Stephen Lynch’s songs make you want to sing along and laugh out loud, often at the same time. He’s also been on television and so has George W. Bush. So, practically, I’m president. Read the interview that got me a seat in the White House.
What have you got planned for the Count Basie show?
Absolutely nothing as of yet. I have yet to put my set together. I’m working on some new stuff, I’m working on who’s going to come with me, and I don’t have any plans yet. I know I don’t have much time, but it’ll come together in the end.
So, you don’t know who’s going to open for you?
I don’t know anything. There are a couple of buddies I usually take with me. Not sure if I’m taking one or both. And I don’t know if either of them will be there and last time when I recorded my album I had a piano player and a bass player and I need to figure out if they’re going to join me too.
Are you usually just on the guitar or backed by a full band?
I’ve never been backed by a full band. It’s just me playing the guitar. I don’t know, I’ve considered it before. I did a CD with a band once, but it distracted from the comedy and I haven’t done it since. On my first album I added a few instruments here and there. Sometimes I add some piano and some bass, and that’s always fun. But a full band is distracting I think. I’ve had a couple of guys sing with me.
An orchestra is out of the question then?
Yeah. Probably. If a drummer is too distracting, I don’t know what a full ensemble would do.
In your experience, do live albums work better than those recorded in a studio?
The advantage of recording live is that you get an audience reaction, which is nice. But with a studio album you can do it over and over again until you get it right. So it depends on whether you like the raw energy or if you want perfection. This last album that I did was done live, but I had other musicians with me, so it’s a combination of the best of both worlds. A little something besides just me and the guitar, but you have the live audience there laughing and singing along.
Do you consider yourself a comedian first or a musician first?
I consider myself a musician first. I probably shouldn’t say that because people come to my show to laugh and probably consider myself a comedian. I’ve always done music my whole life; the fact that I’ve figured out how to make people laugh at the same time is a bonus. By profession I’m a comedian, but in my mind I’m a musician.
What would you cite as your musical influences?
Singer songwriters. People who tell a story. Simple melody and a simple accompaniment of a guitar or piano. I like a lot of music, but when I sit down and play I usually think what’s the easiest and most melodic way to get this story across.
Have you ever thought of doing a concept album?
I have considered it, actually. I have a couple of buddies that started writing a bunch of songs based loosely on biblical things. Funny songs. I wrote a couple. One of which is on the latest album. I thought it would be fun to team up with them and write an Old Testament slash New Testament double album. And see how far we can take it. It might take us a few years, but we’re working on it.
Have you been approached to write any TV themes or jingles?
No, I haven’t oddly enough. I don’t think your standard advertisement agency would want someone that does the type of songwriting that I do might be afraid of it. It’s not exactly a family affair.
I thought they might because companies like to make their products funny.
True, but they don’t want to offend half of their buying public.
I guess Tide can’t take that sort of risk.
Most people wouldn’t want to take that sort of risk.
What do you do if someone screams out Freebird?
I got tired of one jackass screaming out Freebird at every show, so I learned how to play it. The next time someone shouted it out, I played the entire song, which killed about twelve minutes and turned the entire audience against that. So, I didn’t teach everyone a lesson, but at least that guy will never shout out Freebird again. I’m hoping.
I read that you were inspired by the movie This is Spinal Tap.
I had always been a performer and I had always written songs, but it was after watching that movie that I realized, aside from the movie being funny, I was drawn to the songs being songs you can laugh at but they weren’t novelty songs. They were real songs, written by real musicians. And if the lyrics weren’t so insipid, mocking the heavy metal genre, you could probably fool people into thinking they were actual heavy metal songs. And that’s what I wanted to do, write songs that appeal to me on a musical level and still make people laugh, so that I wouldn’t get tired of singing them, which hasn’t entirely worked out. I’m a little tired of some of the songs I sing over and over again. Point being: these weren’t songs you heard once and never wanted to hear again. They were songs that were actually interesting musically. So, in that way, yeah, it definitely inspired me.
How old were you when you first decided to perform one of your routines?
I had been performing for friends for years, but I didn’t do it on an actual stage in front of people I didn’t know until I moved to New York. In the late 90’s, I had friend that had a cabaret venue in Manhattan that remembered back in college I had written these songs to crack people up and suggested that I come down and do one of the variety shows he was putting out. I did and got a good reaction, which is pleasant because it’s easy to get a good reaction from your friends but with people you don’t know it’s a different story. And they liked it.
What would you recommend to aspiring comedians?
I was asked that question a couple of times before and I don’t know. I did such a different path with the way I do comedy. With the way most stand-ups do it there’s real art and discipline to the way they perform. Writing a premise and performing it over and over again until the joke becomes what it eventually stays. It’s a lot different. It’s a matter of getting on stage and every night and working your routine. I suppose you have to perform as often as you possibly can.
How did you get involved with the Wedding Singer musical?
I just got called in to audition by my agent. I enjoy acting, and I’ve done theater before. They were looking for someone that could sing that style of music and be funny. I had no part in writing any of the song, which was refreshing for me. I finally get to sing somebody else’s songs. They’re all in the 80’s style, but none of them are actually songs from that era.
Is the rapping granny in this?
Yeah, she does indeed, but she does an original rap.
Have you done musicals before?
Yeah. I did Summer Stock for a long time. And in college and high school I did shows.
How long of a run are you expecting?
I have no idea. I don’t even know how long shows run. I can’t predict that. I’ll just say a long, long time.
It seems that when movies are adapted to musical theater, they become hugely successful. Are you ready for that?
I am prepared for the fame and the fortune and I’m going to get out of that as soon as the contract’s up.
What do you do when you’re not performing?
I just bought a house, so I’m renovating that. I’m trying to write. Fixing up the house. Swimming. BBQing. Relaxing
You’ve traveling quite a bit, got any tips?
Stay at The Double Tree. Their cookies are delicious. Sometimes I go there even when I’m not staying there and get the cookies. Fly small airlines because they have very comfortable business class, which only costs twenty bucks more than regular class.
What would you do if you weren’t a comedian?
I’d be a full time dreamer.
That doesn’t pay well.
Probably doesn’t.
Do you have a special message to leave our readers with?
No, I’m not very profound. I got nothing.
Stay at The Double Tree, then?
Stay at The Double Tree.
Go out of your way to see Stephen at the Borgata in Atlantic City on the 1st of September, or at Count Basie on the 2nd. And next time you’re at the Double Tree, mention this interview to get funny looks.
