Putnam Den on Wednesday mashes music with laughter
SARATOGA SPRINGS– Stop me if you’ve heard this one…
DJ/MC Dev Dinon walks into a bar (Putnam Den: visit http://putnamden.com/); meets her cronies; and everyone laughs at them.
Well, in a nutshell, this is what you have at “The Den” now on Wednesday nights. A combo open mic night, with comedy the subject from 8-10 pm, followed by music from 10 pm-12:30 am (hosted by esteemed musician Juan Calzada of Half Step and Acoustic Circus fame). For the first week, last Wednesday had a full boat of ‘Jokers,” ranging from the professional, to amateur, to the undefined. But that’s the point of stand up – what you are is what you get: no pretense, and no filter either.
Oh, and let’s make a few things clear. This is by no means family stuff. Except, perhaps if you are in the Manson family. Topics will range from Abortion to McGriddles (Pro star Katherine Gauthier managed to combine the two), and of course, sex anxiety and the perpetual search for exercising one’s loins AKA getting laid.
Apparently, rock stars have groupies. Stand up comedians are like playing bridge — in which, if you have a good hand, you don’t need a partner!
Backing slowly away from the abyss…
“These guys are great!” exclaimed Juan Calzada, whom I sidled up to during a performance by Chris O’Leary. Other performers on this evening included Ashley Tappan (“I’d be Tappan that Ash!”), Mike Chaill, Victoria Diana, Mikael Gregg, and one “Bucket,” who pulled off a rare daily double by performing standup for DJ Dev and following it up with a semi-musical rap for Juan about… ummm…. I was hoping to interview Mr. Bucket to gain some clarification, but the guys in the white coats with the butterfly net and straightjacket said he had other plans. Oh well, sometimes you just gotta go!
Speaking of gotta go, you gotta go to this, peeps. Oh, and by the way – it’s free! Putnam Den is at 63 Putnam Street, in hilarious Saratoga Springs.
