Lewis Black’s volcanic comedy never cools off
“The Daily Show’s” longtime “Back in Black” contributor vents his spleen at the Cobb Energy Centre
- Clay McBride
- RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE: Lewis Black
For 15 years, Lewis Black has put the “mad” in the “mad prophet of the airwaves” on the “Back in Black” segments on “The Daily Show.” A double Emmy Award-winner, Black will bring his patented blend of sputtering, apoplectic rage to the Cobb Energy Centre on Nov. 19. Black’s most recent book, I’m Dreaming of a Black Christmas, has recently been published in paperback, while his latest comedy album, fittingly called The Prophet, rediscovers a long-shelved performance from 1990, back when he ripped on characters like Dick Cheney. (Whatever happened to that guy?)
Why did you release The Prophet after 20 years?
I decided to for a couple of reasons. First, nothing has changed. Sometimes the names didn’t even change. Iraq, Iraq. George Bush, George Bush. Also, a young comedian might take a look at it and how my comedy grew. For one thing, back then I was really speedy about my delivery — I could talk through whatever the audience could throw at me. I wasn’t big on silence, and I think I’ve learned to be.
On the album you have a lot of ire towards the first President Bush. Did you change your mind about him after eight years of his son as president?
Oh, I changed my mind after eight minutes. The son makes his father like look like Churchill. I’m serious. We had eight years with him, and there never seemed to be a learning curve.
The audio makes me imagine that it’s black-and-white comedy recording from the 1960s, like a Lenny Bruce show.
It’s funny, people complain about the audio, but it’s 1990 in a club. It wasn’t miked within an inch of its life.