Monday, May 02, 2016

Zoot Suit With A Reet Pleat....

 Saw a long-time favorite stand-up comic - and a regular on NPR - the other night at the intimate and very cozy Charleston Music Hall.

I remembered her fondly and even recalled some of her favorite bits about her cats.

Paula Poundstone, 56,  never once mentioned her snazzy red Zoot suit during her 2.5-hour show.

Nor did she speak any 1940s slang.

I was aware that she REALLY liked to interact with members of the audience so I was a bit secretive with my camera.

A few years ago, I was called out by Wanda Sykes.

I was in the front row and my camera bothered her enough that she stopped her act and chided me. A lot!

Ms. Poundstone did indeed chat and engage with people in the first row and responded to those elsewhere who called out comments. There was a lively exchange with a gentleman in the balcony or, as Paula called it, up in the spice rack.

Earlier in the week, I went to the Coliseum to see Amy Schumer in her comedy return to Charleston.

She said she had performed here about 10 years ago in Spoleto and some comedy festivals.

There were many, many signs that said photos were not only not allowed, they were forbidden with dire consequences.

 If you were caught, you would be expelled from the show - with no refund.

Also, there was to be no talking or heckling of the star of the Trainwreck movie and Comedy Central's Inside Amy Schumer.

One fearless loud lady shouted she wanted to do a selfie with her.

Schumer's response was "There are 9,000 people here tonight, so I don't plan to do a photo with you."

I did not want to get thrown out so I waited until the audience stood at the end of the show and quickly snapped three pictures. What? Make me leave now? Oh, OK.

Oddly enough, a few days later while in Greenville for a show that evening, a man with his family demanded that she pose for a picture. 

She declined. He insisted. He argued that she HAD to because this is America and we pay you. Amy agreed that it was legal to take her picture but she had requested he not do it.

She then took HIS picture and posted it online, told the story of him accosting her and said he was the reason she will not pose for pictures with her fans. "Blame this dude," she added.

Thank you, Charleston!

(Click on the photos and links for details.)

I support live music...and great comedy!





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posted by chuckography @ 9:52 AM 1 Comments

Friday, March 05, 2010

75 years old...give or take

T-Model Ford is his name. Not the car he drives.

He's an authentic Bluesman from Mississippi.

He may be only 75. Or 85.

He and his drummer "Spam" have been known to start making music and play for eight hours straight.

Tonight it was only for three at Home Team BBQ in West Ashley but we got our money's worth.

It was a quiet crowd. Nobody got rowdy. Guess they had read that T-Model had served 10 years on a chain gang for murder.

He was asked years ago how many times he'd been in jail. He thought it was a trick question.

"Every Saturday night there for awhile."


Almost every song ended with a shrug and a sip of amber liquid in the glass at his elbow.

"Jack Daniels Time," he'd announce.

(Click on the pictures to see more detail and go to his MySpace site to hear some raspy Blues.)

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posted by chucker @ 4:11 PM 0 Comments