Despite the advice given on this blog, I did not buy my ticket to see Eugene Mirman at Pianos in advance. When I arrived at 9pm (for the 9:30pm show), the place was packed. People with tickets were already lining up to get in and get seats. I asked the hostess if any more tickets would be sold, and was told I’d have to wait and see how many no shows there were. Since it was pouring out, I was hopeful. But the rain didn’t keep people away. I was fifth in line for cancellations, and just barely able to get in. Of course being the last one in meant I was doomed to stand at the very back, where I could only catch a glimpse of the stage if the people in front of me all happened to sway in the same direction at the same time.(Thus, no pictures)
I wasn’t disappointed though, because Mirman was recording a comedy CD, and I feel that I got the full experience, since I could hear the show, but not see it.

Todd Barry opened for Mirman, which is appropriate for a taping, since Barry has actually sold more CDs than the Rolling Stones. I know it sounds weird, but it’s true. One might even compare Barry to Mick Jagger. And by one, I mean Barry did, onstage, while asking those of us with blogs to spread the rumor that he has sold more CDs than the Stones.

After a short set, Barry brought Mirman up on stage. I have seen Mirman many times before, he’s the host of Invite Them Up at Rififi and he often appears at other comedy nights around town. I knew going in that there would probably be a lot of material I had heard before, but I was actually surprised of how much of it was new, or at least changed for the evening.

Mirman’s style is quick one-line humor, which meant that the laughs, besides being plentiful, were often. I wouldn’t exactly call him observational, although he does take the everyday and make it funny. He does so by pointing out the ridiculous, and then exaggerates it. He took a slogan from a Republican National Convention website: “Freedom, the most powerful weapon of all” and
1) explained that it actually makes no sense (”you can’t mug me, I have the ability to vote for whoever I want” “oh I’m sorry I didn’t realize you had so much freedom”)[that’s not a direct quote -ed.]
and
2) pitched some of his own slogans for Freedom, including “Freedom, let’s share the shit out of it!” and “Freedom, you can cum on it’s face. It likes it!” [that IS a direct quote, so you can’t blame me for the language -ed.]

After what seemed like no time at all, the show was over. Mirman ended the night with a voice over of him turning down a female computer for sex, which was kindof weird and the only time I wasn’t laughing my butt off. Other than that, Mirman was ‘on’ all night. My only complaint is that I couldn’t see anything, and that’s my own fault.
Mirman’s CD (which has yet to be named) will be coming out on Subpop, so keep your eyes open for it. I can tell you as someone who has (in a way) listened to it already, that it’s gonna be good.