“Is this where sad rain was invented?” Comedian Marc Maron may be far from his LA stomping ground but he’s brought a few home comforts with him, namely his trademark dry humour. Maron’s in Salford tonight (not Manchester as one overly enthusiastic fan insists on reminding him) and as usual, the weather is terrible. However in a weird way the harsh wind and drizzle is oddly in keeping with the podcast giant’s brooding, self-analytical and sometimes quite dark style, like pathetic fallacy come to life. Taking a short break from his massively successful WTF Podcast, Maron’s visit tonight marks the sole Northern date on his express UK tour – and fans are grateful for it. There’s scarcely a seat left in The Lowry’s intimate Quays Theatre and those lucky enough to get comfy are treated to 120 minutes from a stand-up working at the top of his game.
In fact, intimacy is the key word here. Maybe it’s the personal connection gifted to us via Maron’s weekly visits to our smartphones or podcast devices and the confessional tone his chatter often strikes that’s got us feeling more like we’re hanging out with an old friend than seeing just another touring comic. Of course, the immediacy of the theatre helps – audiences are just a stone’s throw from the stage, allowing for a back and forth between crowd and performer that’s lost in larger spaces. Thankfully it’s not abused – even when Maron vents some pre-show demons by recalling a rather passive aggressive tweet posted by a local interviewer after an afternoon press-chat. For Maron it’s a therapeutic exercise but for us, it’s access into the world he invited us into years ago but up until now has been limited to a pair of iPod headphones.
Throughout his lengthy set, Maron takes us on a journey through his life – from tea addiction and vitamin quandaries, to hilarious should-rise-above-it-but-can’t moments that are all too relatable. Family and politics form a large part of his extended bits – with his impressive pièce de résistance focusing on a particularly descriptive and totally brilliant take on US Vice President Mike Pence’s unfortunate last moments during the apocalypse. With notes on hand and a loose feel throughout, Maron’s quick to remind us that tonight’s show is very much a work-in-progress – “You’re going to love this when the special it’s released,” he grins. However despite all the pre-prepared notes, segways and chunkier segments – it’s the smaller moments that reveal Maron’s personality (that same personality that got us hooked on him in the first place) that garner tonight’s biggest laughs. A throwaway gag about his choking father ruining his eggs particularly tickles Salford’s funny bone.
About three quarters into his set, Maron laughs about how half of the audience are likely only here because their significant other is a fan of his podcast – which very well might be true. That said, based on the vibe in The Lowry this evening it’s a safe bet that the uninitiated half of tonight’s crowd will no-doubt be leaving as converts to Maron’s neurotic brand of stand-up comedy. It might be a while before he’s back in our neck of the woods but thanks to his regular podcasts, Maron never feels too far away. Like the arrival of an old friend – the North looks forward to his next visit.
Words by Simon Bland. (@SiTweetsToo)
