“I’m going to vote for Barack Obama, of course. I’m black. You all root for Steve Nash, don’t you?”
Such is the gospel according to comedian Chris Rock. He returned to New Brunswick this weekend, his second set of performances at The Stress Factory in two months. A mixed crowd packed the comedy club, from college students to grandmothers.
“New Brunswick, New Brunswick,” Rocks said to start the show, all smiles and playful attitude oozing from his pores. He dressed very Tiger Woods-esque: sweater, gray khakis, and a beret, all in subdued hues. “The showbiz highlight of my career…”
Anyone who’s seen him perform live, or caught any of his four HBO performances, know that few comedians work the stage like Rock. Even in the tight capacity of The Stress Factory, where the stage is only a few feet wide, Rock was a panther. He moved to and fro on stage, overflowing with the usual energy, provocative, yet intelligent humor that only he brings.
Rock opened his set by ridiculing the way the legal system handled Michael Vick and the dog fighting scandal, and flowed right into Britney Spears:
“Damn, they took her kids for putting on a bad show? Because she forgot her dance steps? Sh*t… next time before my show, I’m practicing!”
Rock’s barrage of satire hit a full octave of topics, ranging from politics, celebrities, and debt. His versatility shined through in the crescendos of comedy that confronted a variety of questions. Like why Americans were so upset when Bonds broke Babe Ruth’s home run record: (“M*therfuck Babe Ruth! He played in times when he didn’t face any Latino or black players… that’s like saying you scored the highest on the SAT’s, but no Asians took the test.”)
Or why Americans have gotten into the habit of buying things that they used to get for free: (“We’re buying f*cking ring tones, man! Phones used to ring for free. But, noo… ‘BRRING BRRING’ wasn’t good enough for you!”)
Of course, Rock never shies away from the racial issues, and he made no exceptions this rainy Thursday. White and black, man and woman, sparing none, he placed everyone under the microscope. A microscope where only Chris Rock can point out seemingly obvious fallacies of logic, or as he’s more likely to put it, “get-the-f*ck-out-of-here” -moments.
“The only advantage to being black is being allowed to say (the N-word.) You want to trade places? You say N-, and I’ll raise interest rates, okay?”
He also revealed to the audience when exactly white people are allowed to use the N- word. (Hint: it’s on Christmas Eve morning, and includes getting mugged by a black man armed with a brick which he smacks you in the head with.) Long story short, and sans the punch line: never.
Rock stumbled occasionally, mispronouncing some of his words, and one time even referred back to a folder of his material. But he weaves all these faltering moments into a seamless act. He’s the jazz artist who doesn’t so much as come in off-tempo, but chooses to throw an extra eighth-note into the tune. It’s all part of the power and seduction of Rock’s charm. He captures the audience in a spell with his throaty laugh, wide-eyed expressions, and oddly accented syllables.
His transitions, which are brief at best, and other times completely non-existent, are prime examples of this. He can end one joke with nothing more than a facial expression, transition into the next bit with his trademark, “Motherf*cker,” and the audience will rave about his genius in delivering the one word.
Rock is currently working on his fifth television special for HBO. For those who want to catch him live, however, he will perform at the Comedy Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada, November 14-17.