They say laughter is the best medicine, and for the many of you who feel like you are suffering from SAD this summer, I am about to write you a prescription. While most of us have been spending the summer angry about the lack of sun, two local Ballardites have been working on bringing the laughs. Meet sketch comedy duo Charles, who will be performing their show The Ace of Bass this weekend at the Ballard Underground.
Living in Ballard since 2007, Chuck Armstrong and Charlie Stockman met when they were both undergrads at Stanford University and working at the school’s humor magazine, the Stanford Chaparral, of which Charlie was editor-in-chief. A few years ago they produced the Seattle Untimely, a fake local news channel in the same vein of The Onion. Then in 2008 they began creating live sketch shows.
Classified by Seattlest as part of “Seattle’s Third Wave of Sketch Comedy,” they have seen a lot of success, continually participating in Seattle Sketch Fest, performing at the Lo-Ball in Ballard, and the Los Angeles Comedy Festival, where they won Best Solo or Duo. Those of us that remember the ‘first wave,’ Almost Live, know that Seattle can produce some really great comedy. And these guys are the newest generation.
Having known the “Chuck” half of Charles since childhood, and being a regular attendee of their annual Christmas White Elephant Party, (two years ago I walked away with Reebok Pumps, SCORE!) I am aware of how funny they are, and I ask them to meet me at Ray’s Boathouse for happy hour and to talk about the show. I get excited as I laugh during Charlie’s explanation that they get inspired over random, every day events, citing an example of a shopping trip to a Ballard grocery store where he found himself locked in a battle with the deli counter lady who seemed determined to deny him slices of some sort of odd looking loaf of meat that had caught his eye.
And when I ask for any sort of hint/preview of the show, all they reveal is that they have “hacked a Big Mouth Billy Bass.” I am hooked. (Yes pun intended!)
They have been performing the Ace of Bass show for the past few weekends at the Satori Loft, and have garnered some great reviews already. Their last two shows will be moved to our very own Ballard Underground for this last weekend, starting at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
I have said before how much I love shows at the Underground, and am excited for a night of laughs, followed by hopefully enjoying a drink with the duo, perhaps at Sloop Tavern, a favorite of Chuck for the “giant Rainer beer and Buck Hunting.” Did I mention these guys are cool, too?
Get your tickets here and enjoy some great local comedy at the Ballard Underground this weekend. I’ll see you there!
Lindsey Johnson is a devoted Ballardite who loves spending time reading, discovering local eateries and exploring the nightlife Ballard and surrounding areas have to offer. To offer ideas on the latest and greatest activities, email her at ballardafterdark@yahoo.com.
