Picture Gordon Lightfoot singing a song about menstrual love to a crowd of college students. Swap the half-unbuttoned dress shirt with a snug T-shirt, the '70s era John Holmes curls and meat-stache for mid-length fuzz, and the sweet historical retellings for demented tales on man-on-gerbil sex and trannies and voila: you have Stephen Lynch, a vocal and musical virtuoso with a mind that's perennially in the gutter and a back catalogue of music that's as hilarious as it is wildly inappropriate.
In support and promotion of the March 24 release of his fourth full-length album, 3 Balloons, Lynch will be bringing the Comedy Central sponsored 3 Balloons Live Tour to the CFA Saturday night at 8 p.m. Making his first appearance in Buffalo since his 2005 solo-set at the Riviera Theater, Lynch is sure not to disappoint with an all new collection of comedic filth.
Already floating around the Internet is "Waiting," the reflective and nerve-ridden tale of a man waiting for the results of his AIDS test. Explicit, funny, and an overall triumphant composition, the first traces of new Lynch material is every bit as witty and cringe-worthy as anything the musical comedian has penned and later felt bad about.
Along with 14 new tracks of material, 3 Balloons offers a return to the in-studio setting that made Lynch's first release, A Little Bit Special, such a unique comedic experience.
The change is welcome as Lynch's last two CDs, The Craig Machine and Superhero, alongside his RIAA gold certified DVD Live at the El Ray, captured the live experience perfectly, but failed to offer the additional instrumentation found in his first full-length album.
Also teasing the public's ear is "3 Balloons," the album's title track that was made available for streaming on Lynch's Web site just a few weeks ago. For those wondering what comedic approach Lynch could have possibly taken while writing a song about balloons, it may or may revolve around smuggling drug-filled balloons inside your...
Always striving to take his bachelor of arts degree in drama from Western Michigan University to new levels, Lynch has not only been able to land solo gigs on Comedy Central and release four albums worth of material, he was also able to land the lead role of Robbie Hart in the Broadway production of The Wedding Singer in 2006.
A huge success, Lynch commanded 284 performances of the show, eventually being nominated for Drama League, Desk awards, and above all, Broadway's highest honor, the Tony Award for his incredible voice and mastery of the comedic stage.
Now that Lynch has returned to his normal routine, he has hit the road on a 25 city tour, kicking off Comedy Central's new live entertainment division, coincidentally starting tonight in Boston, Mass., and ending in May in Portland, Ore., before later heading overseas. In addition to the tour, Comedy Central will be filming a one-hour live special that will air later in the year on the Comedy Central and will also see an eventual unedited DVD release soon thereafter on Comedy Central Home Entertainment.
A gifted storyteller, fearless comedian and true talent, Stephen Lynch is a star unlike any other in the world of comedy. Never straying from the taboo, Lynch's music always pushes the envelope thematically, all the while showcasing pitch-perfect vocals and acoustic mastery of the guitar. With song topics ranging from priestly sin, to abducting door-knockers on Halloween, to even homemade abortions, there is no telling where the unpredictable mind of Stephen Lynch will go next.
For $28, there's really no reason not see Mr. Lynch as he comes directly to UB. That is, unless you planned on bringing your pet gerbil with you.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
