Stephen Lynch is coming to The Wilbur Theatre on Saturday March 16, 2013.
Whether he’s singing an ode to “queer tattoos,” telling his potential paramour all the things he won’t be doing for her (he ain’t fightin’ no Lion), or lamenting his new vegan lifestyle (“Tofurkey? Tof**k yourself- I want some meat”), Stephen Lynch will always consider himself “a musician trapped in the body of a comedian." His unique blend of musical based comedy has earned him fiercely loyal fans around the world who live to experience his sold-out live shows, four best-selling CDs, his RIAA-certified Gold DVD and his top-rated Comedy Central Specials.
Stephen’s albums “A Little Bit Special,” “Superhero,” “The Craig Machine,” and “3 Balloons” have sold hundreds of thousands of copies around the world. His first DVD, “Live at the El Rey,” was certified Gold by RIAA. Stephen has toured with some of the biggest names in comedy, including Lewis Black and the late Mitch Hedberg. He’s also headlined his own sold out shows throughout the United States, Australia and Europe, where it’s been said he’s “the Beyonce of Scandinavia.”
In celebration of his impending return to Boston, Lynch took the time to chat with the Boston Comedy Scene Examiner about his upcoming tour.
BCSE: “Congratulations on your new album - I heard it debuted at number one.”
SL: “Thank you, I'm happy about that.”
BCSE: “Tell me a little bit about the new album, it's a little bit different from what you've done in the past, correct?”
SL: “Well, generally speaking, no - I guess it's sort of the same. But, there are some details that are definitely different if you examine it closely enough, I guess. They were different to me, which was the important thing. I don't know how subtle they are to the average person who listens to me, but I tried a different tack when it came to many of the songs this time in terms of the kind of humor it was. The sort of formula I had been using before I thought was a little stale - it wasn't interesting to me anymore. It wasn't inspiring me to write or be creative, so, in that sense, yes. There are some differences on this record - and a lot of differences, I guess, musically, too. It's still sort of singer-songwriter-y, but I let the kind of music that I actually listen to sort of seep through and tried to make it sound like the kind of music that I actually like, instead of just playing guitar and piano and add some things to it, which is what I used to do. Which sounds lazy, and I wasn't being lazy - that's just what I did. I write stupid songs; why would you want to gum up the works with a lot of crazy instrumentation. This time I really just wanted to focus on the songs themselves, and hopefully they'll be funny. But for me it was about the actual songwriting of the songs.”
BCSE: “Yeah, I mean you're a really talented musician and not to mention,Tony award-nominated. That's crazy, congratulations.”
SL: (Laughs) “It's very strange. Every time I hear it, I go 'What?' But it's true. That's what I wanted to do with my life in the beginning - I was a theater geek and I loved doing musicals and plays. That's what I studied in college and that's what I intended on doing with my life, so that part shouldn't be surprising. It's what I'm doing now that should be more surprising I guess. I guess that's how life works.”
BCSE: “Now, you've toured with so many amazing comedians; do you find that people sometimes pigeonhole you into just comedy?”
SL: “Yeah, of course. I mean, comedy is clearly what people want when they buy my records and when they come to my shows. That's what they're interested in. I mean, I think the musical element is part of it, but people certainly don't want to sit in the audience for two hours while I play and listen to me do love songs. They want to laugh. I've resigned myself to the fact that is my job. That being said, if I could sneak in some of those moments into a show or onto a record that are not necessarily all about being funny, then I can tap into some part of myself that will keep me enjoying what I do for a longer time. I don't know, I never had any interest in doing comedy or being 'a comedian', it was just something that sort of accidentally happened, because I love to write songs and I found that I had this sort of unique talent. I guess it wasn't that unique - a lot of people do what I do. At the time that I started, there weren't that many people doing it. I just discovered this little niche, this little back door into the world of show business, which was really just getting myself the opportunity to play in front of people and perform and to sing, and that's what I like to do. So the comedy thing was just sort of accidental. But, I go on tour, and I have toured with comedians before, and I've done festivals and am in the comedy tent, so I know what my job is. I'm a comedian. As much as I would like to be, like, a seventies singer-songwriter - I guess I could sort of do both at the same time.”
BCSE: “Do you ever just, like, sneak out and go to local bars and do straight music?”
SL: “No, not really. I used to in the early days when I was on tour; I would go to open mic nights and play songs. That was kind of fun. But now I don't do it just because I don't like to leave my house. I'm sort of curmudgeonly like that. I should do that. That would really help fulfill that part of me that I'm talking about. I get enough of it now, I guess, when I perform, when I go on tour.”
BCSE: “I have to say, I was reminiscing earlier - my brother and I have been fans of yours for a while, and only your CDs had the power to keep my family from killing each other on road trips - the only thing.”
SL: “Really? Then my job here is done. I can officially retire. I keep families together, that's what I do.”
BCSE: “Ha ha. We're really excited that you're coming to Boston. Who are you bringing with you?”
SL: “Well I'm bringing Courtney Jaye, who is the female vocalist and songwriter who is on my record, and Charlie King, who's an old friend of mine for like twenty years, who is a folky instrumentalist. He plays guitar and mandolin and banjo and harmonica and sings and is hilarious in his own right. I started bringing him with me on tour just as a replacement for my old friend David Josefsberg, who is in a show and couldn't tour with me. He's great, we sort of felt a rapport. So he'll be with me, and of course Rod Cone, who is a longtime friend and tour manager. He sings with me on stage as well. So it will be the four of us.”
BCSE: “That's great; it should be a really fun night.”
SL: “I can't wait, it's been a while. I haven't been to Boston in a while.”
The Wilbur and Bill Blumenreich present Stephen Lynch
Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.
The Wilbur Theatre is located at 246 Tremont St. in Boston’s Historic Theatre District
Tickets: $35.00
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