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IMAGE: 3000 Eyes Entertainment
Charlie Murphy has been busy in the six years since he told stories on Chappelle's Show of his '80s-era rabble-rousing with Rick James. After TV and movie appearances, and attention for being Eddie Murphy's brother, Murphy, 50, has been making a name for himself as a stand-up comedian. He's written a book about his life (The Making of a Stand-Up Guy) and is on tour in support of his first comedy DVD, Charlie Murphy: I Will Not Apologize. We talked to him in anticipation of his Portland appearance this Friday.
WW: How's the tour going?
Charlie Murphy: I don't call it a tour, man. It's work. You know when you can call it a tour? When you can make enough money in three months to not work the rest of the year. Chris Rock and those guys, they go out and in six weeks they make so much money they don't have to go back out.
So what are you covering when you're coming to Portland?
I'm an observationist; I watch people, I watch current events. Like today, I'm sitting here watching this circus on CNN. This Tiger Woods thing, in my view, put [CNN] in the same category as the Enquirer. And we're supposed to be real shocked. You know what shocks me? When I...see a giraffe driving a bus—that's when I'll be shocked. 'Cause that's something that's not supposed to happen. Shamu, out of the water, and he's just chillin' at the bar, I'll be shocked. Anything with people—come on, man.
Jesse Jackson came to town to shine some light on the police shooting of an unarmed black man. Has that news made it to you?
I'm sure we will hear about it eventually. The Rodney King incident was on TV the other day. I have a 10-year-old son, so I made him watch it. I said, "...Rodney King is on record for being the black man that got the worst butt-kicking in the history of police brutality. But don't think that Rodney King is the only black man that got beat like that. He's the only one that got caught on camera! So when you're...dealing with these police, don't put yourself in a position to get hurt worse by being belligerent, by being resistant...." It's one thing to tell somebody something, but there's going to be a moment when that information gets tested. I hope it's sinking in.
SEE IT: Charlie Murphy appears at the Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., 234-9694. 8 pm Friday, March 5. $30. 21+.
Headout Picks
THURSDAY MARCH 4
[DANCE]
Wayne McGregor's fantastic flock of rubber-limbed movers unleashes
a startlingly wonderful case of ugly-pretty that plays out like a science experiment and sexy-weird love-in simultaneously.
["COMEDY"] JEFF FOXWORTHY, BILL ENGVALL, LARRY THE CABLE GUY
Oh, sweet merciful Lord, hear my prayer: Let loose your mighty wrath upon the Rose Quarter arena this fourth day of the third month of the 10th year of the 21st century of our savior, Jesus Christ, so that we may be freed of the scourge of dated redneck comedians now and for all time. Amen. Rose Quarter, 1 Center Court, 797-9600. 7:30 pm. $59.50+. Tickets at comcasttix.com.
SATURDAY MARCH 6
[MUSIC]
Nice Nice's five-years-in-the-making
drops next month, but you can hear the band play jams from it tonight at the monthly Nightclubbing dance party.
SUNDAY MARCH 7
[MUSIC]
Three of Seattle's best folk-pop bands not named Fleet Foxes head down I-5 to play in town. Fans of facial hair and acoustic guitars, unite!
[SCREEN] OSCAR NIGHT AMERICA
The "official" Oscar bash is still swank and spendy, and now has Art Alexakis as honorary chairman. Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy Blvd., 281-4215. 4 pm. $40.
[LADIES] PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
Learn how to make earth-friendly health products, meet local women filmmakers, experience the wisdom of indigenous grandmothers, and do yoga and other girly stuff. Portland State University, Smith Memorial Student Union, Southwest Harrison Street and Park Avenue, 708-5801. 11 am-4 pm. Free. All ages.
MONDAY MARCH 8
[MUSIC]
While the world waits on their debut full-length, the Cool Kids return with some of the most original boom-bap beats and rhymes since A Tribe Called Quest.
WWeek 2015