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British hit comedy team, The Mighty Boosh, brought their bizarre world of comedy to Los Angeles for the very first time last week at a secret MySpace show at The Roxy.
The Mighty Boosh (or "The Boosh" as they are affectionately known), began more than a decade ago in England as a live stage show conceived of and performed by comedians Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt. They were picked up by BBC radio, subsequently morphed into a television show on BBC Three in 2004, and since have become a Monty Python-like phenomenon, attracting legions of famously devoted followers from The Who's Roger Daltrey to our own Alice Cooper.
Ardent fans, some of whom were dressed elaborately as Boosh characters, lined up for hours outside The Roxy with approximately 100 unfortunate fans left outside in the cold (...er...the heat...) when the club filled to capacity at 500 people.
Roxy owner, Nic Adler, standing outside ensuring that the line up was running smoothly, was thrilled about the show. "I'm excited because I've never seen them before, so this is a total virgin experience for me." When asked by the club's security how to arrange the outdoor metal barricades for people who wanted to smoke outside during the show, Adler assured security that people were so captivated by The Boosh that he didn't think a single person would exit during the show, even for a smoke.
Inside, the club felt like a party with silver The Mighty Boosh balloons hanging from the ceiling, Michael Jackson (RIP) and Sam
Just before 10 o'clock, a giant screen began playing television clips as an enthusiastic audience chanted, "Boosh, Boosh, Boosh!" When the actual Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt emerged on stage, the crowd went wild with one onlooker turning to his friends to say, "This is the best moment of my life."
Booshman Fielding -- dressed in purple velvet and black lace -- opened the night with a big Booshy smile, saying, "Los Angeles, you cheeky bitch!" After asking the entire club how they were doing, he playfully singled out one audience member and asked, "Just you. How are you doing?"
Bantering back and forth with comedy partner Barratt, the pair discussed how Los Angeles is "cool," and likes "cool" bands like Kings of Leon, whom Fielding described as preacher's sons who crack corn (?). Fielding continued by mimicking three of the Nashville band's hit songs, with his renditions consisting exclusively of elongated moans and no discernible lyrics.
The charismatic and energetic Fielding who appeared to be both pumped up and a wee bit nervous, successfully broke from his comedy routine when audience members screamed out to him. One audience member shouted, "You need a lesbian!" Fielding quipped, "We all need a lesbian. But what we need and what we get are two different things." When someone yelled, "I love you", Fielding returned the love and joked that love is a very private affair and probably shouldn't be talked about in this manner.
After the pair had successfully warmed up the audience with a darkly comedic bit about a white rabbit who runs around trying to rape people, the duo and other cast members (including Noel's brother Michael Fielding, Dave Brown and Rich Fulcher) launched into sketches and songs. No topic too taboo, the ensemble covered everything from knifing dolphins in the face to farts made of blue steam. Bob Fossil (played by Fulcher), took on a Richard Simmons-ish character leading emotionally abusive dance lessons, and Old Gregg (played by Fielding), looked like a deranged, hermaphroditic
The Boosh crew may have only just stepped foot on American soil, but their comedy is grounded in all our favorite baseness.
