Dispatches from the Wyatt Cenac live album taping at Brooklyn’s Union Hall

It’s been several years since Wyatt Cenac released a stand-up album (2011’s Comedy Person). And if there’s one thing to expect from the former Daily Show correspondent, it’s that he’s slightly different from the norm. That’s why his next special, which was recorded yesterday during two shows at Brooklyn’s Union Hall, is going to be released on vinyl. The Laugh Button was there for the first of the two sold-out shows, which were recorded and filmed at the 100-capacity Park Slope venue.

Seaton Smith opened the show, talking about what he’s told to not say when he’s doing comedy (like “condoms” while doing stand-up at a Catholic university). Definitely a comic to watch, Smith will be on John Mulaney’s forthcoming FOX show. In fact, a decent amount of his short set was about the show, stating that there’s been a “black gold rush” for black friends on sitcoms.

Even before Cenac took the stage, he interjected a few times during Smith’s set. When he finally took the stage himself, a decent amount of his material was about Brooklyn and the neighborhood surrounding the venue. Growing up at his grandmother’s in Crown Heights, he spoke about how much it’s changed since he moved away, saying the only thing small batch and artisanal you could find in Brooklyn when he lived there was drugs. Now the borough is gentrified to the point of having it’s own mayonnaise store which he said sounds like it’s actually racist against white people. He also contrasted the sports of basketball and hockey, which he called “bleach in the washing machine of diversity.” The show reached its end with a surprising revelation about his father that was poignant, yet still managed to get laughs from the crowd. After taping several promos for the special, the capacity crowd exited into the sub-zero gentrified evening, another sold-out crowd lining the steps for the late show.

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