Rare Coalition will perform Friday, Dec. 27, at the Comedy Catch. Members are Frank Bumpass, sax, Eddie Cousin, keyboards, Fallon Clark, vocals, Dexter bell, bass, Greg Malone, drums, Mike Stewart, vocals and guitar and Erica Richards, vocals. Not shown are Rhonda McWhorter, vocals and Dallas Williams, bass.Lots of people host open houses during the holidays, basically opening their doors for any old friends who might be in town.
Michael Alfano at the Comedy Catch, 3224 Brainerd Road, is doing the same thing. This weekend, Friday-Saturday, Dec. 27 and 28, he has invited any local comics who want to stop by to come in and show off what they got.
He's also invited Rare Coalition, a touring party band that plays everything from funk to Latin music and hits from the '60s to present day, to perform on Friday night, as well.
Alfano reasoned several years ago when he first hosted an open house showcase that comedians, despite what some might think, are people too, with families and wants and needs. They don't necessarily want to be traveling or to spend the holidays in a hotel, so this is a chance to be at home and still perform.
"It works out great, and really it is one of my favorite shows of the year," Alfano says. "It's a chance for them to work the bigger room and I get to see how far they've come in the last year."
He says many of the comics use the showcase to "break in new material and to just wing it."
It works out well for patrons, as well, because you never know who will show up, so it's like a comedy buffet featuring mystery food items.
Alfano says Rare Coalition is comprised of "people who live basically in [Brainerd] neighborhood. They remind me of the Malemen when they were first starting out. I've had them here a couple of times and people just love them."
Friday's showcase will last about an hour and then the band will start playing.
Admission is $10, and the show starts at 7:30 each night.