The Tampa Theatre stage was Bobby Bones’ living room on Saturday night.
While the venue was spectacular, the stage was nothing fancy. In fact, it was kind of like the star of the show himself – simply decorated with a plain white couch, a nondescript area rug, and flanked by dim lamps.
There were 1,200+ attendees in the sold-out crowd, but it didn’t feel that way.
No, it was just Bobby Bones and his friends on this night in Tampa – telling jokes, giving radio show insights, featuring self-deprecating stories, drawing on his own experiences to provide inspiration to the adoring listeners. His full talent arsenal was on display for his theater guests – from singing funny songs with The Bobby Bones Show sidekick, Producer Eddie, to playing irreverent games with some lucky living room guests.
But, make no mistake, even if most of Bones’ guests never made it to his couch on stage, each felt like he’d invited them into his living room to chat.
This is Bobby Bones’ new touring show called Comedically Inspirational.
If You’re a Fan of Bobby Bones already…
The #BTeam, a nationwide network of super fans Bones’ daily radio show has amassed, will be familiar with much of the Comedically Inspirational material. There are several instances, though, where Bobby dives further than what is possible on the radio waves – giving clues about spotting good and bad performances, about stars that are the “real deal” and those not so much. Adding depth to the show they tune into each morning is not, though, why Bones’ devoted fans are lining up for blocks to see Comedically Inspirational.
No, a #BTeam-er wants exactly what the stage set-up creates – a chance to have an experience with the voice that helped them through a deployment (the ACTUAL case for one show game contestants this night), to see the dude that makes them laugh every morning as they trek to a dead-end job, to applaud a self-proclaimed “nerd” that gives voice to the vulnerable and under-represented. Material aside, the #BTeam wants to see the guy that epitomizes the power of perseverance live. They got him!
Devout fans already felt close to Bobby Bones. Most I noticed felt their “friendship” further fortified by Comedically Inspirational as they exited.
If You are the “+1” and don’t know Bobby Bones…
As Bones even quips during a joke, “Anyone get dragged here?”, alluding to the reality that your date for Comedically Inspirational may not exactly be a Bobby Bones fan.
“He’s the country music guy, right?” said my unidentified date after I told her I’d secured tickets to the show. Her “ho-hum” reaction had me immediately worried that I’d be having to do some of the entertaining during our date night.
I was wrong.
Before you worry about your “+1’s” fit amongst the packed house of (mostly) #BTeam-ers, take heart that Bones’ witty way of telling his story will bring them up-to-speed quickly. If your date knows NOTHING about Bobby Bones, I will guarantee that Comedically Inspirational will have them interested on the way home, prompting questions like:
“He really grew up poor?” or
“People love that dude that much, huh?” or
“Bobby Bones writes books, too?”
My “+1” loved Bones’ story and enjoyed his championing of the underdog mentality; even if some of the show references were lost on her.
While I can’t say Comedically Inspirational added to my household #BTeam roster, the inspiration drawn from NOT knowing Bones’ story may be more powerful than those of us who keenly understand it coming into his staged living room chat.
Can I Bring the Kids?
As fans have come to expect, Bones’ brand is clean, absent cursing, and 100% parent approved for kids to engage with. There were a few suggestive jokes – that older kids would be fine with and that would cruise over the heads of the little ones. The most edgy words/phrases used are “wiener” and a punch-line-y masturbation inference.
Bottom line: do not worry about bringing kids to the show. There were a handful at the Tampa Theatre on Saturday.
What I’d Change
Two noteworthy aspects for future show goers: (1) super raucous Bobby Bones super fans and a small venue can be distracting, and (2) the show had a less-then-peak-energy finale.
First, I’d never been to a Bones’ performance, so I was surprised by how frenzied his fans were given the intimacy of the venue. I felt like a boy band concert broke out at a quiet candlelight dinner to certain points. I’ll give credit to the #BTeam for creating that hype and, trust me, this isn’t a bad thing – just something for future show-goers to be aware of (especially if you’re seated in back). Side note: in, what could only be described as simultaneously cute and annoying, the dude behind me NEVER QUIT BELLY LAUGHING!
Next, the show is separated into multiple segments. When Bobby Bones took the stage (about 8 pm) the energy was amazing – both from Bones’ and the crowd. I loved Bones taking time to soak in the applause on stage as well as heading into the crowd to dance with a “Mee-Ma” in the front row.
I felt that energy (predictably) sag until about 75% through the show when Producer Eddie (during The Raging Idiots set) brought that level of electricity back to the room. This, to me, was the point at which Comedically Inspiration hit it’s energy apex – about 15 minutes before the show ended.
Maybe it was past my bedtime (show ended at 10 pm), but I wanted the show to end at it’s energy peak, leaving all of us to take Bobby’s inspiring advice and charge out of the Tampa Theatre to take on the world. But, instead of ‘LET’S GOOOO!’, I felt like ‘Man, I have a lot to process.’ I guess I expected a locker room speech and got a commencement address.
All good reviews provide a critique so I will humbly submit mine:
I think The Raging Idiots should have ended the show, using a few lines boiling down Bones’ key motivational points before launching back into a full-voiced jam. That’s a ‘LET’S GOOOO WIN THIS GAME!!!!’ vibe I wanted to leave with.
Upcoming Shows
If you hold tickets to an upcoming Comedically Inspirational show (schedule here), you will be in for a treat. I’m sure that Bobby Bones will continue to tweak parts of the performance, making each night new and fresh for audiences nationwide. Bones’ certainly never felt handcuffed by a script.
What will not change, however, is the kinship Bones’ has created, and continues to strengthen, with his fans. Bones’ “people” – whether #BTeamers or not – for one night during Comedically Inspirational, are invited into Bobby’s living room to have a chat. And, as the chat goes on, each feels less like a paying customer, and more like a dear friend.
That’s the power of Bobby Bones’ Comedically Inspirational. Bones is a “pal and confidant.”
