It’s not every single day you hear a few demise steel drummer taking the stage not with blast beats, however with private anecdotes. But that’s precisely what Paul Mazurkiewicz, longtime drummer of Cannibal Corpse, has been doing in a collection of performances at The Commodore, a small improv and sketch comedy theater in Tampa, Florida. Simply don’t name it standup comedy.
“Properly, man, it is humorous as a result of I do know it is gotten on Blabbermouth [that I was doing it], and it received on Blabbermouth the primary time I did it. That is my third time doing this. However all people thinks I am doing standup comedy. I do not know why they listing it as I am doing standup comedy. I am not. And if you happen to learn what it says, it is fairly self-explanatory what the scenario is,” Mazurkiewicz revealed (through Blabbermouth)
Mazurkiewicz defined that his appearances are a part of a loosely scripted improv present, the place he merely tells tales — tales from life, music, or random moments that struck him as price sharing — whereas a troupe of comedians crafts impromptu skits primarily based on these tales.
“What occurred is — we have been speaking sports activities earlier — I am from Buffalo. I nonetheless play ice hockey. That is what I have been doing my entire life. I began skating once I was 5, and I am nonetheless taking part in. So, a man that was on my workforce, I suppose it was a few 12 months in the past, ‘trigger the primary one I did was final March [of 2024], he was, like, ‘Hey, I received just a little type of bizarre factor for you,’ and requested me if I needed to… He is concerned with The Commodore, this place in Tampa that is type of an improvy type of a comedy store, they usually do completely different sorts of exhibits, however plenty of it, the factor is improv. And he stated, ‘Hey, man, that might be nice. Perhaps what you’d do is go up and inform some tales, inform a narrative for 5 minutes.’”
From there, the night unfolds in a collaborative rhythm: Mazurkiewicz shares, the comedians riff, and the group will get a present that lives someplace between steel memoir and absurdist sketch comedy.
“So I am simply speaking, type of like I’m now. I am doing an interview and I am speaking a few story, whether or not it was [actor] Jim Carrey or something that was, I felt, worthy of speaking about, that has occurred to me in my life or the band, however particularly me. After which they’d do the troupe, which is like six or seven people, the fellows and women would do comedy skits, like improv skits.”
“So I discuss, I do my factor, I am going sit down, they go up on stage for about 10 minutes, they usually simply go off the cuff. And it is loosely primarily based on what I am speaking about, I suppose. So, I do, possibly, I suppose it is like 4 tales I find yourself speaking, after which they do the comedy like that. So it is possibly just a little over an hour of a present. However that is it.”
Regardless of the confusion across the format, Mazurkiewicz isn’t significantly bothered. He’s simply doing a favor for a good friend and having a little bit of enjoyable with it.
“I do not know the way it received twisted to the place I used to be doing standup comedy, ‘trigger it is clearly fully completely different than that. However, yeah, it was all due to the man. My good friend requested me if I wish to try this, and he knew I most likely had some cool tales and will assist the comedy place out. And I used to be, like, ‘It is one thing completely different. Why not?’ And, yeah, right here I’m about to do it for the third time. So, yeah, it is enjoyable stuff — just a little completely different, like I stated, for me. I am not used to doing that. However it was cool. So, I am wanting ahead to doing it once more.”
Requested whether or not he’d think about turning the present right into a touring venture, he’s extra hesitant. It’s one factor to jam with Cannibal Corpse in entrance of hundreds, fairly one other to face solo in entrance of a crowd and inform tales with no drum equipment to cover behind.
“It is bizarre. At first I used to be, like, ‘Man, I do not know. This is not me.’ I am not that a lot of a man who needs to be up there speaking like that. I am going to do interviews, and I really feel like I can discuss, I suppose, however I am not a lead singer. I am taking part in the drums. I do not discuss in entrance of individuals like that. It is truly just a little nerve-racking.”
“Once I first did it final 12 months, I used to be, like, ‘Oh my God. I am so nervous,’ as a result of I am simply telling tales. That is all I am doing right here. I am on my own in entrance of individuals telling tales. So it is that entire talking to a big group, they usually’re listening to your each phrase right here. And I am on a stage, and I simply do not try this.”
Regardless of the nerves, Mazurkiewicz says he’s tailored — and possibly even improved — with every look.
“So I used to be just a little involved at first, am I gonna stand up there and freeze up? Or am I gonna begin fumbling my phrases and sound like an entire fool? And I did all proper. I suppose I did pretty properly, it appeared. They requested me to come back again once more, and I did the second in November. They usually needed me to do it once more. So it was, like, ‘All proper, cool.’”
“I imply, I do not know if I would wanna take it to that excessive of like — am I that man that is gonna wanna go up and do it and [go], ‘Oh, let’s take it on the street.’ It was accomplished for my good friend and their comedy membership and all that. However hey, you by no means know. Like I stated, I am having enjoyable doing it, so who is aware of what the long run holds?”
