Garfunkel and Oates
by Scott Hardie on November 22, 2014
Kelly and I had a good time last night taking out two old friends for their birthdays to see Garfunkel and Oates in Tampa. I'm only familiar with the duo's songs, so it was refreshing that only maybe a third of the show consisted of music. The rest was stand up comedy, storytelling, audience interaction, and a weird extended commercial for their sponsor Monster Energy Drink, tall boys of which were being handed out for free, because that's just what my heart needs at ten o'clock at night.
They didn't play my favorite "Sex with Ducks," but they did play most of their popular songs including "Pregnant Women are Smug" and "Go Kart Racing," and debuted some incomplete songs in progress. The wit of their lyrics is one of their biggest strengths, but unfortunately, it was lost somewhat in the harmonizing that made it difficult to understand maybe a third of the words. I wish they'd take turns singing verses instead of harmonizing, or just play some songs from Kate Micucci's solo album. But what I did understand, I really enjoyed; I haven't laughed this much at a comedy show in a while now. The opening act, coincidentally a friend of our friends, was pretty funny too.
As a man (and a large one), I can only imagine what it's like for women traveling in unfamiliar cities at night, especially Internet-famous ones who are, let's face it, judged for their looks. During the show, some guy in the audience kept calling out things like "marry me, RIki" and "I drove all the way from Miami to see you," which the women were able to play off for humor at first, but got pretty creepy after four or five times. In the theater lobby afterward, we noticed a guy with a custom-printed "I ♥ Garfunkel and Oates" shirt practically bounding out of his wheelchair with excitement for a chance to meet the stars that might or might not happen. Much later, after nearly everyone else was gone, we were having drinks at a nearby sidewalk café when we saw Garfunkel and Oates leave and walk briskly away from the building, surrounded by what looked like theater staff as a protective bubble. Thanks for being so hospitable to them, Florida.
Logical Operator
The creator of Funeratic, Scott Hardie, blogs about running this site, losing weight, and other passions including his wife Kelly, his friends, movies, gaming, and Florida. Read more »
Illinois 2013: Four Pictures
As a follow-up to my Illinois road trip, here are photos taken at our engagement party. Shown are Kelly and me, Matthew Preston with his wife Liz, and Jackie Mason with her husband Will. I wish that our photographer Lori Lancaster was in one of the shots, but I'm grateful to her for taking the pictures all the same. Go »Things You Realize at the Top of a 40-Story Ferris Wheel
Kelly and I just got back from a two-day getaway to Orlando to celebrate our anniversary. No theme parks; we've been to them many times and they're jammed with people right now anyway. We tried small local attractions instead. Go »#FFFFFF
I love how MSNBC.com's new slogan is "A Fuller Spectrum of News," complete with online ads featuring brilliant rainbows, and yet their entire site design is plain white except for one strip of blue across the top. (link) If I didn't give up reading it years ago because the entertainment section is spoiler city, I'd give it up today because I can't stand to look at it. Go »Mystery Gift
Thank you, Johnson, whoever you are. I received what I presume is a birthday gift hand-labeled from someone named "Johnson" in Jacksonville, Alabama, postmarked Anniston, Alabama on May 22nd. This means it's someone who knows me well enough to anticipate my birthday and know my home address. Go »Back in Black
Is it already the end of December? It feels like it's been three days since Thanksgiving. Between late nights at work, holiday parties, and shopping for the big day, this month has been a blur. Go »
