As a comedian, actor, writer, and musician, Hannibal Buress wears many hats in the entertainment industry. Performing on stage is where he prefers to be. It requires him to be quick-witted and to build momentum, regardless of how the audience may react. But he also appreciates how being on camera can reach people at different stages of life, even years from now. “It gets a different life and a new base [on screen],” Buress says, “and people find out about something years later and can start going on a wormhole from there and discovering other things.” It’s helped him to understand the importance of branching out into different avenues to express his art.
Starting at 19 and now 43 years old, most of Buress’ life has revolved around entertainment. “As an artist, I’ve evolved through performing and trying different things through TV, film, writing, and traveling,” he says. “You just try to get better and learn and figure out how to keep it fresh and … have fun and enhance the show.”
Each medium in which he works requires a new element from him. Prepping for live shows looks different every time because he doesn’t do the same thing before each one. “I did a vocal warm-up in the car in Fresno, and … I could tell the difference in how my performance was,” he says. And he has a unique writing style, speaking his ideas into voice notes. “Writing is just sometimes talking into the phone and getting the idea out like that,” Buress says. “I sometimes [have] an internal conflict. Should I be writing on paper and recording audio at the same time to get it in both formats? Because what if I write it down, but then I don’t capture how I want to say it or how I was saying it in my head when I thought of it? Did I document what I’m trying to do in the most effective way?”
Buress makes music as his alter ego, Eshu Tune. It’s his way of “trying to create a different world,” and, he says, Hannibal the comedian and Eshu the musician are “compartmentalized” differently in his mind. “Eshu is upbeat,” he says. “There’s some reflection, but there’s more fun in an Eshu show.” As Hannibal, he finds himself being more cynical, dark, and “at times, long-winded.”
Buress’ parents’ families are from the Mississippi Delta, so Memphis was never too far for him to make connections and friendships through the years. “Memphis is dope,” he says. “I’m looking forward to just having a good show. Maybe I’ll DJ somewhere. Get some good food.”
Fans will experience some of Buress’ polished comedic material with some new ideas thrown into the mix. Fatherhood, gambling, music, and other topics are part of the act on this tour. “I’m feeling in pretty good shape, comedically,” Buress says. “It’s going to be a good time.”
Hannibal Buress, Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Sunday, October 4, 7 p.m., $35-$52.
