John Hodgman
NORTHAMPTON – "Unique" is one of the most overused—and misused—words in our language.
But in the case of John Hodgman's show at the Calvin Friday night, it fits perfectly.
Hodgman, along with his friend/opening act/sidekick Jonathan Coulton, delighted a small but enthusiastic crowd over a superb and singular two-hour show.
Known best as a writer, "Daily Show" correspondent, and Apple pitchman, Hodgman designed his show in a unique way: rather than having singer-songwriter Coulton serve as a traditional opening act, he integrated him into almost the entire show, using him as a straight man and foil, a role at which Coulton excelled.
The result was a show that was not so much a stand-up comedy act as a bizarre but hilarious two-man surrealistic cabaret, with Hodgman indulging his "deranged millionaire" character and Coulton singing his quirky but catchy tunes.
Coulton started the show but Hodgman soon joined him onstage, saying that the stomping that Coulton's songs inspired was keeping him from preparing for the show properly.
"So, as a result, the show will be terrible," Hodgman said, jokingly blaming the audience.
Hodgman then referred to his role playing "PC" in the Apple computer comemrcials, which drew applause for the audience. Hodgman also took exception to this.
"I don't want you to applaud commercials," he said with feigned exasperation. "I thought this was Northampton."
He took a similar attitude when he announced he had turned 40, which also drew some applause.
"Thank you for applauding my imminent death," he deadpanned.
He and Coulton played particularly well off each other during a bit about wine, in which Hodgman played the part of a nascent wine snob. When Coulton admitted he didn't know much about how wine was made, Hodgman schooled him with his newfound "expertise," listing the ingredients of wine as "grapes, yeast, human feet, time, and 200 pounds of pharmaceutical grade pseudophedrine."
"That's how wine has been made for millennia," he added. He later described wine aged in oak barrels as being like "licking unfinished furniture."
Hodgman then left the stage for a spell, allowing Coulton to play his obtuse yet moving tunes. The highlight of these was the poignant and gorgeous song about a self-loathing giant squid titled "I Crush Everything."
Later, Hodgman rejoined Coulton for a song, then took the stage solo to talk about the end of the world, which is the subject of his latest book, "That is All."
During this bit, he warned people not to bother looting grocery stores for canned goods because their can openers would no longer work during the end times. Why? Because of the Y2K bug, which had arrived late, and, as it turns out, was "not interested in computers, but rather small kitchen appliances."
Hodgman also advised people to stock both their own urine and mayonnaise for the coming apocalypse. To assist with this, he threw mayonnaise packets into the crowd but allayed any fears about what he might do next by saying, "Don't worry, I'm not going to pee on you."
The night ended with Hodgman and Coulton playing a sweet song called "Resist the Tide," and an encore with the pair singing beautiful harmonies on "Tonight You Belong to Me."