“Have you ever eaten something that’s so good that you make a nasty face, like the fuck face? It’s so fucking good that you scrunch your face up? It’s so nasty. It’s so delicious. It’s a great time.”
This is US comedian Craig Robinson describing how he came up with the name for his band, The Nasty Delicious, who will be hitting Sydney later this year. Clearly, it’s going to be one hell of a show, which he says will feature a little bit of everything.
“There will be jokes, some stories, some audience participation, some singing and some dancing. It’s pretty much the best party you could ever go to.”
Although most comedy fans will recognise Robinson from his television and movie appearances, it turns out that music has been a lifelong passion for him, so incorporating it into his live shows seemed natural.
“I always have a keyboard in my act. I did maybe two open mics without it and it’s been my partner ever since. I’ve always had the music in me and I had been in two bands before now. The first was just four musicians and the second was four comedians who happened to play instruments. But in those bands there was no leader, everyone was trying to lead. So I thought, ‘Why don’t I hire musicians, take my act and expand it?’ So now I’m jamming with world-class musicians.
“It really started with me being frustrated about wanting to play in a band and realising that I’m the leader,” he continues. “It really quelled something in me because I was going to see bands and I would be directing and I know they were kind of annoyed. It was meant to be – it’s the most natural and fun thing that I do.”
Robinson’s musical side has actually been crossing into his on-screen work for some time. As a fan of The Office, I mention the Dunder Mifflin jingle he performs in one episode. To my delight, he immediately launches into it.
“‘Out of paper, out of stock, there’s friendly faces around the block / Dunder Mifflin, the people person’s paper people,’” he coos melodically. “I’ll put that in the act sometimes. Some people appreciate it and it’s very cool. B.J. Novak’s brother wrote the lyrics, then Greg Daniels was like, ‘Darryl would have something funky,’ so that’s what I came up with there.
“It’s interesting the way that happened because people always find out that I’m a musician and then just make that a part of my character. It’s how it happened for The Office, it’s how it happened with Hot Tub Time Machine. People came to my show before we started shooting and I remember [John] Cusack saying, ‘OK, so let’s make him a musician.’
“It’s always been like that,” Robinson says, “because music is my partner.”
Of course, the Chicago-born entertainer has a great deal more going on besides music, being an actor and comedian by trade. I wonder if he has a preference.
“I have such a nice balance going on right now. I crave these things – I’ll be doing comedy one week and then the next I’ll be in New York to act, but then I’ll really be craving to do something with the band. There’s nothing like leading a band. But then again, there’s nothing like doing a new joke and crushing it or acting in a scene and going to that emotional place despite all of the obstacles and distractions around you. They all have their special delights. But if I had to choose one, it would probably be the band.”
With so much experience out on the road, Robinson would surely have some crazy stories to share. “Oh, why did I immediately go negative?” he ponders aloud. “We did a show where the police were waiting for us in the dressing room so they could kick us out. I think they thought that I was somehow inebriated – I mean I was, but still, they didn’t need to go through all of that.”
Moving onto something more positive, his attention turns to Australia and his forthcoming tour, which has been rescheduled to December from June. “We’ll have fun out there. You’re in Sydney, right? I’ve never been to there,” he says.
With all the energy Robinson exudes, it’s hard not to believe his show will be the most fun place on Earth.
“We are about whatever the moment calls for, whether it’s funk, R&B, some country – we go through a whole gamut. But mainly it’s all about getting into that groove, permeating the room and everybody vibing together. That’s why we bring in the audience participation – the more fun you have, the more fun we have. There’ll be some covers and stuff you’ll be familiar with. You’ll get some jokes and whatever, but it’s definitely going to be you and me getting up and dancing at the end of it all.”
Craig Robinson and The Nasty Delicious hit the stage at Metro Theatre on Wednesday December 14.
