Snootchie bootchies, fellow Richmonders! The vocal half of beloved cinematic (and comic-book) comedy duo Jay and Silent Bob, Jason Mewes, makes a pit stop at the Richmond Funny Bone next week.
Most well known as the Jay to Kevin Smith’s Silent Bob in Smith’s popular comedies, Mewes is currently on a solo tour. However, anyone expecting stand-up filled with dick jokes and puns of the greenest variety will certainly be surprised. Instead, he is telling various stories from his life — and a few dick jokes and puns of the greenest variety thrown in for good measure, of course.
Smith and Mewes’ friendship dates back to their high school days. After graduation, while Mewes worked roofing jobs, Smith looked for ways to get into filmmaking. When he started work on his first film, Clerks, he knew he had to put his funniest friend in it with him.
Released in 1994, Clerks ended up not only being the debut for both Smith and Mewes, but also immediately transformed Mewes into a stoner icon. He reprised his role as Jay in seven more of Smith’s films, collectively known to his fans as the View Askewniverse (after View Askew, Smith’s production company).
As Mewes’ star grew, so did his troubles with drug addiction. He made multiple attempts to get sober, with varying success. Finally, after recovering from surgery in 2009 led Mewes to a relapse, Smith created a podcast called Jay and Silent Bob Get Old. The podcast took the form of an onstage conversation between Smith and Mewes, not in character but as themselves. But Smith’s real goal with the podcast was to encourage his best friend to get and stay clean. Mewes has been sober since 2010, and the podcast continues to this day.
However, right now it’s on hiatus, as Mewes travels the world on his Jason Mewes and his A-Mewes-ing Stories tour. The format isn’t that different from what Mewes does with Smith on Jay And Silent Bob Get Old, telling various funny stories from his life and making general observations from the unique point of view of the man that is Jay. It has been described as a “Lake Wobegon days with anal jokes,” and it’s this tour that comes to Richmond’s Funny Bone on Tuesday.
Whether you’re merely a casual fan, or you subscribe to the most Askew of Views, this will be a show you can’t miss. Mewes’ ability to be candid and honest even at his most brash and shocking moments has always separated him from his peers in the comedy world, and it’s his unique viewpoint and approach that will make this show a one-of-a-kind event.
Jason Mewes and His A-Mewes-Ing Stories comes to the Richmond Funny Bone on Tuesday, April 16th, 2019. There are two shows, one at 7:30 and one at 9:45. Unfortunately, the early show is sold out. However, there are still tickets available for the late show — we suggest you grab them now, while you still can.
