Maria Bamford’s hour-long standup set at Stateside kicked off the evening’s slate. Known for an off-kilter ethos and a cultivated borderline personality disorder, the 42-year-old comedienne – who has a recurring role on the upcoming season of Arrested Development – turned in another deft performance with a blend of material new and old.
No comedian (male or female) is quite like Bamford, who’s weird, but with coherence, and adorable but not soft. A favorite of her peers, she’s able to stand out not for opinions given and jokes made on the easier targets of sexuality, celebrity, or social issues, but because of an enormity and uniqueness of personality.
Though only a 300-plus capacity venue, Stateside had trouble drawing the night before – a Wednesday and a rather sleepy evening by festival standards – which was a disservice to stand-up veterans Todd Barry and Marc Maron. But based on
Bamford’s hearty turnout and the overall buzz on the Downtown streets Thursday night at the neighboring Paramount Theatre and the Parish on Sixth Street, Austin is officially in a Moontower state of mind.
This article appears in April 26 • 2013.