Last Thursday I went to see the live Portlandia tour at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta’s Little Five Points neighborhood. I saw the second of two sold-out shows that night. Apparently someone has been watching the show.
I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from them. Would it be live, sketch comedy? Would there be live music? Would it be something altogether different?
There wasn’t much comedy, so it was just like their show (zing!). Well, there was comedy, just not much of it live. They opened with a good bit with Armisen and Brownstein discussing texts sent between them, ending on a decent Words With Friends joke. Unfortunately, that was pretty much it or the live comedy part of the show. They did play a half-dozen clips from their show, sketches from upcoming episodes, most of which were on the episode which premiered this past Friday. Between the videos, we were treated to both live music and audience engaging dialog with the cast.
The song choices were curious. They played a couple of songs from the show, the series opener, “Dream of the 90s,” as well as the ode to the Etsy entrepreneur: “She’s making jewelry now.” Fiery Furnaces singer Eleanor Friedberger was along on the tour and she sang a few songs with the band. They sang one of her solo tunes, “Heaven,” along with Patti Smith’s, “Because the Night,” and the Doors’, “Light my Fire.” For a duo who seem to be relying on indie cred, those were oddly conventional song choices. They ended the show with a song they’d written for Portland, ultimately changing the lyrics to make it about Atlanta.
It was their interactions with the audience that was the strength of their show. They managed to draw in the crowd, to make us feel as if we’d learned something about them and them about us. We already watch the show, so they didn’t need to sell themselves. There was more of a sense of camaraderie in the room; a strengthening of bonds. This was probably a good move for them since their show seems to rely heavily on recognition and identification with characters and situations. If we like them we’ll keep watching. Their affability makes you want to come back for more.
The cordiality seemed to work beyond a few minor missteps. While asking questions about us, we were asked how many people drove to the show. This is Atlanta, so the answer is obviously most of us. Here, if two people go anywhere, we take three cars. Brownstein was unable to mask the disdain on her face. Clearly, since we didn’t all take public transportation, ride bikes, or walk, we were obviously philistines. I’m glad they didn’t ask how many of us take our own bags to the grocery store.
In another segment they were showing old pictures of each other, pictures from childhood and young adulthood. This seemed mostly planned to elicit a chorus of “awwws” from the crowd as we were made to feel like we had some sort of insider information on them like we were long time friends. That was, until a picture of Armisen in the 80s wearing a Nazi Punks Fuck Off t-shirt came up. Someone in the crowd mentioned the swastika on the shirt. Brownstein named the song that was referenced and followed up with a somewhat insulting, “you’ve never heard the Dead Kennedy’s,” sort of line. It was boilerplate indie/hipster “you’ve probably never heard of it” drivel. That’s not very becoming. I’m pretty sure that many people in the crowd new the Dead Kennedys. Maybe I’m wrong about that, though. Perhaps we car driving luddites just aren’t cultured enough for the high art of the Kennedys.
There was also a section where they asked about the different neighborhoods in Atlanta, trying to find out if the show was located in the right area. It was, considering the size of the venue they needed. Brownstein proclaimed L5P to be more crusty than Portland. Having never been to Portland I cannot comment on that.
It was during this bit, while discussing the locale, that the local guests were introduced. Margaret Cho was brought up as a representative of Atlanta. Cho, who has lived in the Atlanta area since 2009, and is currently residing in the 30307 zip code, is apparently as much an Atlantan as the rest of us. Considering this is a city of transplants, she may be. For contrast, to explain a bit of the ITP/OTP differences, Jack McBrayer was brought up on stage as a representative of the rest of Georgia.
I found these two to be odd choices as well. It would seem that for what they wanted to bring to the show, as well as whom they know, that David Cross would have been a better representative of Atlanta, unless he has completely rejected the city by now. Maybe he just wasn’t in town. I have a feeling they didn’t ask Jeff Foxworthy if he was available. He wouldn’t quite fit in with the vibe of the show. However, a Cross/Foxworthy duo would have done a better job of demonstrating the difference between Atlanta and the rest of the state. It would have also been Foxworthy’s perfect opportunity to do his little known, “you might be from Portland if,” bit.
All in all I enjoyed it. I think. I think I enjoyed it, which is the feeling I still get from the show. I’m still trying to decide if I like it and why, but I haven’t figured that out yet. Something keeps drawing me in but I can’t quite put my finger on what it is. I guess, until I can get to the bottom of it, that I’ll keep watching.
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