I just want to see you be brave...

This blog has been through a couple of purposes since 2011 but this year, we're going back to our  roots. You can read everything you need to know about how that blog started here but all you really need to know is this space was originally created to write about enjoying one live event every month of the year. This month, I am resolving to continue that original goal.

There a couple of reasons for that. I went to some great concerts this year (The Rolling Freaking Stones) and didn't blog about that. Unacceptable. Also, 2015 hasn't been the best year for me for many, many reasons. I don't know if 2016 will be any better, but I am trying to be optimistic. And finally, I have a bucket list concert scheduled for next year (no spoilers) and I have to write about that!

I'm starting the resolution a little early this year, thanks to a birthday present from my friend Jean. Even though she couldn't attend the Amy Schumer show in Charlotte Dec. 19, she bought me tickets and encouraged me to take a friend. I invited my friend Maya, who now lives in Columbia. My strengthening friendship with Maya is one of the good things that happened in 2015.

I've been obsessed with Amy Schumer since 1997 when she lost to local comedian John Reap. And was forever on her side because she was so much better than him. It's been fascinating to watch her career grow and her show, Inside Amy Schumer, really sealed our girl crush.

The parody that she did about Friday Night Lights, one of my favorite TV shows of all times, proves that rape jokes can work when done correctly.




Maya came to visit. We went to Fahrenheit Charlotte for cocktails, but mostly for the skyline views.

Then we walked over to Time Warner Arena. Jean was kind enough to purchase seats at the front of our row, so we had a little room for our cocktails.

Amy had a couple of opening acts. This first was her brother, a jazz musician. That was kind of weird and out of place. As first the music was good, then it started to sound like noise.

Her second opener was comedian Rachel Feinstein who I'd heard before and was pretty funny.

Then came Amy. Maya and I both love her, but weren't really sure what to expect because we've seen everything she's in, including her latest HBO schedule and we were worried about repeat jokes. That was not a problem! Maya and I only heard one joke we'd head before. Everything else was new material.

I think Maya and I both thoroughly enjoyed Amy's discussion about her recent nude photos. She was so frustrated that she was called "brave" by the media and she threaded that joke throughout her entire performance. Amy is a hard-core feminist and that was particularly fun for Maya and me to hear her rants. It was even more awesome to have the guys around me cheering in support.

What really surprised me was her decision to talk about gun control. She mentioned, by name, the two women who died while watching Trainwreck in Louisiana this summer. Mayci Breaux, 21, and 33 year-old Jillian Johnson inspired Schumer to learn more about gun control laws. "I don't want to take away anyone's guns," she said. "I just think maybe people from the terrorist watch list shouldn't have guns. Also, did you know that Stevie Wonder can just buy any gun he wants?"

After Amy's performance, she brought out her cabaret singing friend Bridget Everett. I almost didn't mention her because I wasn't sure what say. But Charlotte Observer columnist Theoden James had this to say, "Her only misstep was ending the show with a bizarre performance by a six-foot tall and fairly wide comic Bridget Everett, who spend 20 awkward minutes singing, dancing, instigating wardrobe malfunctions and sitting on one male audience member's face."

The dude sitting beside me was laughing non-stop and kept shouting out things like, "I don't know what is going on!"

Maya's official review: " I was shocked, I guess, since I didn't know what to expect. I laughed a lot. I don't know what that means."

Another running theme of Schumer's set was that she is on minute 14 of being famous. I couldn't possible disagree more. In what's turning into a golden age of comedy for women, I think Schumer has a lot more fuckable days in her future. And many more minutes on her fame clock.

How I keep winning Comedy Zone tickets

The last time I was at the Lake Norman Comedy Zone, I filled out a comment card, which apparently won me some free tickets to the Paul Hooper show.

I invited my friends Frank and Alisa, along with my friend Tammy, to enjoy the show. We enjoyed a great dinner downstairs at the Galway Hooker (mmmm: calamari!) and then headed upstairs to enjoy the show.

Alysia Wood was the opening act and she was hilarious. Sometimes, it was like she was in my head!

Paul Hooper, a Charlotte native, was the main act. He tells you from the very beginning that he is an angry little dude and he is-but it is hilarious. I think Alisa put it best when she said, “There were things that made you so uncomfortable, you felt like you shouldn’t laugh, but you did because it was hilarious.”

All in all, it was a great evening. And guess what? I found out yesterday that I won tickets AGAIN to the N.C. Music Factory Comedy Zone uptown, so I will be going with some friends to check out Tammy Piscatelli. Alisa won some tickets for Sept. 1, so I will be back that week and I am also going to see Flavor Flav on August 27, so I think the Comedy Zone is becoming my Cheers.

The Fun Factory

Last night, I went to the NC Music Factory, a new entertainment complex right outside of uptown Charlotte.

A few weeks ago, Groupon had a great deal: $20 for six tickets to the new Charlotte Comedy Zone.

Armed with some awesome friends, we started our evening at a German restaurant, VBGB. I had a delicious pretzel!

Then we headed over to Wet Willie's, a frozen daiquiri bar, that was pretty fun and delicious. At the Comedy Zone, the opening act was Danny Niblock. He was followed by Josh Phillips, who I thought was hilarious. He had a lot of jokes about the South, and Walmart, so I could relate.

The main act was Grandma Lee, a 77 year-old comedian. Apparently, she is famous from the Jenny Jones Show, (That's right, Jenny freakin' Jones. Hello, 90s.) America's Got Talent and Last Comic Standing. She was pretty funny, although I definitely enjoyed the introductory comedians more.

The new Comedy Zone is a pretty cool facility. It's sort of in a basement, so it has this nice underground feel to it. The server we had was great. They are sort of like ninjas running around in the dark. I will definitely be back!

After the show, we made a return to Wet Willie's. What a fun place!

My next event is in two weeks, New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys in Greensboro!

The funniest man in America

Wow, it's June!

This is definitely the longest I've ever managed to keep up with a New Year's resolution. Dear readers, I cannot tell you how good it feels to give yourself a nice New Year's resolution.

For my June event, my friend Jean and I went to the Lake Norman Comedy Zone. It's basically just the upstairs of Galway Hooker pub, which turns into the Comedy Zone on Tuesday nights. I will be glad when we have a Comedy Zone in Charlotte again-something not so out of the way!

The comedian was James Gregory. He's an older comedian whose comedy mostly focuses on Southern culture and food-two of my favorite things! He was billed as the funniest man in America, but I couldn't find out where they came from even with an extensive Google search. He was really good, very funny. I especially enjoyed his rant about how he's afraid to fly. That is definitely something I can personally relate to.

It was a great show and the environment was nice. It was a full house, but a small venue.

Next month, I have two events planned so far: Another comedy show and something I've been looking forward to FOREVER: New Kids on the Block!!