Although most of the content was courtesy of the typical urban comedy fodder – from “baby mama” woes, unconventional childhoods and dysfunctional relationships – After Dark Comedy Tour starring Mike Epps still managed to make for big laughs Friday night at Chaifetz Arena.
Rising comedy star DeRay Davis – who was a huge hit with St. Louis fans for his first stop on the tour – and added a new layer of laughter and refreshed feeling to Epps’ regular visits.
Openers Gary G-Thang Johnson and Kenny Howell also fared especially well.
Both Johnson and Howell have strong St. Louis ties. Johnson, who also hosted the evening’s festivities, is a St. Louis native. Howell is married to a St. Louisian and has lived in the area for several years.
Johnson’s bit that singled out a security guard working the front of the venue was a hit with the crowd.
Meanwhile Howell’s knack for heckling a crowd gave his familiar routine new flavor– particularly when he called a couple of late comers “The Real Housewives of East St. Louis” and skewered them for their choice of clothes, hair and figures.
But it would be Davis and his hilarious contrast between his daughter’s privilege and his challenged upbringing that would elicit the most laughter by far from the featured performers.
The actor, comic and television host proved to have the makings of a legend as he discussed the woes of raising a child in the new millennium who enjoys the luxuries of having a successful comic and actor for a father as opposed to his own experience of growing up one of 11 children to a crack addicted mother in Chicago.
“I used to get in trouble for not being able to steal right,” Davis said.
“Kids now days don’t give a [expletive] about not going outside,” Davis said. “When we were growing up, outside was everything.”
He then segued into a hilarious bit that likened being confined to the house as punishment to prison and friends coming to check on him through the screen door as a form of visitation.
“How much time you got,” Davis said mimicking one of his young friends. “I got four weeks for street lights and I got a report card charge,” Davis said. “You might be doing the whole summer in here.”
Headliner and St. Louis favorite Mike Epps relied on new spins on familiar segments for his hour-plus long set.
His bit about a man trying to woo his woman back through a series of phone calls and an intimate encounter with a cougar were among the highlights of the show.
Epps’ fell off a bit towards the end, but he received a rousing ovation as folks exited when he applauded the city of St. Louis and the surrounding area regarding the unrest in Ferguson.
“St. Louis, y’all are a strong city and I love y’all – y’all were built for this,” Epps said.
Earlier in the day, Epps visited the Michael Brown Memorial site in Canfield Green Apartments – located near where he was gunned down August 9th by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson.
For the show’s finale, the mood was once again lightened when Epps invited the other comics on the bill and they instantly proceeded to rip on each other’s choice of clothing- which garnered a few additional parting laughs.
“Give it up for G-Thang in that Ellen DeGeneres suit,” Epps said of the St. Louis native. “Kenny Howell came out here dressed like a picnic table,” G-Thang said.
“Kenny Howell up here dressed like Honey Boo Boo’s daddy,” Epps said.
