Reggie Watts

Watts has found a way to merge his passions for comedy and music in riotously entertaining shows. He’s a stand-up comedian, vocalist, beatboxer, one-man band and loop machine operator. He’s about to visit Australia for a run of gigs, including Just For Laughs Sydney. “I’m looking forward to coming to Australia and having a good time and just seeing what happens,” Watts drawls down an echoing phone line.

The critics’ fave is surprisingly laidback in person compared to on stage or screen. Watts’ mode of performance is infamously improvised – and unpredictable – and he admits that this does give him an adrenalin rush. “It’s a form of energy – it’s definitely exciting to be on stage.” He relishes the “potential ‘anything happening’”. But Watts doesn’t rely on it. And, while his shows are said to have the effect of ‘disorienting’ audiences, he takes their reactions in his stride. “I pretend I’m a motivational speaker and the audience can get very riled up sometimes,” he chuckles. So chill…

A military brat, Watts was born in Germany, but grew up in Montana. He’d later head to Seattle to study music – and in the ‘90s fronted the funk-rock group Maktub, cutting several albums. Watts eventually transplanted to New York and, now solo, began to reconfigure music with comedy. Watts impressed Conan O’Brien, opening for him on a North American tour. He currently stars in TV’s Comedy Bang! Bang! and continues to be involved in music. He has performed with LCD Soundsystem and collaborated with Regina Spektor and Joan As Police Woman. Brian Eno is a fan. Just recently Watts laid down a track with Sydney house combo Flight Facilities for their upcoming album Down To Earth.

And Watts releases solo music, if sporadically. Earlier this year he aired the single Get Ready – on the neo-soul tip. Watts doesn’t necessarily feel torn between music and comedy. “I love both. Sometimes it feels like I wanna do more music types of expressions [in a show], and that can happen, but I also love comedy – so that can come out more strongly. It’s really just kind of a ratio.” He combined his talents for 2011’s Reggie Watts Live At Third Man Records, on the invitation of Jack White himself. “It was very cool,” Watts recalls. “Jack’s a cool dude – he’s funny and charming. He’s private and likes to kinda escape for a bit, but he’s a cool cat.”

Watts’ shows have a subversively critical socio-political element – and today he’s bemused to hear that Australia’s Attorney-General George Brandis proposed changing racial discrimination laws because, “People do have a right to be bigots.” The comedian likens that bigotry to internet trolling. “It’s very strange – but it makes sense, then,” Watts ponders wryly. “It sounds like people are very bored and just doing something because they’re bored.”

Brisbane: 12 Oct, The Tivoli
Melbourne: 13 — 14 Oct, The Forum
Sydney: 16 — 19 Oct, The Playhouse, as part of Just For Laughs