 "Photo: comedyforya.com")
In the current landscape of stand-up comedy, few performers can match the wit and delivery of Earthquake.
Heralded by critics as one of the top comics in the country, Earthquake's ability to engage the audience has caused his stock to rise immensely. Despite the deep urban tone, his material is easily relatable and for all audiences.
Already popular with urban crowds, Earthquake has made the jump to mainstream following appearances on "Def Comedy Jam," "Weekends at the D.L.," "Real Time with Bill Maher" and "Everybody Hates Chris," as well as two comedy specials on HBO and Comedy Central.
Earthquake takes the stage at the Huke Lau comedy club in Chicopee on Saturday, March 29 at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $25-$30.
In a phone interview on Tuesday, Earthquake spoke about his time in the military, stand-up comedy and why his mom named him Earthquake.
Ryan McAskill: So where did the name Earthquake come from?
Earthquake: My mom named me Earthquake because she did every conceivable thing to keep from becoming pregnant. She was on the pill, used a diaphram, my father had a condom on and it was after her cycle and she still got pregnant so the only thing she could name me was after a natural disaster.
RM: You were in the Air Force for 11 years. How did you make the transition from being in the military to doing stand-up comedy?
E: Well the war broke out and unlike this war which I agree with, I wasn't going over there to liberate Kuwait. So I got out [as a conscientious objector] and couldn't get a government job so I just got on stage and started talking about my experiences.
RM: Was there a point when you started out that you realized you had turned a corner and that stand-up was what you wanted to do with your life?
E: No, because I'm not that type of person. I just make the best of each day and wait for another better decision to come. Fortunately stand-up came, another came along in acting but as long as it allowed me to pay for my family and live I'm going to roll it out. I never really had an epiphany, like, Ooh, mama, that's what I want to do.
RM: You consider yourself to be a "true comic;" what do you mean by that?
E: I speak from the heart. I get on stage and talk about my life and my experiences. If you get on stage and recite a routine that's not stand-up - that's a monologue.
RM: So you don't have a set routine?
E: No, I have what Chris Rock called bullet points. All they are is a list of topics. I talk about how I'm feeling that day about those particular things. My mind says this, this and this. I talk about world views and where I'm at today and that type of thing. I'm like [Allen] Iverson, I don't have a set play, just give me the ball and I'll shoot.
RM: Speaking of Chris Rock you have a recurring role as Uncle Mike on his sitcom "Everybody Hates Chris," How did that come about?
E: That was actually Chris [Rock] coming and giving it to me. Say what you want about him, Chris is a great guy. I owe a lot to him.
RM: I know you had a sitcom in development for a while. Any word on that?
E: I've met with some studios and have had deals with ABC and HBO in the past but I am really hitting things much harder now then I have in the past.
RM: I do need to ask about the time you dropped a nuclear weapon.
E: Back when I was in the Air Force, I loaded bombs. 2 Live Crew was coming and it was back when Luke had like 75 women, so I didn't have no time to be loading no missiles. Everyone started running, I was like 'what the f*** you running for this a nuke…you can be Carl Lewis times 10 you ain't outrunning this mother f*****.' I just sat down and smoked a cigarette until the police came. President heard about it because they call that sh*t a broken arrow.
Ryan McAskill can be reached at rmcaskil@dailycollegian.com
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