Comedy fans on campus are anticipating the Russell Brand “Keeping it simple” tour event. Brand will visit Eastern Michigan University’s Convocation Center at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Doors open at 7 p.m., and tickets can be purchased at the campus box office in the lower level of the student center or online at emutix.com. The tickets are currently discounted from the standard $40 floor seats to $21 with the
promotional code “SIMPLE” at checkout.
“We are excited to host this funny superstar at the convocation center,” said Marcia Szabo, who is the promotional director of campus events. “I just spoke with his agent yesterday, and there is no doubt that this will be a very entertaining comedy show.”
Students are getting excited about the performer’s visit to campus.
“I think he’s so funny, and he just does what he wants with his birds-nest hair,” said Aleesa Aronoff, who is a freshman.
“I think its cause he’s from the UK, and that’s like their thing.”
While other students are still not hip to the English comedian.
“He looks familiar, but I haven’t seen him in anything,” said Joy Floyd, a sophomore studying nursing. “It might be fun to
go to the show.”
Freshman Martez Seay isn’t particularly excited about Brand’s appearance.
“I’ve seen a few of his films, but I don’t think he’s all that funny,” Seay said. “Maybe it’s just me, but the sound of his voice is a little annoying.”
Brand’s career started in the early 2000s and took off like a rocket but not without setbacks including his struggle with alcohol and substance abuse. Brand was one of the many celebrities who mourned Amy Winehouse’s death this year as he found her struggle to be relatable, compelling him to post on his personal blog as well as twitter.
Brand will be performing a standup comedy act much like the performances that started his career in England. But it wasn’t until after performing as the host of the 2008 MTV Music Video Awards that Brand become an international star.
At the time, his popularity had not reached the U.S. but Brand obnoxious humor, mixed with his charming accent, won over the viewers, and he was asked to host again the following year.
Freshman Sterling Silver and junior Aijalon Wallce agree that Brand is a part of a string of performers that represent the next generation of comedians.
“He’s like the new Jim Carrey, like Kevin Hart is the new Eddie Murphy, like Affion Crockett is the new Jamie Foxx, these guys are bringing comedy back into mainstream,” Wallace said.
After his popularity with the award shows, Brand went on to appear in several films as a supporting star, including “Forgtting Sarah Marshall,” “Bedtime Stories” and “Penelope” until finally starring in “Arthur” and “Get him to the Greek,”
where he reprised his previous role as Aldous Snow from FSM.
“I’m getting my tickets Tuesday,” junior Lauren Totty said. “He was so funny in ‘Get him to the Greek,’ and ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall,’ he’s hilarious and I can’t wait to see what he comes up with at the show.”
With his musical performances in several of his screen roles, it has become apparent his talents span out to music, as well. Brand is also an acclaimed writer, working with “The Guardian” – an English publication— as a writer with a regular column for years that went on to be published into two books, “Irons in the Fire and Articles of Faith.” Brand also has two memoirs, “My Booky Wook,” and “Booky Wook 2: This time it’s personal,” which he wrote by himself unlike most entertainers to date.
