BENEATH THE ISLAND

Oh, The Right Now Podcast, how you have become an integral part of my life-filling it with comedy and metal, one of the best combos around. Throw a goblin into the mix, and I’m totally satisfied.

While getting my weekly Right Now (played by Dave Rispoli) fix on YouTube, John Goblikon made an unexpected announcement: he and Johannes Aspergren, his Swedish sidekick (or his“Sweedie”), would be performing at Just for Laughs on February 22nd at The Biltmore Cabaret in Vancouver.

John’s claim to fame began as the star of the music video for No One Survives by Nekrogoblikon. From there, he transitioned into the band’s mascot and later its lead singer.

After graciously receiving a photo pass for Limblifter and Odds on the 21^st at The Commodore Ballroom, I had already planned to be in Vancouver that night—so all the stars aligned for this one.

I thought I’d try my luck and see if John would give me permission to photograph the event. I reached out and got the sweet-ass answer of “absolutely”!

I made my way across three ferries and landed downtown just in time to see the amazing show Limblifter and Odds put on at The Commodore. The next day, I spent anxiously awaiting the show at The Biltmore.

I met Dave and Johannes at the door, where we gained immediate access to the Langston Kerman set that was currently taking place inside. I managed to catch the last 20 minutes or so and really enjoyed it. I had never heard of Langston before, and this was a perfect introduction.

I had no idea what to expect from the show. Even John Goblikon himself didn’t seem to know what to expect, as he explained in a recent episode with Blair Socci. They wondered what kind of people would even show up to Just for Laughs in Vancouver-metal fans or comedy fans?

The venue ended up being a treat for me, as I really enjoy smaller spaces-especially after experiencing a larger one the night before. It was a dimly lit cabaret with chair seating and an incredibly friendly staff. I’d estimate it holds about 200 people on the floor. It was also a bit tricky to find, as it had a black sign on a black wall at the back of the building.

With only about half an hour to switch from Dave to John and complete their setup, John and Johannes made a grand entrance onto the stage with The Right Now theme song blasting at full volume. Instantly, they had the crowd laughing their asses off. It truly felt like watching an episode at home.

John’s incredibly quick-witted humor-something I always assumed was just cleverly edited-was just as impressive live. Dave takes his role seriously, fully committing to 100% goblin. I realized this earlier in the day when Goblin John had me text Human Dave.

John had recently announced on his YouTube page that a special guest HBO star would be joining him on stage. I had no clue who it could be. Partway through the show, John called on his mic for the comedian I had caught the tail end of a few minutes earlier-Langston Kerman, a writer and actor with too many great shows to list. Their collaboration was flawless. I couldn’t even tell if they were coming up with these great tales on the spot or if it was scripted-it was that well performed.

I had a difficult time getting photos because I was laughing so hard I could barely hold my camera steady.

After Langston left the stage, John decided it was time to start messing with a Fred Durst lookalike in the front row, despite an announcement at the beginning of the show stating “no heckling”. Funny enough, the announcement also said “no photography”, but no questions were asked when you walked in with Dave and Johannes.

Growing frustrated with Johannes’s slacking and failure to amplify the voices of eager audience members, John sent him into the crowd with his mic. Johannes squeezed his way through the tiny aisles, finding some interesting characters-including a couple with a ridiculous story about dogs on first dates and a van full of loose teeth.

Still frustrated with Johannes’s mic issues, John took matters into his own hands and made his way into the audience, giving everyone what they wanted-a chance to be part of the show. The night ended with the crowd clenching their stomachs in pain from uncontrollable laughter.

After the show, John graciously took photos and signed a variety of random objects for every single attendee, including cans of Spam and copies of his fantastic book, John Goblikon’s Guide to Living Your Best Life.

The audience was spectacular, filled with all types of goblin enthusiasts. Many had painted green faces, while others sported Nekrogoblikon shirts.

John and Johannes made a quick trip outside to check out a custom car parked near the entrance-a beauty with a unique rust job that looked straight out of *Mad Max*. A dedicated fan had insisted on showing it to them.

After returning inside, John made a speedy change back to Dave. Before calling it a night, I had the chance to get both Dave/John and Johannes to sign my copy of John’s book.

This truly was an unbelievable weekend, thanks to John, Dave, Johannes, and everyone at The Commodore the night before. I don’t imagine there will be many opportunities to see John perform live, especially in Canada, so if you get the chance, take full advantage.

Hand to Gob, it was an unforgettable night!