Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette Street: Through Dec 31, 2023
Review. Mimi Jacobs
“We’re done with white man misogyny in 2024.” -Sandra Bernhard
Bernhard (POSE, American Horror Story, Roseanne) opens with a bang, belting a tune down in Mexico. Who knew she could sing? Is she just going to sing-shout at us for 2 hours?
Costumed in a printed lavender duster with feathery fringe and bell bottoms set, she knows her influences and trends as she channeled both the 60’s/Early 70s and the MiuMiu collection now available a few blocks away at the Soho location (check the denim version here.)
The best parts were her comedic interludes, (“I’ll have the microagression greens, please,” she utters during the 7:30pm pub Dinner service), until she warms up her vocals by mid-show. Replete with pop-culture references from all eras, her stand-up routine is simultaneously current and nostalgic, self-deprecating and intimate. She confesses that she wrote all new materials for this show after her prior tour. She gives us real-life anecdotes about Barbara Streisand (“There’s only room for one Barbara. You’re never gonna make it kid”) before she launches into “People” from Funny Girl.
I credit her for the best tribute cover to Tina Turner of the Beatles, “Help!!” I wish I had filmed it and will be back before her show closes just to hear it again-and I’m not even or perhaps because I’m not even a Beatles fan.
After her bit about inappropriate trending gifts the women at my communal table exchanged:
“Good thing we didn’t give each other vibrators.”
The live band is a stand out. Jazz standards plus their rendition of Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” is unrivaled.
Sold out that night and replete with ardent fans doling out generous cheers and authentic gaffaws, plus a standing ovation at the end, far out easy listening for sure. And she stayed after the show to sign t-shirts shirts (cash only $40 each with a variety of colors fun custom prints from which to choose)!! Sweet. Welcome to Sandyland.
