'I Love Being Me, Don't You?' Sandra Bernhard Rocks L.A.
Photo by Steven Gunther.
Sandra Bernhard strutted onto the Redcat stage Thursday night, garnering two standing ovations - one upon her entrance and another as she said goodnight to her fans and the L.A. premiere of her new show, "I Love Being Me, Don't You?" Clad in a black and silver distressed dress luring peeks at her midriff and thighs, Bernhard stills looks and sounds fierce. Entertaining audiences since the 1970s, she kept the adoring crowd howling for nearly two hours with her satirical humor and musical numbers.
Following her first tune, a cover of "Across 110th Street," she greeted the applauding crowd. "Hello, L.A.! What's up?" Noticing a pair of feet relaxing on her stage, she called out the reclined (and rude) fan by referring to him as a "motherfucker." "We'll work around it," she told the crowd. Over the course of the show, the man received several more rightful jeers from Bernhard. We'd say she handled that "motherfucker" quite well.
Currently a resident of NYC, Bernhard once braved the City of Angels and reminisced about buying her first "emotional" house in L.A. Her hilarious wit and feminist punch invited the audience on a time traveling tour of Bernhard's life, ranging from sagas of her adolescence to her current trials in motherhood. She practiced little restraint when making celebrities and politicians the butts of many of her jokes. Speaking of butts, Bernhard, who admitted to her fascination with the Royal Wedding, referred to Pippa Middleton's rear as "two peaches." Her similarities with Michele Bachmann, tweets with Cindy Crawford, interactions with the seemingly selfish Iman and Glee opposition were just a few of the topics covered. Bernhard believes society needs to chill and grow some balls. We concur.
Backed by a talented four-person band, Bernhard playfully called them "props" then later introduced each member, three of whom joined the show the day prior, and one, the only lady in the band, who does more than just pound on the piano but helps Bernhard coordinate her shows. Her "blackup singer," as she dubbed him, provided the perfect harmony with Bernhard's booming range of notes and "doo doos." She also noted that her drummer, a young man with ear-length blonde hair, looks like a lesbian. The band mates laughed off her heckles and rocked throughout the night, exuding an obvious chemistry that was fascinating to experience.
Bernhard's random comedic one-liners padded with longer personal stories charmed fans, as did her original and cover ballads. She speaks with an impressive vocabulary, always spicy, always matching her fiery ringlets. Unfiltered and raucous, the show could've gone on for hours, and we would've stayed seated. Just when we thought the show was over, the curtain remained open, showcasing the band. And then the deliciously lewd damsel returned, plus one costume and hair change, and told the men how to treat their ladies. "Don't just flip on the tube and fuck your lady," she instructed amidst a wild rendition of "Who's That Lady?" "Make love to your lady. Tonight is ladies' night."
Redcat's intimate vibe proved the perfect set for the "night of 1,000 loons" and "total freakshow" that was Thursday night, as determined by Bernhard. Show tickets are just $45 and well worth it. She's here through Monday, August 21, with nightly shows on the 13th, 14th and 17th-21st. Trek into downtown, Angelenos. You'll leave with a stitch in at least one of your sides and a new found sense of empowerment. The animal within will surface.
