The gym session, as it turns out, isn’t so much about generating material for his latest Melbourne International Comedy Festival Show Organic, as it is a more personal goal. “I want to stay alive. That’s the real reason. I’m trying not to die,” he quips.
“I don’t talk about exercise in this particular show, although I have in other shows. I talk about eating healthily a little bit,” says Barker. “There’s literal reference to organic foods at one point in the show and also various diets and health trends. But organic is a wider, multi-meaning thing – it also means organic like raw, just me, doing stand-up. Stand-up is organic. It’s just a guy and a microphone, although I do play one song on a guitar.”
As always, his observations on other aspects of modern life also get covered, such as why Uber has revolutionised everyday travel through to the dark thoughts that arise from living with your other half.
Organic marks the tenth show of Barker’s performed here in Australia. It’s a return season, having had a run in St Kilda last year he’s back this Comedy Festival for a two-week run in the Main Room of the Town Hall. When he’s not on stage, he’s on screen with numerous appearances on late night talk shows, as well as landing his own special on HBO produced by Comedy Central. And, of course, he played the role of Dave on the cult-hit series Flight of the Conchords. In Australia, he frequently appears on shows including The Project, Have You Been Paying Attention and numerous Melbourne International Comedy Festival Galas.
He tells Beat that he’s currently preparing to do some more acting. “I’ve got a TV show I’m developing and intend to get it made,” says Barker. “I’ll be the star and I’ll do a lot of acting in that.” He’s also been dabbling in some music too. “In the last couple of years, I’ve decided to learn how to make music myself using all the beautiful technology that’s available. I learned Logic Pro and I made one single that I put out, called DisgraceBook. You can easily search it on YouTube. I made the music myself and recorded it myself and then I got a little help mastering from a pro”.
“I think one of the great joys in life is learning new things,” says Barker. But he’s still sticking with what he knows already and he believes that Organic – which he has reworked since last year – is still his best show to date.
By Joanne Brookfield
Venue: Melbourne Town Hall – Main Hall
Dates: Friday March 31 – Sunday April 16 (no shows Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays except for Thursday April 13 & Sunday April 16)
Duration: 70 minutes
Tickets: $37.90 – $47.50
