Skankfest '21 Recap with Bak

November 17, 2021·1 hr 10 min·4 clips

Comedian Dean Stanfield's entire boxing game plan collapsed the moment he took his first punch to the face.

Aaron Cheatham opens by introducing the episode as a recap of Skankfest South 2021 and brings back Bak, whose full name Backery Zumanigi he puts on blast. The two begin with a comedic tangent about the difficulty of lighting Bak for their outdoor podcast recording on the terrace of the Houston Hilton during Skankfest weekend. They credit festival organizers Rebecca, Louis J. Gomez, and Christine Evans for running what both consider their favorite comedy festival. Bak notes a Facebook group where attendees are sharing overwhelmingly positive testimonials. Both hosts emphasize that the festival exceeded expectations in organization and atmosphere. A key structural advantage they discuss is that all five stages were in one enclosed venue, unlike other festivals in Memphis and Columbus where performers had to Uber between locations across town. This allowed comics and fans to pop between shows within minutes, creating a unified energy. Bak describes stopping comics like Adrienne Appolushi and Eleanor Kerrigan on the street and finding no pretension, with everyone accessible and friendly. He references similar observations in recaps by Anari Shafir and Paul Verzi on the Diversity Effect Podcast. Aaron recounts arriving at the box venue and being unable to recognize Bak in the dark until nearly face to face, a callback to their lighting struggles. They discuss the festival's relaxed atmosphere, noting that despite all-day drinking and outdoor crowds, there were no fights or incidents among attendees. Aaron describes bartender and performer Jesse James working 14-hour shifts behind the bar and stepping out only to perform. A major highlight is the boxing event, where Aaron served as corner man for comedian Dean Stanfield, who took the fight on short notice after learning his opponent had knocked out multiple comics at previous festivals. Dean entered the ring in a white robe he then couldn't remove because his gloves were stuck in it, earning his team the nickname 'goof squad.' After absorbing early punishment and nearly being stopped, Dean found a jab and mounted a comeback to crowd chants before retiring after one round. A women's boxing match on Sunday also drew praise, with two fighters going to war after Louis J. Gomez offered $500 to the winner, ultimately paying both. Bak reflects on adjusting his own sets throughout the festival, abandoning a pre-planned material strategy in favor of just having fun. He also highlights watching Lucas McCurry arrive last-minute from out of town and kill in the box on Sunday. Aaron closes by noting that his most-remembered moment among attendees was his set at the Wheelhouse stage.

As heard by us

A loose, upbeat recap built around a few vivid fight-night details.

The episode keeps a light, easy pace as Aaron Cheatham and a returning guest look back at Skankfest South 2021 from a few angles. It lands best when it stays with the odd little details around Dean, the robe, the gloves, and the game plan.

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Why you'd press play

You want a front-row hang after a comic-heavy festival weekend.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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