Comedy fans of RVA, take note! One of the biggest local comedy events of the year hits town this very weekend, and you are not going to want to miss it. The Summer Value tour, featuring Mr. Medium Energy, Todd Barry, and America’s Funnyman, Neil Hamburger, touches down at Gallery 5 this Saturday for two performances.
Comedy fans of RVA, take note! One of the biggest local comedy events of the year hits town this very weekend, and you are not going to want to miss it. The Summer Value tour, featuring Mr. Medium Energy, Todd Barry, and America’s Funnyman, Neil Hamburger, touches down at Gallery 5 this Saturday for two performances. Todd Barry has made many film and television appearances–perhaps you remember him from his appearance on Flight Of The Conchords, in which he joined the band and attempted to get them to perform his song “The Doggy Bounce.” Or maybe you’ve seen him in The Wrestler, where he plays Mickey Rourke’s asshole boss at the supermarket deli counter. You may even remember him as the voice of Todd the video store clerk on Dr. Katz, or from any of dozens of other appearances (Squidbillies, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Road Trip, Pootie Tang, etc etc). Regardless, you’re sure to know Todd Barry, and you’re sure to enjoy his standup comedy.
Neil Hamburger is a bit harder to explain. He originally showed up on the comedy scene back in the mid-90s, appearing to be the ultimate sad sack past-his-prime comedy anachronism from another age. In the early days of his career, his comedy seemed to revolve mainly around his career struggles, and his live appearances featured poorly-paced, awkward routines that no one seemed sure whether to take seriously. These days, it’s clear that Hamburger is a character portrayed by actor and musician Gregg Turkington, more of an ironic performance art act comparable to Andy Kaufman’s legendary lounge-singer character Tony Clifton. But is he funny? Perhaps not in the way you might expect an ordinary standup comedian to be, but you’ll be hard pressed not to get a kick out of Hamburger’s bizarre onstage ramblings. Add in opening act Brendon Walsh, who has toured with Doug Stanhope and appeared at the Upright Citizens Brigade theatre, and you’re guaranteed a night of laughs from start to finish.
Tickets for this show have been selling so fast that Hit Play Productions have added a second performance, starting at 10 PM, immediately after the first one concludes. The first show is very close to selling out, but plenty of tickets are still available for the second performance, so no matter whether you catch the early or late performance, you should be able to see the Summer Value Tour during its brief but action-packed stay in Richmond.
WHAT: Summer Value Tour Hits RVA!
WHO: Todd Barry & Neil Hamburger, with special guest Brendon Walsh
WHERE: Gallery 5, 200 W. Marshall St.
WHEN: Saturday, August 18 First show at 7 PM, second at 10 PM
ADMISSION: $20 in advance, $22 day of show. Tickets for both performances are available here:
And now, just in case you’re on the fence, we present to you two brief clips featuring our two headlining performers in action. This should be all the convincing you’ll need:
