actually hope it’s a gradual bleed into the impersonation as a result of she actually knew reside a great life.

CM: You discuss how unhealthy mental-health care might be. What has made you so in a position to ask for assist once you’ve wanted it?
MB: It hasn’t been simple. I’m No. 1: rich, No. 2: within the leisure trade. And I’ve full insurance coverage by way of a union. I’ve the dream model of healthcare and mental-health care, and it’s been surprisingly and hilariously troublesome to get it. After which, after all, there’s the fixed horror tales. Not solely can it’s costly, it may be traumatic. I simply need to decrease the bar for asking for mental-health care. Ask anyone. Ask the barista who’s wiping one thing down, “May you give me any concepts?” For actual, I’ve carried out this. I’ve known as native companies simply to see human beings that can assist you elevate your endorphin ranges and, I don’t know, give a shoulder-based hug.

CM: On the opposite aspect, what’s a few of the greatest mental-health care you’ve acquired?
MB: I went to a free clinic on the GLBTQ+ heart after I first moved to LA, and I obtained a free, fantastic session with a grasp’s diploma scholar in coaching. And she or he was so freaked out by my scenario — I used to be about to reside in my automotive. She mentioned, “Oh my God, what are you going to do?” And it was at that second I used to be like, I do know what I’m going to do. It was a second of human connection. I do like my psychiatrist and my two OCD therapists. I like my insurance coverage that took care of the 2 hospitalizations. I’ve gotten assist Googling no matter it’s my signs are, [and using] the Worldwide OCD Basis web site, the [Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, and] NAMI, and 12-step teams. I’ve had loads of fantastic, fantastic experiences, however the unhealthy ones are so humorous.

Bob the Drag Queen

Friday, September 24, 11:59 pm

The season 8 winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race is named one of many present’s wittiest comedians, and is at all times able to bounce off one other queen in one in every of many spinoff sequence. Miss Bob gained’t be caught holding again a scorching take or an on-the-fly learn.

CM: Why do you suppose you’ve gotten such nice chemistry with individuals, particularly different queens?
Bob the Drag Queen: I’m actually open and sincere, and there’s little or no artifice with me. I’m not likely good at social niceties. What you find yourself getting is only a actually genuine expertise. Possibly that’s it.

CM: And also you additionally love entering into debates. Did you be taught that at college?
BTDQ: I like discussing concepts and ideologies and listening to individuals’s ideas. I’m at all times prepared to be persuaded. I actually did it at residence, to be sincere, extra so than at college. I’ve at all times wished to problem pondering and problem my very own pondering. My mother will let you know that.

CM: In your case, your precise mom, not a drag mom, launched you to tug. Did you at all times suppose you’d attempt it?
BTDQ: Yeah, my real-life delivery mom who raised me owned a drag membership rising up. I had not even thought of it. I used to be type of afraid of drag queens after I was youthful. RuPaul’s Drag Race actually obtained me into the thought of doing drag. One in every of my mother’s mates obtained shot by a drag queen after I was youthful and he instructed me drag queens had been actually scary and harmful. And that was my thought, frankly, for a extremely very long time.

CM: Do you particularly put aside time to speak concerning the causes you’re engaged on?
BTDQ: The activism comes naturally to me. Every time I discuss these sorts of issues, it’s simply stuff that’s on my thoughts. That’s the way it began: me and a buddy speaking in a room after which deciding that we have to take it to the streets. Again round 2009, 2010 [we were] discussing inequalities within the queer group: how shortly we might be fired, how trans individuals can lose their jobs and housing in some states with none cause, or how homosexual males can’t give blood, and, on the time, marriage inequality. We used to carry out this factor [at Times Square] known as Drag Queen Weddings for Equality, and whereas we had been on the market, we’d take that chance to inform individuals about injustice.

CM: And also you initially meant to do stand-up? Do individuals know what to anticipate out of your exhibits?
BTDQ: Initially, I used to be going to be an actor and comic. [Now] I’m doing stand-up and drag on the identical time. I believe individuals suppose that drag and stand-up are mutually unique, or that drag can’t be stand-up, which is a standard misperception. Most people who come to my exhibits are coming for me, so there are little or no surprises. It’s not like individuals are simply blindsided by seeing me.

CM: Is there one thing that you are able to do by yourself with stand-up that you could’t do once you’re on exhibits with different individuals?
BTDQ: You get extra time. You get an opportunity to actually construct a rapport with an viewers, which is difficult to do once you’re in a lineup. If you get to spend an hour with the viewers, you actually get to earn their belief and go additional together with your storytelling, which I’m very appreciative of.

CM: Do you want when individuals write in to the podcast Sibling Rivalry, disagreeing or roasting you once you debate subjects with Monét X Change?
BTDQ: I’m open to criticism. I don’t thoughts individuals telling me what they suppose or generally I discover it genuinely humorous. Each every now and then I’m like, “Ooh, that was a bit tough,” however for probably the most half I’m fairly chill about that type of factor. I’ve been in a position to develop a comparatively thick pores and skin throughout my tenure as a performer. I’m conscious that if you happen to put one thing out on the earth, individuals are going to have opinions on it.

CM: Do you discover the stand-up/drag combo bridges the hole for some individuals?
BTDQ: Lots of people’s dads and boyfriends love me so much. I don’t know. I’m not making content material geared in direction of straight guys in any respect. However for some cause, mothers, members of the family … individuals are like, “You’re my mother’s favourite drag queen! You’re my dad’s favourite drag queen!” I imply, I’m into it. I’m grateful. I’m simply joyful that folks on the market are having fun with my work.