20040816

March 3, 2006

Charlie’s Standup Comedy Journal

August 16, 2004: Debut at the Cantab Lounge

Comedy at the Cantab Lounge is quite an experience, folks. I’m not sure that a simple text description can really

do it justice, but I’ll try:

Comedy night is Monday. There aren’t many people there. We do our acts in the basement, under harsh lights

and exposed industrial pipes. The acoustics are weird, and the place smells a little funny.

Hmmmm. Nope, I guess I was wrong. That pretty much does do it justice. Welcome to the life of a

beginning standup comic, folks. Pass the champagne — we livin’ large, mofos!)

Anyway, there are good things about the Cantab, too. You can get a spot in the show just a week or two

in advance. It’s within five minutes of my office, so I can leave straight from work and be there in a jiffy. Half

a jiffy if I catch the traffic lights just right. And the bartender downstairs keeps plenty of Guinness

bottles handy, so it’s always a party at the Cantab Lounge on comedy night. Kind of a lonely, depressing,

‘Hey, is this a boiler room or what?” party, but still — party. Always.

(Ooooh, plus, after the show, if you get out in a reasonable amount of time, the excellent burrito place

across the street is still open, and you can munch down on some crazy snacks after the festivities. Folks, are you

getting all this — comedy, beer, and tasty food?! Plus an atmosphere straight out of the Silence of the

Lambs perp’s basement? Come on! Somebody pinch me; I’m dreaming!)

At any rate, check out the clip. If nothing else, you’ll see what I mean about the lights. And the pipes. And

the acoustics. The surroundings are a bit grim in general, I have to admit. But it’s another venue, with a

cool barkeep and cold drinks, and I’m happy to have another place where I can tell jokes until the crowd throws

bottles at my crotch. Mmmm-mmmm, good.

(Um, seriously. Somebody pinch me, dammit. Please tell me this is all a dream, all right? Uh, hello? Hello?!

Aw, bitches.)

Download Clip of 08/16/04 Set —

Cantab Lounge, Cambridge, MA (5 minutes, 57 seconds):

(Click photo to enlarge)

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Categories: Standup