FROM THE EAST BAY EXPRESS

Seldom do homegrown comedians have as much personal magnetism or shrewd observations as W. Kamau Bell, who is best known for his ever-evolving one-man show, The W. Kamau Bell Curve. Bell and Kevin Avery used to have a weekly radio spot on Live 105 called Siskel and Negro, which they mostly dedicated to film reviews — with some pop-culture miscellany mixed in. At this point, though, Bell has busied himself with an ongoing critique of race politics, integration, sanctimoniousness, silent hypocrisy, and glaring inequity in the so-called Obama Age. Bell constantly recobbles his material to stay on top of the news cycle, so it’s a different show from month to month. This New Year’s Eve he’ll revisit the big stories from 2009, and examine pop culture from a racy angle. Aptly titled “Laughter Against the Machine,” Bell’s night of “guerilla comedy” also features the equally incisive Hari Kondabolu, and local favorite Nato Green.

Buy Tickets HERE!

Not the actual guy

I’m in the greenroom last night, minutes before the show, and I hear someone say, “Kamau’s in there.” Now since everybody I know is already IN the green room and I know I don’t know anyone in Seattle, I immediately get suspicious of someone wanting to see me before the show. In walks an older white guy with the longest dreadlocks I’ve seen outside of… well pretty much anywhere. Trailing behind him was a black woman.

Older Dreadlocked White Guy: I used to have a friend named Kamau. Did you ever live in Oregon?

Me: No.

ODWG stares at me quizzically : You never lived way out in the country in Oregon?

Me: No.

ODWG: Really?

Me: No.

ODWG: Kamau was big like you.

Me: OK.

(At this point we go back and forth like this at least three more times, before finally…)

ODWG: You sure you never lived in Oregon? Or the big island in Hawaii?

Me: Yes.

ODWG shakes his head wistfully: I thought you were Kamau.

Me: I AM KAMAU!

1) Why couldn’t he wait until after the show when he saw me perform where he could have gathered more information.
2) Why don’t some people… (I really want to say white people, but I’m trying to be better about that.) Why don’t some people have that thing in there head where they go, “Wait… I should probably hang back and collect more information before I make the mistake of ONCE AGAIN implying that all black people look alike.”
3) Why did he make is so difficult for me to justify my existence as a separate Kamau? Can’t there be two “Kamaus?” Actually, there are probably thousands and thousands… just not in this country.
4) This was the dreadlocked, liberal, crunchy granola white guy. He is supposed to be on my side, and not make me feel marginalized or even worse not seen as an individual at all. I’m not surprised but I am exhausted.

I’ll be headlining at The Comedy Underground December 17-19. And the best part is that my good friend, Hari Kondabolu will be on the shows, too.

Here’s the press release below in case you want to send this around.

Thanks. Read More…

Me, Kevin Avery, & Katherine P. MacMurphy talk Twitter, Newsweek’s Top 12 Unfunniest Comedians, & the latest in portable CD players, & Kevin’s story of bombing (once again).

Best episode ever. Seriously!

Boots Riley Retweets Me & warns YOU!

I did a benefit for my friend and KPFA host Nora Barrows-Friedman a couple weeks ago. And Boots Riley was on it, too. Obviously, he is a legend. This summer I spent a ton of time convincing my hard rock friends to pick up SSSC’s album. So it was great to hare the stage with him. Since then he has been cool and supportive and then yesterday, pretty much out of nowhere  — Well, I kind of butted in on a convo he was having on Twitter about writing.) — THIS HAPPENED! And this has led to about 30 more Twitter followers so far. And a warm bubbly feeling inside of me. Boots is a hip hop legend and activist. I’m a comic. All I can say is thanks.

Oh yeah, and I can try to keep bringing it… Or start bringing it.. Or… something.

Two days of workshops (Saturday, December 5th & Sunday, December 6th — 10a-1p) on how to take your solo show or solo show idea, and turn it into a piece that best showcases your story and your specific gifts. Taught by Paul Stein, the former Associate Producer of the HBO Workspace and currently Artistic Director of the Comedy Central Stage in Hollywood, this workshop will show you how to create and make decisive choices with your show… not obvious ones.

Helpful to the beginner or experienced soloists, these workshops are for everyone from stand-up comedians to performers with more dramatic pieces. Mr. Stein’s unique look at solo performance, gained from a dozen years of working with solo shows in Hollywood and at numerous festivals, will provide a perspective that cannot be missed.

Paul is also the director of my solo show, The W. Kamau Bell Curve. I have taken this workshop, and will be there for this one.  This workshop is a great intro to solo performance or a great place to generate new ideas for your already created work.

This workshop is proudly presented by me & The Solo Performance Workshop.

Here’s a link with the info: Brown Paper Tickets