Andrew Bird begins the show on what he admits is an angry note. Since the 2008 recession, he has gotten married, got himself a mortgage and two “pet humans”. Consequently this has taken a toll on him financially which has made him the grumpy person he is today.
Up Against It is an enjoyable, jam-packed hour of disgruntled yet amusing rants that will easily entertain from start to finish.
Up Against It is a hilarious running diatribe about the many things in life that aggravate Bird, largely in relation to his current financial situation. Over the course of the show, the audience are treated like his sounding board as he vents to us about the troubles that plague him as an extremely stingy person in an impoverished state.
While the theme of the hour is about being broke, Bird also weaves in hilarious anecdotes related to his family life. The ones involving his wife as well as his thoughts on marriage and having a child are particularly entertaining. His material is delivered in a very fervent and vociferous way which adds to the entertainment value of the stories being told.
Considering the crabby nature of the show, this is a lighthearted hour which travels at an upbeat pace. Bird is an engaging storyteller who holds the audience’s attention effortlessly. The show has a clear narrative arc and as each story or gripe is being told it creates somewhat of a snowball effect; we become completely invested in his plight and want to know more.
Up Against It is an enjoyable, jam-packed hour of disgruntled yet amusing rants that will easily entertain from start to finish. The ranting style may not be for everyone and you may not be able to relate to his predicament but there is still enough universally humorous content to make this a solid hour of stand up.
