On October 19, comedian and performer John Early took to the stage of The Basement East as part of his “Now More Than Ever” tour, a continuation of his 2023 HBO comedy special. Though music and comedy are often viewed as separate genres, Early cleverly fused both into an incredibly amusing show. Audience members were kept entertained as Early interspersed wry commentary on contemporary life with covers of classic pop songs.
From the moment Early took the stage, he established an intimate and quirky relationship with his audience. While taking a sip of San Pellegrino, he cheerfully offered a bag of Cuties oranges to his fans. He then launched directly into his first song, a cover of Madonna’s “American Life.” Though dressed in casual clothes, Early’s poses, facial expressions and energy commanded the attention of everyone in the room.
Because Early was born and raised in Nashville, The Basement East was a particularly special stop on his tour. His connection to Nashville made the show even more personal, especially since several of his family members were watching in the audience.
Early launched into a comedy routine that tackled a variety of topics relevant to daily life, bemoaning the confusing landscape of streaming services, the irony of Apple screen time notifications and the voraciousness of texts asking for political donations. During a bit about his preference for covering songs, he even mocked his inability to write originals.
“I’ve tried, sweetie. It’s not good,” Early said. “Plus, I believe in the art of the cover. I believe in the power of interpreting a pre-existing song — and I don’t mean in this contemporary-A24-horror-film-trailer kind of way.”
For his second cover, Early ran over to his keyboardist and loudly whispered that they were going to play some Britney Spears. Cheers immediately erupted among his fans. After a routine in which he claimed to have memorized all of Spears’ singles so he could take requests, Early playfully rejected every single one before eventually coaxing his chosen song, “Piece of Me,” out of the audience.
Throughout the whole show, I was impressed by Early’s ability to connect with his audience. Listening to his comedy routines and song covers felt like catching up with a friend rather than engaging in a one-sided conversation. The “Now More Than Ever” show was an incredibly amusing experience that I will not forget any time soon.
