Fresno Beehive

Fresno Beehive

Lars or Jim? Metalhead comedian is opening for Metallica. He’ll also be at Fulton 55

By Joshua Tehee
Comedian Jim Breuer performs Dec. 8, 2018 at Fulton 55 in Fresno, CA. The following night he plays the Save Mart Center with Metallica on the band’s WorldWired tour.
Comedian Jim Breuer performs Dec. 8, 2018 at Fulton 55 in Fresno, CA. The following night he plays the Save Mart Center with Metallica on the band’s WorldWired tour. Phil Provencio

Jim Breuer is working on a new bit.

It’s a jumbotron game called “Lars or Jim?” that asks the audience to determine whether a clip is actually Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich or Breuer’s impression of him.

It’s totally playing to the crowd.

Breuer is opening for Metallica’s WorldWired tour, which stops Sunday at the Save Mart Center.

The stand-up comedian and actor is known for his ties to the rock and metal scenes (though some might remember his stint on “Saturday Night Live.” He was Goat Boy.)

Here, Breuer serves as “the emcee host for the night’s Metallica party,” he says, on the phone from Portland, Ore., where the tour stopped on Wednesday night.

“If I didn’t know the band, I would probably just be trying to do comedy and prove myself.”

But he does know the band. He hosted Metallica’s 30th anniversary celebration at the Fillmore Theater in San Francisco 2011.

Much of what he does on this tour isn’t comedy. Sure, he fits the jokes in when he can, but he also tell stories – how he met the band – and plays games with the crowd.

Hence, the “Lars or Jim?” bit.

“I know everyone in that audience,” Breuer says, and he might be as big a Metallica fan as anyone in the room.

“The first time I saw them was in 1986, opening for Ozzy Osbourne, and then it was Monsters of Rock and then there was ... I’ve seen them every single tour,” he says. Which means you will see him headbanging back stage and maybe in the mosh pit with the fans.

First, Fulton 55

The Metallica show is actually Breuer’s second gig in Fresno for the weekend. Breuer travels with the tour’s crew, which will be in town on Saturday setting up production for the show. That evening he will do a special performance at Fulton 55.

He isn’t quite sure what to expect from that show, which doubles as a birthday party for promoter Art Silva. It won’t be the typical stand-up comedy performance, either, he says. Mostly he’s going to show up and “give them 45 minutes of hell.”

“I’m excited about it. I love nights like this.”

Strummer’s, too – Joe Sib, the other comedian opening for Metallica on this tour, will perform at Strummer’s on Saturday.

Jim Breuer

Meanwhile ...

Here are six other events happening around town.

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