Regan, one of the most-beloved stand-up comics over the past 15 years, has read about that many books in his entire life. He returns to The Borgata in Atlantic City Saturday, June 11. Here are excerpts from a recent interview.
ATLANTIC CITY — Brian Regan may be one of the funniest working comedians in the country, but still some people don’t know him by name, like they do with other contemporary comics such as Jim Norton, Jim Florentine, Dave Attell, or Jeffrey Ross.
True, these aforementioned four comics do a lot to promote their comedy — appearing on various radio shows, comedy tours, Comedy Central specials, DVDs and the like – but Regan’s success is primarily based on the quality (not quantity) of his art — stand-up comedy.
For Regan, although he’s not your typical Comedy Central comedian (i.e., he doesn’t curse or do vulgar comedy; in fact, his act could be deemed the antithesis of Norton’s or Tracy Morgan’s for that matter), it’s all about being up there on stage. And he’s excited, he tells Atlantic City Weekly, to be returning to Atlantic City and the Borgata, where he’ll be Saturday, June 11, for a show inside the Event Center at 8pm. Tickets are $43.50.
And although his latest album is titled All By Myself, with its cover featuring Regan’s silhouette walking towards a concert stage through a crowd of applauding fans, he certainly will be welcomed back to the Borgata with rounds of applauds.
Maybe he'll even do an encore.
Your latest album, All By Myself; is that how you feel on stage?
It’s funny. There’s a bit in the album where I mention that. We had to get approval from the [singer Eric Carmen, who had a big hit with a song of the same name]. He gave us the OK, though. And as far as the title, my previous [album’s] title was The Epitome of Hyperbole — I ran out of big words. Those are the only two big words I know so I said let’s go with something similar that I don’t have to say in every single interview. I don’t want people thinking that I think I’m smart. I don’t want to live up to that.
Do you sometimes feel alone on stage?
Yes and no. It’s a very weird thing because you go out there and there is loneliness to it, but it’s almost like two things happening at the same time. You are on the stage by yourself. If it goes poorly, then you feel even more alone. If you get everybody laughing then it’s like, ‘Wow we’re having a good time!’ But if you have a bad show, the audience doesn’t join in on that. They’re like, “YOU are bombing, You, buddy — by yourself. You get to where you can fake it sometimes and get through it. But every once in a while a show doesn’t get on the tracks and you spend an hour trying to scramble and keep it from going into the abyss.
Do you think that that has to do with the crowd sometimes — or maybe the weather?
It’s always the weather, yes. [Laughs] People don’t realize that the fog outside makes shows go poorly. I’m the only comedian that’s ever figured this out. And then you got these dumb comedians performing in fog.
This is your fourth album right?
"'That was huge for me. Everybody else bombed. I got the right manager and agent because of that. I can’t tell you how significant that was. '
"My favorite Boardwalk story, it’s a true story, there was some kind of little arcade thing there, you know? This is years ago and I’m walking around and they have this little arcade game where you throw these balls into a basket and there are these big stuffed animals behind the guy. And there’s a sign that says, “Put two out of three balls into the basket and you win a big stuffed animal.” So I go, OK, I’ll give it a try..."
"So that’s my new goal. I want to win five Academy Awards. And the first thing I have to do is to pass an audition."
Love in Harmony This Valentine's Day, for $75, you can show how much you care by hiring the On Key Barber Shop Quartet, which will arrive at your loved one's door with a long stemmed rose, a box of chocolates and card, while performing both traditional and modern four-part harmony music. On Key is available to sing and present the packaged gifts to your significant other on the dates of Feb. 10, 11 and 14. The On Key Quartet includes seasoned vocalists Dick Holst (bass), John Huetz (tenor) and Al Rodriguez (lead), all of whom have been performing with the Barber Shop Harmony Society for over 25 years, along with five-year society member Jerry Pepper (baritone). The barbershop quartet, typically known for its a cappella singing performances, striped shirts and flat top straw hats, is a tradition dating back to the late 1800s when the barbershop was the social center of the community and the older male patrons would pass the time by singing. To make arrangements with On Key, call 266-0337 or email jerrybobbip@netscape.net. -- Keith Baird Rarin' for Regan In office cubicle settings across America, the following scene is commonplace. An employee clicks his computer player's play button and out of...
The bad news for Brian Regan fans was that tickets for the comedian's appearance at the Borgata's Music Box this weekend disappeared in a flash. The good news, however, was that the swift sellout pro...
Article:
A ‘Taste’ of Maroon 5
Article:
Florence's Fine Tuned Machine
Article:
Atlantic City Weekend: Impressive Lineup
Article:
Golden Vibes: Beach Boys Celebrate 50 Years
at Borgata
Article:
Sonny Fortune: Still Chasing the Trane
Article:
Black Keys in Atlantic City: Rock & Revel
Article:
First Bartender Awards
Nominees Announced!
Article:
Queens For A Year
Share this Story: