It’s not on daily basis 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.
“Nicely, 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 checklist it as I am doing standup comedy. I am not. And for those who learn what it says, it is fairly self-explanatory what the scenario is,” Mazurkiewicz revealed (by way of 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 value sharing — whereas a troupe of comedians crafts impromptu skits based mostly 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 after I was 5, and I am nonetheless taking part in. So, a man that was on my staff, I assume 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 somewhat 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, and so they do completely different sorts of reveals, however lots of it, the factor is improv. And he stated, ‘Hey, man, that will 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 might do the troupe, which is like six or seven people, the fellows and women would do comedy skits, like improv skits.”
“So I speak, I do my factor, I am going sit down, they go up on stage for about 10 minutes, and so they simply go off the cuff. And it is loosely based mostly on what I am speaking about, I assume. So, I do, perhaps, I assume it is like 4 tales I find yourself speaking, after which they do the comedy like that. So it is perhaps somewhat 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 pal 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 pal requested me if I want to do this, and he knew I in all probability 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 — somewhat completely different, like I stated, for me. I am not used to doing that. Nevertheless it was cool. So, I am trying ahead to doing it once more.”
Requested whether or not he’d think about turning the present right into a touring mission, 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 package 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 desires to be up there speaking like that. I will do interviews, and I really feel like I can speak, I suppose, however I am not a lead singer. I am taking part in the drums. I do not speak in entrance of individuals like that. It is truly somewhat 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, and so they’re listening to your each phrase right here. And I am on a stage, and I simply do not do this.”
Regardless of the nerves, Mazurkiewicz says he’s tailored — and perhaps even improved — with every look.
“So I used to be somewhat involved at first, am I gonna rise up there and freeze up? Or am I gonna begin fumbling my phrases and sound like a whole fool? And I did all proper. I assume I did pretty properly, it appeared. They requested me to return again once more, and I did the second in November. And so they needed me to do it once more. So it was, like, ‘All proper, cool.’”
“I imply, I do not know if I might 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 highway.’ It was accomplished for my pal 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 longer term holds?”
