reCAP :: Hannibal Buress: The Comedy Camisado Tour :: 2015.02.07
Hannibal Buress has been among the smartest, funniest, fearless, and original voices in comedy for years, but it took a rant about Bill Cosby being a rapist to go viral last fall to really thrust him into the mainstream. As the story goes, the subtle ferocious comedy called out the Artist Formerly Known as Mr. Huxtable at a Philadelphia show in October for being a hypocrite. He noted the Coz might praise himself for keeping his shows clean and revels inadvising youths to “pull up their pants” when in public, but at the end of the day, he’s a “rapist.” The bit caught fire on the Interwebs, and a domino effect occurred with more than 20 women coming forward shortly thereafter. Without even knowing, Buress shed the spotlight on a one-beloved sitcom star who may or may not be a serial rapist.
In an electric hour-and-a-half set at the Capitol Theatre on Feb. 7, Buress briefly discussed the Cosby ripple effect, noting that he had no idea his joke would spiral and go viral. While the Coz convo wasn't long, he still fired off a few shots including a final blow - and I paraphrase - "if 30 women came forward, he did it to at least 4." But back to Buress' set, which hit on all cylinders and slayed the crowd with hilariously discussed topics ranging from misguided one-night stands to the lameness of rappers who lip sync at their concerts.
The comedy was intentionally all over the map on Saturday, but each joke hit in the gut and the mind. Buress would talk up the silliness of rap lyrics one minute and the absurdity of Stevie Wonder sitting courtside at NBA games the next. He even theorized "what if" Wonder had been lying to us all along, and that he just likes to say his head left to right. WIth Buress, there is no schtick. There is no formula. There is no continuity. There is simply thought, swagger, self-awareness, social commentary, and an infectious delivery and smile - with the latter getting wider with each proverbial grenades he throws. Targets at The Cap show included Izzy Agzalaia (a running bit at the absurdity of her hit "Fancy" killed each time), the lameness of baseball (he threw the intentional walk concept under the bus), and even The Holy Ghost. No topics were taboo, and the audience ate it up. Each joke hit like a retro Reggie Miller "3" all night long.
To sum it up, Port Chester saw a master at work, and we'd all be so lucky if the Broad City costar and longtime SNL and 30 Rock writer made his way back to PC soon. Thought-provoking, side-splitting comedy is so rare these days. Surely, Cosby isn't doing it.