Aziz Ansari brought his tour to Austin and the crowd was crying with laughter – yours truly included! With the help of two just as funny openers, Ansari kicked off Moontower Comedy Festival, continuing through April 19. More on that in a bit. But first, let’s talk about Ansari’s Hypothetical Tour.
Aziz Ansari and Friends Spice Things Up at Comedy Stop in Austin
Let me start by pointing out the most refreshing thing about this trio’s comedy. While it’s impossible to ignore politics and the current state of the union, each of these comedian’s set were minimally focused on those topics. That says something. And by that, I mean that it takes a really good comedian to do up to an hour set WITHOUT making the jokes about politics. Now, don’t get me wrong, there were a few jokes about current events, including a very amusing bit about Elon Musk from Ricky Velez. However, there were only a few comments made about Trump. After all, that’s low hanging fruit. I applaud these guys for doing the harder work and creating such original sets.
Now, let’s talk about the line-up…
Wil Sylvince
Wil Sylvince brings a unique blend of cultural commentary and high-energy to the stage as the evening’s host. The Haitian comic’s credits include Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, HBO’s Def Comedy Jam and Showtime’s The Big Black Comedy Tour. Beyond stand-up, Sylvince has contributed his writing talents to projects like The Fugees’ album “The Score” and Wyclef Jean’s “The Carnival,” as well as popular sketch shows like Chappelle’s Show and Damon Wayans’ The Underground.
Ricky Velez
I’m gonna be real here – Ricky Velez had me laughing harder than Aziz. I’m still thinking about his bits concerning race, Elon, the soup kitchen (check it out on Instagram) and more! The Puerto Rican New Yorker’s breakthrough came in 2015 when he was named one of Variety’s “Ten Comics to Watch” and became a correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore. He co-starred and co-produced the 2020 film The King of Staten Island alongside his close friend Pete Davidson. He has an HBO stand-up special titled Ricky Velez: Here’s Everything which I am queuing up as we speak.
Aziz Ansari
Of course, the main attraction was Aziz. With the controversy of his previous sexual misconduct allegations mostly behind him (he addressed them on his 2019 Netflix Special), Ansari’s comedy now mainly focuses on his marriage, attempting to procreate and living across the pond. It’s new and it’s different and I dig it.
For those that aren’t familiar with who Ansari is (not sure why you’re reading this if that’s you but, hi, thanks for being here!), here’s a quick bio. The South Carolina native gained widespread recognition for his role on NBC’s Parks and Recreation. He went on to co-create and star in the Netflix series Master of None, for which he won two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe. He’s actually the first Asian American actor to win a Golden Globe for television acting. Beyond television, he authored the book “Modern Romance: An Investigation” and has also released several stand-up specials.
Moontower Comedy Festival
Running from April 9 to April 19, this annual event has become renowned for its diverse lineup, featuring a mix of comedy legends, emerging talents and local favorites. In addition to Ansari, notable headliners include: Tiffany Haddish, Hank Azaria, John Waters, Pete Holmes, Joey Diaz, Janeane Garofalo, Brad Williams and Pauly Shore (who also performed on opening night). The festival ultimately features over 100 comedians performing around town at venues like Antone’s Nightclub, Cap City Comedy Club and The Creek and the Cave.
Get more info on Moontower Comedy Festival here.
