Greater Boston Alternative Comedy Festival proves that our town is still wicked hilarious
By Luke O’Neil
Metro, December 17th 2008
The lineup for tonight...
Shane Mauss
The Walsh Brothers
Robby Roadsteamer
Chris Coxen
The Anderson Comedy Group
Mehran X
Bethany Van Delft
Campaign For Realtime
ROUNDUP. It’s no secret that the Boston area has a great reputation for producing comedy talent.
Everyone from the heralded hilarious (David Cross, Amy Poehler, Louis CK) to the mediocre superstars (Jay Leno, Dane Cook) and everyone in between (Denis Leary, Conan O’Brien) spent time honing their chops in the Bean. But as with any other art form, there is a rich underbelly of talent that doesn’t always get its proper shine. Comedian Robby Roadsteamer wants to remedy that with The Greater Boston Alternative Comedy Festival.
“There’s a really exciting scene brewing on the outskirts of Boston,” he says. “[There are] comedians who bring a unique energy and ideas to the stage and don’t necessarily prosper in front of tourists at the Comedy Connection who were choosing between the Paul Revere Trail or comedy.”
It really shouldn’t be a difficult choice. You’ll find more laughs and a lot less boring history tonight at this showcase of Boston comedy talent.
Boston has a good track record of producing famous comedians. Why do you think that is?
Roadsteamer: The community of comics support each other. That’s the bottom line. I think Boston’s in a unique position because in order to do comedy up here you have to want to do it for the love. Most of the time you’re not getting paid, and you tend to have shows where you play in front of bitchy tourists and chicks who watch “Chronicle.” ... Seems like up in Boston, the best you can hope for is a Ticketmaster commercial, but it makes an honest performer out of you.
Bethany Van Delft: Because the combination of Northeast sarcasm and New England sh—y weather breeds hilarious douche bags.
Mehran X: In New York, it’s brutal, soul-crushing competition that loses you in a sea of millions. In L.A. it’s errant stupidity and standards that set a higher premium on looks than content. ... Neither city really creates an environment that encourages a wiseass to discover and develop her or his unique voice. In Boston, we’re doing comedy because we love it.
What’s the funniest thing about Boston?
Shane Webb: Red Sox fans.
Dave Walsh of the Walsh Brothers: The funniest thing about Boston is easily the Boston accent. That's, like, a classic. It's so hilarious. And we don't even know it because we all sound the same. We can't hear each other saying "Y'all" and "G'day Mate". It's just regular language to us.
Chris Coxen: That people still get angry and surprised about winter. From what I can tell, the existence of winter is more or less a consistent pattern and something we should accept and expect each year.
The least funny?
Webb: Red Sox fans.
Coxen: The least funny thing about Boston is that we have an infestation of rats instead of male cheerleaders. Rats aren’t funny. Male cheerleaders are extremely funny.
Walsh: The least funny thing is the Jimmy Fund. Kids sick. No joke.
Got any material about Metro or newspapers in general?
Coxen: No. I’m still learning to read. I can write, obviously, but I can’t read yet.
Walsh: We hate newspapers because you get all that stuff on your hands while reading and then you go to pick up your sub sandwich and you end up getting an Archie cartoon on your sub. That doesn't happen when I pick up the Internet.
Webb: I do now.
Van Delft: We’ll see after this interview.
Greater Boston Alternative Comedy Festival
Tonight, 8
The Paradise
967 Comm. Ave., Boston
MBTA: Green B Line to Pleasant
$15, 18+, 617-562-8800
 www.thedise.com
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