If you ever wander into the Lost Leaf tell them I sent you. The cozy part-live music venue, part-art gallery and bar is the kind of place where you can rock out in one moment and read a book in another. I’m not kidding I’ve seen it all before.
This is my favorite spot to hang out in downtown Phoenix, so of course when I heard that they host a stand-up comedy residency in the middle of every month I was pumped.
Live comedy needs an attentive and engaged audience, thankfully each month the venue has just that, on a weekday night no less.
Bartender Lisa Mcguire said the comedy show each month is “definitely one of our busiest Wednesdays.”
Chris Banks provided seamless hosting between quite the variety of voices featuring Steven Owens, Joley Paige, Derek McFarland, Jacob Cano, Dustin Hadlock, Adam Bathe and Harriet.
The show was headlined by Lou Moon, who has just recently recorded an hour long live album of stand-up at the Rebel Lounge on Indian School Rd.
Moon works as a special education teacher and often works with kids with autism. Catch is, he’s autistic too. He sees a lot of himself in the kids he works with, and their similar perspectives can lead to hilarious interactions. Moon’s also disabled and walks with a cane, these details are all prime for material, but he’s sure to understand that it shouldn’t come to define his act.
“I just try not to write about one of those things,” Moon explained. And Moon delivered much more, delving into his experience at the Renaissance Fair, where modern day payment, is apparently not accepted. Moon reminisced about his credit card being denied, because, of course, that’s not consistent with the time period.
Feature act Steven Owens, riffed on his Jewish appearance, slight resemblance to Seth Rogen, and his love of David Attenborough. Who doesn’t love the soothing sound of a nature documentary, followed up by an unfortunate reality check from the Planet Earth narrator himself?
Another hysterical set was downtown Phoenix local, Derek McFarland who has grown accustomed to living downtown. Shootings are just background noise to him…but maybe not for his house guests. I also appreciated the reminder about how old rapper Ice Cube is with McFarland’s concert recap of Cube asking how old the crowd was, with follow up call and responses getting older…and…older.
Joley Paige gave us a glimpse into her mental health, with a hilarious bit about paying her therapist over Venmo. She also grew up in a mining town where she says, “McDonalds was a delicacy.”
But the major highlight of the night was a newcomer in stand-up, 83 year-old Harriet. She blended in as an audience member for the first few acts but as soon as she was introduced she got right up with a youthful pep in her step.
With very defined facial bones, Harriett had a local quip for the occasion. She said a very blunt friend of hers once told her,
“Harriet, you know what you need a face lift…and you know what I said I agree with her, ‘I said I look like I have Camelback Mountain on my chin.”
A heartfelt moment came when she sincerely said that,
“Life- is the only show in town, and I’m telling you, from an oldie but goodie: Enjoy it.”
And we all took her message to heart, in the warm, laughter-filled, bar on 5th St. tonight.