Quirky comedian scheduled to visit Jacksonville

For a guy who has been booed off the stage at Madison Square Garden and is dubbed by some as “the world’s worst stand-up comedian,” Neil Hamburger has managed to prevail as one of the most recognizable comedians of his time.

“America’s Funny Man” has a voice that wavers and whistles a little. His comb-over could use a good wash and his suit is in need of a quick ironing. It’s clear he’s far from an immaculately groomed and
over-produced Chris Rock.

Hamburger speaks to audiences from behind huge thick-rimmed glasses and fumbles out flounder-laden lines, producing a brand of anti-comedy reminiscent of Andy Kaufman.

He has appeared in such prominent cinematic treats as “Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny,” TV shows with Tom Green and the glamorous Tim and Eric duo, guest slots on Fox’s “Red Eye,” and performed, according to the man himself, “between 399 and 442 shows a year” for more than a decade now.

Nearly a dozen comedy recordings later, Hamburger switched things up and released a country-western album in April, titled “Neil Hamburger Sings Country Winners.”

“I’m not a singer, I’m a comedian. I don’t claim to be a singer,” Hamburger said. “I needed some good advice from someone who knew.”

That’s when a guy oozing slide guitar from his pores, Dave Gleason, stepped in. Together Hamburger and Gleason collaborated to churn out several originals and choose three appropriate covers. He had some help from the Rentals’ bassist and vocalist Rachel Haden and ex-Tubes’ drummer Prairie Prince to layer on the extra elements in the recordings.

“The Recycle Bin,” the second track from “Winners,” Hamburger reassured, is actually an “anti-recycling anthem.”

His utter frustration with people’s disregard for the clear instructions painted on the bins is the drive behind this one, which declares: “A wedding ring? What? Are you going to make that into a car?”

The ballad opened with forlorn guitars leading right into Hamburger’s refrain, “Not everything goes in the
recycle bin.”

From there, the strings picked up a more jaunty rhythm, and Hamburger let the profanities flow full force, insulting people’s tendencies to throw everything from Styrofoam to chicken bones into bins reserved for
aluminum cans.

The less-than-dynamite response during his Madison Square Garden antics led to the scribbling of both “Three Piece Chicken Dinner” and “Garden Party II.” The latter was an unofficial sequel to Rick Nelson’s “Garden Party” honoring his own heckle-filled performance at the same venue.

“There were 17,000 people chanting ‘asshole’ to get me off the stage,” Hamburger said.

However, when he explains the audience, he is quick to relate everything beck to his bizarre sense of humor.

“Pig people, that’s what I call them,” he said. “Herds of pig people. Even though pigs don’t travel in herds – that’s cows, I think.”

Hamburger gives us a glimpse of his more political side in his ditty titled “How Can I Still Be Patriotic (When They’ve Taken Away My Right to Cry)?” Mighty military snare-drum-rolls backdrop his laundry list of rights the government has yanked from its citizens. One of his main concerns is the prospect of satellite advertising.

“Can you imagine how terrifying it would be to walk outside to look at the stars and see the Wendy’s hot and juicy hamburgers girl floating out there?” Hamburger said.

A serious tone is tossed in with “Thinkin’ it Over,” a John Entwistle cover. Hamburger nearly ditches his usual talk-sing style and opts for a singing-only approach.

He manages to pull off the entire song without much notion of his comedic roots. It almost doesn’t fit, but manages to shed some light on Hamburger’s forte in versatility.

Now, Hamburger is busy with another rigorous touring schedule, including several dates scattered all over the U.S., as well as many international dates.

When the subject of Jacksonville comes up, despite his lack of familiarity, Hamburger does not fail to supply ample comments.

He spun off on a tangent about Duval’s own Limp Bizkit, specifically Fred Durst: “That guy… he needs to lose some fat off his head,” Hamburger said.

And then, of course, our school is next on the agenda.

“University of North Florida? I’ve heard those students are out of their minds with drinking, joy and pleasure,” Hamburger said.

So it seems that Hamburger has a vague idea of what he’s getting himself into when he comes to downtown Jacksonville Oct. 3 at Club TSI.

E-mail Beca Grimm at features@unfspinnaker.com