Maximum Volume! with Greg Behrendt & Matt Nathanson

If "Turkey Circle" becomes a thing, it started at Maximum Volume last night.

Singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson (who isn't just funny-for-a-musician funny, but legitimately funny) and comedian Greg Behrendt hosted the evening, which was billed as a night of comedy and music. As it turned out, it was a night of comedy, comedy, and 2 songs ~ but there was an unutilized guitar with a leopard skin strap onstage the whole night.

It was surprising to learn that Behrendt and Nathanson have met only a handful of times in person, because they have fantastic chemistry and the effortless rapport of long-time friends and performing partners. Riffing on the congealing backstage victuals lead to Behrendt using the phrase "turkey circles", which lead Nathanson to spin into an extremely funny, laid back improvisational riff about the concept of the Turkey Circle as a safe space to open up and share. There were several back-and-forth moments like this, turning Nathanson into a chiaroscuro Dave Anthony (Behrendt's partner on Walking The Room) for the evening.

Brody Stevens

The crowd was largely comprised of groups of fans who were drawn to the evening by one specific performer. For such a diverse group, everyone seemed really game and down for whatever the evening might bring. Which is good, because the eccentric and mystifyingly lovable Brody Stevens opened with a set that was very, very Brody Stevens.  His sledgehammer set made Marc Maron seem stable.

Marc Maron

Maron, fresh off his 8pm live WTF taping at Cobb's, did a tight set of bits (with very few confessional tangents) combined with some audience interaction. It's always a pleasure to watch Maron, because he's great at reading a room. He toned down his own neuroses a bit to prevent emotional overload after Stevens. Even when his own energy is a little lower than usual, his material, delivery, and presence are rock solid.

Brendon Small

Brendon Small, creator of animated series Metalocalypse and Home Movies, had to deal with the crowd-distracting check drop, but he finished strong with a piece about ensuring his celebrity impersonations are always recognized by just saying the celebrity's name in character.

Behrendt came out to do a short set, and at least a few He's Just Not That Into You tables around me were introduced to the real Behrendt. When you're a fan of his stand-up, it's a delight to see people otherwise familiar with him realize that he's a fantastic comic, first and foremost.

Bobcat Goldthwait

And, then, there was Bobcat Goldthwait. He summed up the loose tone of the evening by saying that it seemed like this show was still waiting to get started, which was true in the best possible way. He delivered his set without "the voice", and it was refreshing to watch him be himself. Settled into his 48-year-old looks (like "Drew Carey and Woody Allen fucked"), Goldthwait delivered an open, frenetic, and anecdotal set that that audience enthusiastically enjoyed.

Several people in the crowd were fans of Nathanson's music and came exclusively to see him play. However, few seemed disappointed that just a 2-song set was tacked onto the end, because he was extremely charming during his considerable stage time, and also at one point alluded to being naked. This made a number of gussied-up ladies very happy. Nathanson played his new song "Faster" and a cover of "Thunder Road" that was the perfect brake run on the evening's extemporaneous roller coaster.

Maximum Volume may not have delivered the all the music some expected to see, but Behrendt and Nathanson helmed over 2 hours of unexpected entertainment that rocked the house.

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 © 2011 CHRISTINE E. TAYLOR

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