Dangel: affecting lives one person at a time

by Rebecca Clark
Static Noise
http://www.staticnoise.net

Have you ever heard of a comedian with a rock star persona? Boston, Mass. native comedian Dane Cook falls into this category. Cook’s high-energy stage presence and on the fly improving has made Cook a rare gem and one of the hottest up and coming comedians.

“The only thing I have ever really wanted to do with my life is to do comedy and entertain people,” Cook said.

Cook has been doing stand-up comedy for 15 years and the past three years have been consistent sell-out performances. On Jan. 29, 2005 Cook performed a sold out show of 4,500 seats at R.I.T. in Rochester, N.Y.

“The feedback and the amount of people that I meet after shows and the Web site and the overall excitement for my comedy and comedy in general, and being a fan of the art of stand up comedy, (selling out shows) does blow me away to that regard,” Cook said.

The idea of being a rock star comedian made Cook laugh. “(Being a rock star comedian) is funny considering that I was the dork of high school,” Cook said.

When Cook walked on stage in Rochester the crowd went wild and people were screaming like they were at a rock concert. Cook has fans that travel hundreds of miles to see him perform. “There was a fan here who traveled 900 miles to see me perform and it is very flattering,” Cook said.

Cook’s sense of humor is purely genius because Cook takes everyday situations out of life that anyone of us “citizens” can relate to and makes them funny. Who would have thought car accidents and memories of playing Monopoly with your grandmother would be funny until they have been “Cooked?”

“I just want to be known and let my comedy represent my attitude,” Cook said.

Cook’s stage presence also gives him the alternative edge. Bouncing around on the stage like he forgot to take his Ritalin, Cook knows how to work a crowd. “I was always physical and I was always energetic,” Cook said. “I was always much more manic and much more frenzy up there and people thought I was on drugs because I was (all over the place.)”

Before Cook hits the stage he never prepares or follows a “set list formula” he just goes with the flow. “I don’t think at all about what I may say or may do,” Cook said. “I just get up there and it is very in the moment.”

“I am pretty good at making things fit on the fly and I like puzzles like that,” Cook said. “So I like to keep it open and I like to have the crowd feel like the show is for them like when you go see a band. It is just those moments that make the crowd know the show is for (them.)”

Cook has had two major pinnacles in his career, being invited to perform on the Late Show with David Letterman and performing at Carnegie Hall this past year. “If you get to do Letterman it’s like validation,” Cook said. “Letterman is like the Johnny Carson of our era."

Cook has been busy editing and designing graphics for his new CD “Retaliation” due out in stores in May. “Retaliation” promises to be even better than Cook’s first CD “Harmful If Swallowed,” which has sold over 200,000 copies.

“I have got to say I love 'Harmful If Swallowed,' and I am really proud of 'Harmful if Swallowed,'" Cook said. “But when I did that CD I had no idea the impact it was going to have. I thought it was just going to be sold through the Web site. So now listening to (Retaliation) and even when I recorded it knowing I was going to do it, I just think this CD is going to just float away. I am really really stoked!"

Cook will be embarking a “Tourgasm” beginning April 1, 2005 and Cook will be touring the United States doing 20 shows in 30 days.

With Cook’s new CD and “Tourgasm” tour, 2005 is sure to be a “good year” for Dane!

*check out Dane's official Web site for the latest information on tour dates and TV appearances http://www.danecook.com

**Check out the photo Galleries from the show: Dane Cook opening act: Jay Davis