Sydney Reviews

Out of the black curtained stage, dressed in black shoes, black pants and black t-shirt launches Henry Rollins - complete with tattooed muscles and a voice that could melt rock candy - he starts his eloquent stream of considered consciousness - words are plucked from his extensive labyrinthine mind and carefully carved into a charming coercive and utterly engaging tirade of appeal - for audience, for approval, for understanding, for examination, for compassion, for generosity, for political action, for rigour, for intensity, for freedom of speech, for robust debate, for intellectual wrestle, for harmony, for diversity, for acceptance, for the embrace of all for humanity - and it doesn’t stop.

Henry Rollins - a kaleidoscopic verbal talent - sucks the marrow out of life - consuming, thinking, wanting, investigating, scrutinizing and noting it all - from knowing the Latin for breasts to reciting sections of the American constitution at will - this guy can not, will not, should not, be stopped.

Singer, song writer, writer, publisher, spoken word artist, actor, radio DJ, stand up comedian, frequent flyer, activist, producer and punk rock legend - there is no one that comes close to the awe-inspiring ball of magnetic power Rollins wields - and it’s not a power which is purely physical nor animal - but a power which is utterly impressive - impressive in that it presses into the corners of who you are and what you think and dares you to examine/consider your view point and your society and your country and demands you do better than what you know, what you think you know, what is around you and what is accepted. That is what impressive is. I am left impressed upon - changed and transmogrified by his performance.

Don’t be fooled by appearances or prejudice.

This is not an aggressive man - his intellect is fierce, and he may look aggressive - but it is his curiosity which is aggressive - not him. It is his ability with words to delicately twist the buzzing rubik’s cube cracking in your cranium which is truly breath-taking.

Armed with a microphone and a voracious appetite for living, Rollins’ routine is a call to arms. This show is a St Crispin’s Day speech for the legion of fans (and soon to become fans) to become better people - to be ultimately curious and accepting and compassionate humans - to go beyond who they are or who they think they are and be responsible and accountable for their actions. This show is not about male aggression, or anecdotes about the evils of money or fame or women. This is a show where nothing is taboo, nor censored, but everything is handled with delicate, poetic, intelligent eloquence - base subject matter is never discussed in a base way - in fact more care is taken to elevate any content which may be a little blue. This show is a cascade of retorts, reflections, reviews, ruminations. It's a call to arms - and the guns are the firing synapses in the minds of the audience.

Rollins is impressive - his life is impressive - his drive is impressive - his honesty is impressive - his synthesis of ideas is impressive - his memory is impressive - his physical presence is impressive - his voice is impressive - his ability to hold the attention of an audience with merely his voice and his ideas for three hours is beyond impressive - it is simply incredible. I have never, and probably will never see anything like it ever again. Do yourself, and the world a favour: see Henry Rollins.


Sydney Comedy Festival 2010
Frequent Flyer Tour
Henry Rollins

Venue: Enmore Theatre | 130 Enmore Rd, Newtown NSW
Dates: 18 – 19 April, 2010
Tickets: $54.60 (includes GST and booking fee)
Bookings: www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au | (02) 9020 6966