Rich Hall: ‘Gluing yourself to the road – how is that direct action?’

By James Rampton

After several decades working in the UK, the brilliant American comedian Rich Hall is still baffled by the Brits. “Probably an example of that would be eco-protesters gluing themselves to highways so that people in council housing can get insulation,” says Rich. “That’s a very British, extremely non-linear activity. That doesn’t happen anywhere else.

“These people need insulation so I’m going to stick myself to this road over here. Who’s not going to make that connection? Why are they stuck to a road? Oh, yeah, people in council houses need insulation. What is this glue that sticks people to highways? Where can I get some of that?”

Hitting his comic stride now, Rich continues: “The funniest thing is that they call that direct action when it is the most indirect action imaginable. Why don’t you glue yourself to somebody’s ceiling with four or five of your buddies and ride out the winter? That’ll save some heat.

“That’s just an American looking at something going on in Britain and thinking, ‘What? How does this remotely make sense?’”

This wonderfully funny routine is typical of Rich – and the good news is that there will be much, much more of this on his new nationwide tour, Shot from Cannons, which comes to the West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge, later this month.

Rich, 68, is a compelling presence on stage. He combines curmudgeonly charisma, whip-smart wit, a marvellously deadpan demeanour and ferocious intelligence with a sublime ability to create dazzling songs off the top of his head. An evening with Rich is a richly rewarding experience.

He has always had an excellent rapport with his audience. However, he has noticed that his shows have generated even more of a buzz since lockdown finished. It’s been like a gigantic release of pent-up energy. “I experience euphoria in every show,” says Rich, who won the Perrier Award at the 2000 Edinburgh Festival as his grizzled, country and western-singing alter ego, Otis Lee Crenshaw.

“That’s going to happen, whether it’s some club in front of 40 people or in a theatre. That just never gets old for me. I always get that kind of big adrenaline rush. Some people claim it doesn’t exist, but it really does. But the difference I have noticed since the end of the pandemic is the innate goodwill of the audience.

“There has been just a higher level of appreciation for being back out and for all this stuff to be starting up again. I could feel it when I first came out on stage. The applause was just a bit stronger. You can definitely feel this palpable sense of goodwill.”

Rich, who spends part of the year at his ranch in Montana, carries on: “People just have this sheer joy and excitement about being back out again, as if things are slightly back to normal. At least over the next two hours, they know that they’re going to be entertained by a guy talking about how screwed up the world is and that they’re going to laugh.”

An essential element of any Rich Hall show is music. He has an uncanny ability to rustle up a hilarious song apparently out of nowhere. The comedian, who has also shone on such TV shows as Stand Up for the Week, QI, Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News for You, Rich Hall’s Cattle Drive, Otis Lee Crenshaw – London Not Tennessee, and Never Mind The Buzzcocks, explains the significance of music to his live act: “I’m not angry at anything. I’m flustered, and I find certain things funny.

“But I can’t be angry for two hours. That’s why music has become such an important part of the show. Because it completely subverts the whole idea of this guy just ranting on and on forever helplessly. It’s also really fun. It might be old-school, almost vaudeville, music hall kind of stuff to go back and forth between music and comedy, except for the fact that I hope the music is extremely funny.” It certainly is!

As if he hasn’t been busy enough playing live, Rich has also found the time to write a tremendous new book titled Nailing It. The comedian details the genesis of the book: “During lockdown, I thought, ‘Well, my tour is shot and I’m stuck in my own home. So why not embark on some kind of long-haul project, like writing a book?

“Is the present funny? No. Is the future funny? God, no. Nostalgia is the only thing that isn’t tainted. So I’m going to start writing stories about all the mishaps and missteps and unplanned disasters throughout my career. That stuff is hilarious’.”

What is terrific is that so many of Rich’s stories in Nailing It are told against himself. “I don’t know if there’s anything funny about your achievements,” he suggests. “If you’re a showbusiness person, you write a book because you feel like the world deserves to hear your story.

“But what do they really deserve to hear? Are you just going to rub it in their face? ‘Oh, and I got my big break.’ Yes, you’re talented and you’re funny and good for you. But what about when you screwed up? Screw-ups to me are funny.”

[Read more: Comedian Jason Byrne: ‘Let everybody laugh at whatever they think is funny and leave them to it’]

Finally, as he contemplates hitting the road once more, Rich reveals the thing he is most excited about is performing to his exceptionally loyal audience again. “Audiences have been watching me for 25 years in Britain,” he says, “and so I get a lot of younger people coming up to me and saying, ‘Hey, you’re my dad’s favourite comedian.’

“I get that all the time, and it’s a badge of honour. ‘My dad thinks you’re hilarious.’ ‘Tell him to come see me, then. I’m going to be playing Cambridge next week’.”

Rich Hall will perform at West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge, on Friday, October 28, as part of the Jesterlarf series of comedy events. Tickets are £18, plus booking fee, from jesterlarf.com.