Dave Chapelle Live in Manila (01.14.20)

I still could not believe it. One of my favorite standups just made it here. I know I've only been recently inundated with stand up due to advent of Youtube and streaming but nonetheless Chapelle is at the top of my list. I would in a heartbeat get the expensive / lower chairs, maybe more than 7k perhaps but alas, I really should stop over indulging in watching these shows. 

+ WTH Ticketworld + 

There were only two shows that were scheduled here so the anticipation is high. 9AM I was ready with my card and have already logged in. I was able to get 4 nice tickets somewhere in the middle for the "cheapest price". Putting in my card info, the OTP and boom. The server failed me. When I got back I attempted to book 4 more, but wasn't able to anymore! I tried 2, got in but it was one of the highest chairs. Like we're at the 2nd row before the last one, at least though we're not at the farther edge, but I'm still lucky to have gotten chairs at all. I wasn't able to get an officemate hers, so I'm not going to fret on it any further.

+ Yundr over there +

My anxiety whether my bf can make it on time was really high at that point, I was almost 2 hours early before 8 and he arrived quarter to. I didn't want to miss something as momentous as this so my heart was still pumping hard when he was eating the food I bought for him. Until we got to the long long line for Yundr which was required for everyone before getting in. It's this pouch you put your phone into that prohibits you to open it anytime during the show. I liked that it was implemented because I hate cellphones during movie theaters and I still can't get over that old woman who recorded the Sound of Music at Resorts World (I don't want to make a scene, I might be booted out) BUT because of lack of phones and because I don't wear a watch I had no idea how long we waited before the bit started.

+ We are terrible party goers + 

So there's this DJ in Chapelle's entourage (I apologize I don't know his name!) that was trying to excite us by letting us scream familiar verses of songs or make us "dance" but seriously we can't. It's extremely hard to move at this Theater especially at the top because the seats are too tight, and too precarious and as I've noticed it's just us in general. We get too easily "tired" getting too pumped up it's impossible to sustain that intensity at all. Anyways, I hope he doesn't take it personally, but seriously in all my goings to concerts, etc. Filipino crowds, though easy to please (mehel koh kahyoh), do not get too rowdy for too long. 

+ Oh what a surprise! +

It wasn't on the posters so imagine our surprise when we actually got not just one, but two front acts! Possibly because of their Netflix specials we got Michelle Wolf and Mo Amer. Admittedly I tried Michelle Wolf's special but hated how her voice was too high for my own comfort. Both Reagan and I didn't like her specials, I did try my best to but couldn't take it. I was a bit skeptical once she's on if I would even like her bit, and what do you know, I did. Hated her special, loved her here. She was really funny.

Mo Amer is a new name to me but he was equally good. After the show I tried to watch his Netflix special which again, not as good as his performance that night. I don't know if it's because he focused on telling jokes this time but it was really good. 

+ Dave Chapelle. +

I'm not sure if it's just an hour or more but his time on stage went by quick. I'm the type who hates stories that takes too long on a standup but somehow whenever he does it, I can't help but be engrossed by it. He has perfected this laid up style of retelling stories that I enjoy every bit of it and seeing it live? Wow. Not a cent of my money wasted.

I was curious on how Dave could possibly prepare for this, I mean most of what I've seen from him online/streaming are focused on Blacks, particularly his life in America so for him to "localize" it a bit for his new audience is refreshing because we don't need to live there to laugh at his set. He also personalized it for us in a way, and a bit of audience participation. He particularly love (Mo did this too) noticing the guy in front with his cowboy hat and some other foreigners at the bottom. I am not sure if it's real but at some point it felt like he's already winging it because there was no theme, there wasn't even his signature book end joke he usually does. That's OK though because we were still content with what he presented. He didn't patronize us as well. I liked that he stayed true to what I think I got from his available shows I've seen so far. There's not much to say on his performance other than it's excellent in my book. If anything, I hope he'd made good in his word that he'd come back for more shows, and if he won't, I'm just glad to have had seen him atleast once.

I'm writing this after I've seen his acceptance speech for the Mark Twain's award and I had an epiphany that I think I new all along. He really is a storyteller by heart, it just so happens that his style can be a bit X Rated (why did I even google that porn scene he mentioned) at times, and a joke is buried there somewhere he would be revealing at the perfect moment.

As soon as everyone got their phones out of the Yundr pouches, obviously

+ Bonus Round +

Reagan and I had dinner at the Casino foodcourt and got out to take some photos at the giant golden jackstone (knucklebones). It was too late when I realized that it was Chapelle and his entourage bee lining in front of us. I only caught glimpse of Michelle's hair when Reagan said he saw Dave as well. I was too shy to run for it, they did say you don't want to meet your heroes after all (I mean what if he rejects us would I be bitter for the rest of my life?) but Reagan is right, we could have gotten good photos up close with them, but still, what if he won't, right?