Fans of stand-up comic Bo Burnham will be happy to find that his five-year-long withdrawal has finally come to an end. Burnham ends his hiatus this year with a slew of new offerings that will come as a sweet fix to even the highest expectations, as well as a delight to newcomers.
If you’ve never heard of Burnham, here’s a primer: He began on YouTube in 2006 at only 16 years old, where he turned stories of being a high-school outcast into viral, laugh-out-loud videos. The channel remains online to this day and anyone looking to learn more about Burnham should start there, where it all began, with songs like “3.14 Apple Pi.” It was clear from the beginning that this comedian is not only hilarious, but he is also deeply intelligent; there is depth to his humor, and each time you listen you are peeling away another layer to rediscover the wit underneath.
Burnham just kicked off a new nationwide tour, “What.,” and the Boulder Theatre was lucky enough to host the first installment on May 5. “What.” will be released as a Comedy Central special later this year, and it has been worth the wait. Burnham’s new show is a multimedia extravaganza offering not only the artist’s trademark musical comedy, but also new elements such as miming, dance numbers and “stunts.” Even the impromptu encore jokes last Sunday night were met with not just rounds of applause, but with cheers and multiple standing ovations. For tour dates in other major cities, check the comedian’s website.
Here’s a teaser of what fans have coming when they get to see the special released in the fall. The jokes are all new but in a familiar format to fans of Burnham’s style. Like in his Netflix comedy special “Words, Words, Words,” there is a mix of traditional stand-up and pre-recorded songs; the jokes range from crude to deftly witty, and you can expect Burnham to be as self-deprecating as ever. No matter how much he insults himself, however, the audience will not be fooled into thinking he is some run-of-the-mill, 15-minute famer.
Within the show, fans will see the return of wind chimes as well as the usual electric keyboard, poetry reading and musical segments much like those seen in “Words, Words, Words.” There is his trademark mix of serious and satirical elements—from songs about religion to poems written from the viewpoint of a dog. How he manages to deftly combine the somber and the silly is one talent that makes Burnham so unique as an artist.
As an encore Burnham performed two of his best-known songs, “Love Is” and “Oh Bo.” He updated to include current events; for instance, in the “Love Is” joke about Anne Frank’s privacy being breached by the publishing of a private diary, he included a reference to Justin Bieber’s comment about how he hopes Anne Frank ‘would have been a Belieber.’
In 2008 Burnham became the youngest person to ever record a Comedy Central special. First was the EP “Bo Fo Sho,” and afterwards, a self-titled debut in 2009. This was followed up with the Netflix-instant-available “Words, Words, Words” in 2010. If you want to see this work of modern comic genius, act fast—it will only be available for streaming until May 22 of this year.
Plus, at only 22 years old, Burnham is barely over the legal drinking age and yet manages to draw a crowd ranging in age from 10 to at least 60 years. Suffice to say the man has mass appeal, and deservedly so. His customary style of nearly painfully self-aware comments only makes him all the more lovable. As fans of Burnham know, the comedian, in a manner similar to his idol George Carlin, turns his internal conflicts into emotionally charged comical fodder.
For a look at Burnham’s more serious side, check out his song “Art is Dead.” It is clear from the first listen that there is nothing shallow about even his most seemingly carefree jokes. Bo continues to embrace his dark side in “What.” and it only makes him that much better as an artist. Burnham goes a step beyond the usual self-belittlement, not just joking about his flaws but truly exposing his deepest insecurities.
If you’re looking for a taste of Burnham’s self-mockery, check out old tracks like “My Whole Family…” and “High School Party.” For his trademark mix of the offensive and creative, listen to “New Math” or “The Perfect Woman,” both from his self-titled debut. Looking for something both laughable and insightful? “Rant” or “Ironic” are safe bets; if you want something to sing along to, “What’s Funny” and the titular “Words, Words, Words” are a good starting point.
This is the perfect time to get acquainted with Burnham if you are not yet a fan. The comedian has a new show on MTV, “Zach Stone is Gonna Be Famous,” made in the mockumentary style first used for shows such as “The Office” and later “Parks and Recreation.” “Zach Stone” premiered May 2 on MTV, but viewers should be familiar with Burnham’s style before jumping into it feet first. Burnham jokes onstage that “Zach Stone” is likely to be cancelled after the first season, though that would hardly be enough to stop his momentum.
Later this year a new DVD and T.V. special will be released, with a book of poetry to come in the fall, and Burnham will be all over the U.S. this summer for “What.” The most important lesson for old fans to know is that Bo Burnham is back, and for those who have never heard of him, this is your chance to get on board, as this train shows no sign of stopping anytime soon. Boulder-area residents certainly jumped at the chance to welcome Bo back into the fold with open arms, and I predict that his summer tour will be a sold-out success.
Burnham honored Boulder fans who waited outside in the chilly rain by being not only hilarious enough to earn his keep, but also impressing the audience with his generosity as he stayed for hours afterwards to greet fans, sign autographs and pose for photos with his fans. What is most astounding is the fact that this man seems to be a genuinely kind and wonderful person. Don’t let the onstage persona fool you. When performing, Bo Burnham is an overconfident alpha male, yet in his meet-and-greet, he was down to earth and gracious. This mix of characteristics is what proves Bo Burnham deserves to be right where he is: in the spotlight.
