Lewapalooza!

One weekend, three cities, three shows....a lifetime of insanity

June 16-18, 2005
First, let me explain how this lunacy came about. In April, Martha, a fan with whom I had struck up an email correspondence with, was traveling through my neck of the woods on business. We decided to meet at a hole in the wall Mexican joint for lunch, sangria and conversation. We hit it off like a house on fire. For nearly three hours we talked about our lives, loves, politics, and of course, how much we enjoy Lewis. The conversation, and the laughter, flowed easily. As we talked, we decided we were going to have to go to a show together soon. Martha, like me, had the crazy desire to see Lewis as much as her pocketbook could take. In fact, she was well on her way to beating my record of 13 shows in one year.

Alright, I know what you're thinking, "Thirteen shows in a year?!?!? How fucking pathetic is that?" Well, maybe, but that year of 13 shows was a goddamned bleak year in my life. Some people deal with depression by drinking, some with meds, legal or otherwise, some with therapy. I dealt with it by laughing...a lot.

Ok, where was I? Oh, yeah, Martha and I going to a show...The new tour info had just come out and there was a three day stretch through DC, Baltimore and Norfolk that I was seriously considering taking in. So I proposed for us to take in all three shows...together. Who cares if we barely knew each other? What the fuck, let's go on a three day tour following Lewis Black around the mid-Atlantic! Martha agreed almost instantly. I probably should have had reservations right then, but no. And there in a tiny, dingy Mexican restaurant on the west-end of Richmond, VA, the idea of Lewapalooza was born.

Day One Day Two Day Three
You can't get there from here.
Bring me some goddamn pancakes!!!
 The show started when?!?!
A few acknowledgements.......

Many thanks to Martha for taking care of all the lodging arrangements and carting my happy ass around for two days. Bigger thanks for being a great traveling companion and partner in crime when it comes to seeing Lewis. It's wonderful to hang out with someone who shares the same predilictions and doesn't roll their eyes when I talk about the minutia of Lewis' act. I'm looking forward to more trips together.

Thanks to John Bowman for making us laugh as much AFTER the show as during it.

Huge thanks to Tour Manager Ben for putting up with us hanging around longer than we probably should have. At any time he could have, and probably should have, tossed us, but didn't. He was more than generous with his time in the midst of running a big time tour. I'll do my best not to wear out my welcome at future shows. Perhaps I should bring cake the next time out? Or better yet, liquor!

And what can I say about Lewis? There are few things in life I enjoy more than watching him perform. He consistantly makes me laugh and always amazes me with his comedic gifts. And never have I met a more gracious man. I have been showing up at gigs and pestering him for several years and not once has he ever brushed me off or otherwise treated me rudely. During this particular weekend, he took even more time to talk with us than usual. I am lucky to know him and proud to be a fan.

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