Last updated: August 8, 2020
My friend Chris Sullivan (aka Shockwave) is in a hip-hop improv sketch comedy group called Freestyle Love Supreme. Their show sold out in 20 seconds. I got a free ticket and made this video. It was the best concert I’ve been to in years.
Transcript
NG: This is my friend Chris. Among other things, he’s a beatboxer in the band Freestyle Love Supreme. There he is, on the right, in that old photo. And here he is on stage. (beatbox noises!)
ANNOUNCER: That right there is Shockwave on the BEATS!
NG: Here’s me at the Freestyle Love Supreme, Gramercy Theater. The show was totally sold out in 20 seconds, but Chris got me a free ticket. Also: VIP box seats, thank you Chris! It was packed. Excitement was high. Guess who else is excited? Jeff in the house!
JAKE: “Jake, but still.”
NG: Jeff, Jake, shit! And my friend Laura was there. The seats were so awesome, we were literally right next to the stage. But then, a few seconds in, they asked everyone in the audience to please put away your phones, and stay in the moment.
PERFORMER: “Put them away, you don’t need these anymore. Stay in the moment with us.”
NG: The idea to put away my camera made me sad, because I like to make movies, that makes me happy. So I did it secretly, and unobtrusively, to capture beautiful moments like this. (guy singing, such WOW)
NG: Freestyle Love Supreme is an improv, hip-hop comedy sketch show. They take suggestions from the audience and make it up on the spot. This sketch was about a magic wand that a little boy had. It was so good! It was like Whose Line Is It Anyway but way better. This is the audience. There’s this girl that they brought on stage. And they had her explain her day. And they finished the show with this act, she explained her day, it was hilarious, and then they recreated it. Shockwave was her body. There he is. Chris, right on stage. I’ll let them finish it out. (piano, snoring) (Lin rapping and Chris making the beats)
NG: Oh my gawd! Oh my gawd! THANK YOU SO MUCH, that right there is Shockwave on the beats. The show was so good, I didn’t even capture any of the really good parts because I felt so guilty about filming when they asked not to. Aaaargh! The show was amazing though. When I left, I was so happy to live in New York City. It was one of those experiences that made me proud to be a New Yorker. Thank you Freestyle Love Supreme, thank you Chris, great show. Just saw the show, it was AWESOME!! Sharing these videos with my friends makes me happy. Please like this :-)