Matt Bearden
December 27-29, 31
Matt Bearden is one sharp cookie. We don't just
mean that as a comedian, he's bright and creative, or
that his material is refreshing, well-crafted, the best kind of
brainy--and damn funny. Sure, all those things are true in spades,
and we'll come back in a moment to how those attributes have
translated to significant career accomplishments. But another way
he's sharp is his wise reluctance to be pegged as an "Austin
comic." I hear someone in the back asking why he'd want
to dodge the "Austin comic" tag, and why that's a
wise move. Very good question, imaginary person standing in the
back of this imaginary gathering. And here's the answer: Because
many on the local landscape--starting with the Austin media--are
oddly unsupportive of Austin-based comics. I know, I know: It seems
counterintuitive, especially in light of how fervently supportive
Austin-ites (very much including the media) tend to be of local
bands and musicians. It's a queer form of reverse snobbery,
but any close observer of the Austin comedy scene--which is highly
regarded nationally (look at all the television networks, comedy
festivals, TV shows, casting directors, et al that make special
trips here)--has seen this crazy dynamic play out repeatedly for
years. And part of that dynamic is that as soon as an Austin comic
leaves town and finds fame &/or fortune &/or some other
type of showbiz success, that comic is widely embraced like that
otherwise ostracized second cousin who just won the lottery. So
that's why Matt Bearden is too smart to allow himself to be
labeled an Austin comic. But being savvy this way does't mean
being disingenuous: Over the last 15 years, he has lived
in various cities--including Chicago and Los Angeles--as well as,
yes, Austin. He first stepped onto a comedy stage in 1990. Yes,
it was on a dare; no, we do't know if alcohol was involved.
About a decade later, Matt committed himself fully to pursuing the
art of stand-up, a commitment that's yielded some pretty impressive
results: In 2002, he won the "Funniest Person In Austin"
contest, which we'd have to acknowledge is a venerable and
exceptionally prestigious comedy competition even if we here at
Cap City did't organize the annual contest. He's appeared
on such TV shows as "Austin Stories" and "Premium
Blend," and was selected to open some shows on Dave Chappelle's
high-profile, post-"Chappelle's Show" tour. Not bad.
And some of his other achievements that are specific to Austin will
surely also be partly responsible for his transcending the Austin
thang: He starred in "Wrong Numbers," which won the Audience
Award at the Austin Film Festival, and he appeared in another film,
"The Journeyman" (also featuring Willie Nelson), which
won the Audience Award at South By Southwest Film. He'll no
doubt win plenty of unofficial Audience Awards this week at Cap
City--he may (or may not) currently be an Austin resident, but he's
unquestionably a top-notch comic. And, did I mention, smart?
