It should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed the work and career of David Cross that the man loves writing and performing stand-up comedy. He wouldn’t be doing it if he didn’t. As evidence, even as he is more than 30 shows into his current tour, he’s enjoying the ability to go back to his roots in a lot of ways — and that very much includes the city of Boston.
Making his way to town for one night only at Royale on Sunday (November 10) as part of his ongoing The End of the Beginning of the End tour, the legendary comedian and former greater Boston resident is excited to unleash his latest batch of stories, jokes, and often show-stopping social and political takes on one of all-time favorite cities. Following the success of his latest special, The Worst Daddy In The World, Cross has kept the creative wheels rolling through crowds and venues of various sizes, but with this tour in particular, he’s getting the chance to return to the type of settings that are at the very root of his comedy career, in that, they aren’t rooms exactly curated for stand-up comedy, but from Cross’ experience and perspective, bring a much more real and actively present vibe to every show.
“The last couple of tours, I’ve been purposefully going back to my roots, which is playing in music venues so that people aren’t sitting. They’re standing right at the stage, and that, to me, is the best way to do a comedy show,” Cross tells Vanyaland. “The energy is definitely different in those venues. It’s more fun, and just having everyone right there is more immediate. There’s nothing wrong with a theater show, I’ve done millions of them, and I’ve seen a lot of them. But there is an undeniable difference in the energy of the room when people are all standing, and they’re right there at the stage.”
Another aspect of the tour that will keep things consistent — an attribute that Cross has long wielded – is the return of his longtime friend and touring partner Sean Patton. Of course, the New Orleans-bred comic has established a following of his own, both due to his work on stage and most recently his role of gym teacher Markie Hillridge in the hit FX series English Teacher, but Cross couldn’t pass up the opportunity to hit the road with him again – both due to his comedic force, and the fact that he’s just such a fun dude to be around.
“Sean is the best opener I’ve ever had. He’s a great hang, a great guy to drink with, he runs interference with the fans,” says Cross. “He and I just mesh perfectly. So, when I asked him to go on tour again, he was all for it. Plus, I gave him a raise.”
Although the lingering thoughts of election season will surely make its way into the set on Sunday, and most likely at shows well after this weekend, Cross isn’t making a political message the centerpiece of the hour like he’s done in the past, even as he swaps things in and out every night.
Of course, his intricately detailed writing and delivery, as well as his penchant for being full of surprises, is sure to pepper in a healthy dose of that legendary, nearly stealthy style of commentary that will catch his audience off guard. At the very root of the mission, though, Cross is just looking forward to getting back to the city and delivering a crushing hour-plus of comedy in an all-too-familiar element.
“There are a handful of places when you look at your tour schedule, where you don’t have much of an emotional response,” says Cross. “Then there are places where you’re like ‘oh man, I can’t wait to go back there. Boston is always one of those places for me.”
DAVID CROSS + SEAN PATTON :: Sunday, November 10 at Royale, 279 Tremont St. in Boston, MA :: 7 p.m., $49.50 to $74.50 :: Advance tickets