Hardcore fans got nearly everything they could have wanted out of the host/writer/comic’s live touring variety show when he rocked the on Monday night.
O’Brien’s winning, likable wit. Sidekick Andy Richter’s knowing giggle. The ridiculous Masturbating Bear. The cheap-o, yet thoroughly inspired, “Walker, Texas Ranger” Lever. A brilliant video from Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. O’Brien’s band, which sported a three-piece horn section (yes, LaBamba was there) and the rest of the guys, sans drummer/bandleader Max Weinberg. And another band, the Fray, whose Isaac Slade and Joe King popped on stage for a quick, two-song set (“Over My Head (Cable Car)” and “You Found Me”) in support of O’Brien, who Slade said is his “favorite” of the late-night fold as he took off his button-up Western shirt to favor a tight-fitting T-shirt from Conan’s merch table.
After 90 minutes of comedy, music, videos, verbal sparring and belly-laughs, it wasn’t surprising that O’Brien was as funny as he was. (And he was, at times, devastatingly funny.) But it was surprising that the show was as imperfect as it was — even if that was part of O’Brien’s intentions. The entertainment biz might be all joke and mirrors, but this tour is a special opportunity for O’Brien — to connect with his audience and let them in on the process.
From the sound of it, O’Brien’s Denver show was quite similar to his Boulder show from the night before. (Read .) But something the comic came back to time after time on Monday was the fact that this was a different experience — for him, for us, for Andy and the band. This was unique.
Sure, his past late-night endeavors have been taped in front of a live studio audience, but now we’re his audience. In downtown Denver. In an opera house.
And that’s pretty special.
O’Brien took advantage of his surroundings adroitly. He talked about Denver’s altitude, sure, and then he riffed on the Ellie’s higher-than-normal balconies. He continued the Boulder jokes from the previous night — granola, snowboarding, weed, Frisbee. He even threw to a commercial at one point, signaling Richter to read a not-so-savory script on Pete’s Kitchen, the East Colfax greasy spoon.
He was best at localizing his gig when he talked about Denver’s public art, focusing on the fact that he was greeted at Denver International Airport by the “veiny” blue horse’s ass — a bit accompanied by a picture of the bucking bronco’s dramatic backside.
O’Brien stayed on point, though. This was about comedy, yeah. But it was also him sharing something special with his fans. He threw to the commercial of a Richter-read commercial about a restaurant in our backyard. He brought up a local band, the Fray, that has performed on both of his shows — and will likely perform on his next show on TBS. He changed the lyrics to “On the Road Again” to “My Own Show Again” — “just can’t wait to get my own show again.”
This show — which had O’Brien on the guitar and lead vocals for at least three or four songs — is a strong transition from one place to the next. He didn’t focus too much on either NBC or TBS. In fact he barely mentioned either of the networks’ names. And so this was O’Brien living in the moment, in Denver, at the Ellie, with a passionate, if a little too swooned, sold-out audience that was reveling in the spirit of the night.
The show wasn’t perfect. O’Brien’s a competent guitar player, but because he’s so natural on a stage telling jokes and talking with people, he couldn’t help but look stiff/almost terrified playing rhythm guitar while singing and telling stories. Denver audiences don’t need any more Boulder jokes or altitude references, but most of O’Brien’s chances paid off on Monday. And one of the reasons he has such a loyal following is because he’s not afraid to take those chances.
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Ricardo Baca is the founder and co-editor of and an award-winning critic and journalist at The Denver Post. He is also the executive director of the , Colorado’s premier indie music festival. Follow his whimsies at , his live music habit at and his iTunes addictions at .
Daniel Petty is a Denver-based photographer and social media editor at The Denver Post.
