Entertainment venues usually stay in their own lane — concerts for music halls, standup at comedy clubs. But there are some venues that branch out, as in the case of San Diego’s Belly Up Tavern. Positioned a stone’s throw away from the shoreline in Solana Beach, the Belly Up has played host to countless musical artists; it’s a place well-known for its intimate atmosphere, laidback staff, and elevated stage. Seriously, either seated or standing, there’s not a bad view in the house!
All these ingredients make for a fine comedy show, which I witnessed firsthand the night Kevin Nealon came to town.
Walking into the joint, comedian Kirk Fox was already onstage talking the antiquities of doggy style — very important stuff. You might recognize Fox as Sewage Joe from Parks and Rec or more recently playing Roger on Tom Segura’s Bad Thoughts… with such a diverse portfolio, chances are he’s “ohhh, THAT guy” from something you’ve watched at some point. But no matter how you slice him, Kirk Fox is just downright funny. And tall. It was an evening of tall men.
Kirk Fox exited the stage after sufficiently warming the crowd up for the man, the myth, the 6-foot-4 Weekend Update legend himself, Mr. Kevin Nealon. From his numerous movie and television roles, not to mention being one of the longest running cast members on Saturday Night Live, it was hard to predict what the Emmy and SAG-nominated actor would bring to a standup show. But Kevin Nealon came out swinging right from the start — with the calmest demeanor, no less.
From terrible Uber rides to getting tricked into working at CVS, Nealon had the whole place rolling with laughter. I nearly fell out of my seat a few times. And kudos to those brave enough to sit in the front row; Kevin took no time incorporating those poor souls into the show. In his defense, they were “asking for it”.
After a lengthy set, Kevin Nealon invited Kirk Fox back out for an impromptu improv sesh.
It was a lot of “yes and” that made little sense: Fox was a coal minor, then imprisoned, then a pilot…? But it did make for a lot of laughs. Towards the end, the front row got called upon one last time to throw out a question (although it was promptly ridiculed and dismissed). In a world of polished performances and spectacle, it was cool to see two star comedians casually riffing off of one another in conversation.
Once the show wrapped, I did something I’ve never done before — I left the Belly Up at 915pm! If this show’s total running time is any indication for future comedy acts at the venue, consider me first in line for the next one.
Share this article
or
Get music updates in your inbox