By Nick A. Zaino III Globe correspondent,Updated September 1, 2021
Rick Canavan had roughly 18 years of material to choose from for his debut album, “Who Am I?” He approached his setlist as a “best of,” combing through jokes he’d been honing in local clubs for years. This would normally be the time when a comedian would be out promoting his new work on every stage he could find. But once the album drops Friday, Canavan isn’t sure he’ll ever get onstage again.
Canavan was already disenchanted with stand-up before the pandemic. But when comedy clubs shut down as COVID-19 started to spread, it gave him an excuse to stop. “As soon as I heard that [the virus] was airborne, I was not even thinking of getting in front of people again,” he says, speaking by Zoom.
Once comedy was gone, Canavan found he didn’t miss it. He’s maintained his longtime job working the late shift for an answering service, and he’s taken up cooking. If he were to get back onstage now, he’s not sure what he’d have to say. Material about the ever-present pandemic makes him cringe.
“My viewpoint is pretty different on things now,” he says. “I can’t imagine going to a place and doing the act that I’ve worked on for 20 years. But I also can’t imagine going to a place and talking about what’s going on right now either. I don’t think I’m the guy.”
For the full story, click the link below: