Gavin Matts' Progression: A Whispered Symphony of Unconventional Comedy
It may be time for Gavin Matts to start a new career. The opening line of his new special, "Progression," is simply, “I hate stand-up comedy,” so I doubt I'm expressing something he doesn’t already know.
Just three minutes into this special, and I’m convinced that Matt should consider starting a business delivering the unwelcome news that none of us want to hear.
He possesses a charming ability to convey harsh truths or point out flaws in a non-threatening, comforting tone, occasionally punctuated by a smile to remind us that these are just jokes… I think.
His demeanor is so relaxed and soft-spoken that one may not realize he's discussing serious topics such as overpopulation, suicide, pedophilia, lack of awareness, consumerism, and women breaking the glass ceiling.
As I finish typing that last sentence, I worry that his special might sound heavy and exhausting but, it’s not. Gavin skillfully pulls off a trick with his stage presence and delivery, making all these weighty topics feel light, silly, and entertaining.
Speaking of his stage presence, to put it simply, it is fascinating. Nearly everything he does is a blend of contradictions—he’s simultaneously boring and interesting, insecure and confident, and appears angry and whiny while also being lighthearted and fun.
His shoulders often slump forward, and he gazes at the floor through most of his set. He mostly speaks in a soft tone at a very low volume. It's so unimposing that you might have to do a quick double-take to realize that he just accused all highly motivated people of potentially being pedophiles.
It's the kind of tone you would use if you sat down in the wrong class but only realized it when the teacher started the lecture. So you quietly ask the person next to you if it is indeed the incorrect class because you're extremely worried that everyone else will notice your blunder, and even though they won't care, you think they’ll all care more than you could imagine.
Simultaneously, he speaks with brevity and purpose, carefully choosing words to state his point as clearly as possible with minimal effort. For instance, one of his early punchlines is simply saying, “not the Pacific,” in a meek and quiet gasp, and it works as perfectly as it possibly could.
As the special continues, I’m still trying to dissect and understand what he’s doing with his persona. I'm now convinced that I've witnessed this cadence before, just not on a comedy stage.
The truth is that, at times, he resembles a homeless person rambling on the street, trying to work out their problems by talking to themselves. If he put down the microphone, left the club, and stood on a street corner, he could easily be confused for someone with mental illness having a momentary breakdown while sharing their stream of consciousness with passersby.
I realize that these elements might sound like faults, but instead, they are precisely what makes his set so captivating. Rather than taking the stage with false enthusiasm and excitement and the typical overly excited “How are you all doing tonight?!? I’m soooooo excited to be here!!!!”… again, he opens with the more simple, humble and honest statement of “I hate stand-up comedy.”
If I’ve learned anything on my journey as a comedy fan, it’s that the best comedy is always honest and authentic. Gavin Matts’ Progression is both.
Lately, I’ve been pondering what makes a special, or even just a comedy recording in general, great. How do you translate the energy and environment of a live performance to a recording? It’s very difficult.
Another refreshing detail of Gavin’s special is that it’s filmed in an environment that perfectly captures his energy. It’s not a large theatre with two balconies; there isn’t a massive lighting budget, and the cameras aren’t constantly swooping in from high to low and side to side. There’s no attempt to prove to the viewer how incredibly successful and popular he is.
I mention this because many comics opt for this environment despite it not matching their cadence and tone.
Instead, Progression is filmed more appropriately in a small and unassuming black box of a room, with multiple cameras filming from the audience’s perspective.
Even the curtains appear to be black or, at most, an extremely dark shade of purple. The lighting is supplied from the front and sides of the stage with the same type of modest stage lights you’d find in a low-budget community theater.
In fact, the only splash of color in the entire room comes from two individual green lights shining from the back of the stage onto the back of Gavin’s head and the crowd.
It’s the kind of room that makes you think we are all engaging in something underground and possibly illegal. It’s the perfect setup to ensure the crowd is fully engaged with Gavin throughout his set, despite the fact that at times he speaks at only a whisper and leaves long moments of silence to allow his point to settle with the audience.
All in all, this is possibly the best special I’ve watched this year. Everything, from the performance to the venue, to the recording choices, has combined to create a great comedy special that is as perfectly translated to a recorded medium as possible.
I hope this special inspires others to continue the trend of recording in more modest and honest settings. I believe the comedy world will benefit greatly from this style, and I believe comics will be able to translate their unique performative styles more accurately to comedy fans.
Gavin may hate stand-up comedy, but for my sake, I hope he’s stuck in this dead-end job as long as possible. If you do insist on a career change, Gavin, please let me know what your rates are for delivering horrific news to others. I don’t have anything to share yet; however, the night is young!
Travis Wright is the host of the “I’m a fan of…” podcast. If you enjoy music and comedy, be sure to subscribe to the podcast and check out the You Tube Channel. Thanks!