Entertainment
Rich Hall brings his Hoedown to Comedy Carnival
Rich Hall will bring his celebrated Hoedown to the Galway Comedy Carnival on 25th and 26th October.
Of all the unlikely former careers of now celebrated comedians, Rich Hall’s stint as a hurricane namer in the United States Meteorological Service takes some beating. Thankfully Montana’s funniest son heeded the call of comedy, abandoning hurricane naming two decades ago for the bright lights and beer of the stand up circuit. Since then Rich has become one of the most respected and sought after comics in the industry, bringing his trademark deadpan wit, intelligence and absurdist irony to audiences both on stage and onscreen.
Over the course of his career, Rich has received wide acclaim from critics across the globe. He is the 2013 winner of Australia’s renowned Barry Award, the Antipodean equivalent of the Edinburgh Comedy Award. In the U.S., he is the winner of two Emmys for his work on the legendary ‘David Letterman Show’. In the U.K., he is a regular panelist on the likes of ‘Don’t Mind the Buzzcocks’, ‘Q.I.’ and ‘Have I Got News For You’ and has written and presented a number of popular documentaries on America for the BBC.
In 2000, Rich won the prestigious Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for his show ‘Rich Hall is Otis Lee Crenshaw’. Otis Lee is undoubtedly one of Hall’s most masterful comic creations, a redneck petty criminal from Tennessee who has been married seven times, all to women named ‘Brenda’. Otis Lee however, despite his mightily checkered past, knows his way around a country tune or two, banging out showstoppers like ‘White Trash State of Mind’ and ‘Do Anything You Want To the Girl Just Don’t Hurt Me.’ As anyone who had the pleasure of his company in the Black Box Theatre during the comedy festival a few years ago will happily testify, Otis Lee is one heck of a performer.
Otis Lee Crenshaw’s ability to craft a tune and hilariously weave it into banter with the audience is evidence of Rich’s expert skill as a comedian and also his deep knowledge and love for country music. Describing his tastes as ‘traditionalist’ in a recent interview with Newstalk’s Orla Barry, Rich cited Hank Williams and Johnny Cash as examples of the type of country music he enjoys as opposed to the more mainstream stuff (did someone say ‘Garth Brooks’?). Rich uses the genre’s most recognisable characteristics – pain, suffering, heartbreak, more pain and other fun stuff – to craft darkly hilarious songs about the tougher and more bizarre side of life to side splitting-effect. It is unsurprising then that Vodaphone Comedy Carnival is hugely excited to be bringing ‘Rich Hall’s Hoedown’ to Galway this October, where fans of comedy and country music can experience the show the Guardian described as ‘not to be missed.’
The Hoedown in its present incarnation emerged from Rich’s 2011 Edinburgh Fringe show. Since then, Rich and the band have performed to enthusiastic audiences in select clubs and festivals, enjoying two sell out runs in London’s Soho Theatre. Having started out as a late-night comedy spectacular with drinking, dancing and special guests thrown in for good measure, the Hoedown has since evolved into a more streamlined line-up featuring Hall, his band and a host of top notch comedy songs. In a live setting, Rich also likes to draw inspiration from audience members so there’s a good chance you might find yourself immortalised in country music before the night is over. You’ll be in good company. The Hoedown setlist includes a song taking Bob Dylan to task and another chastising people who wear their jeans too tight.
Rich has enjoyed a long, warm relationship with Galway and Galwegians. In an interview with Galway Bay FM’s Keith Finnegan, he called Galway ‘The Montana of Ireland’ with a landscape noted for its stunning natural beauty. That’s a compliment we’ll graciously take. Country music is usually designed to make you cry but in the hands of Rich Hall and the Hoedown, the only tears audiences will shed will be laughter-induced.
‘Rich Hall’s Hoedown’ will perform at the Vodafone Comedy Carnival, Galway on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th October in the Town Hall Theatre.
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