W h o t h e HELL i s
J E R R Y FA R B E R ?
PAWS H U MA N E
Barks & Blues
By April Norris
“Yo u h a ve t o c o m e t o d i n n e r t o m e e t t his gu y Jer r y Farber, ”
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et ready to mark your calendars because the third annual Paws Humane Society Barks & Blues Festival is happening on Saturday, May 19. Due to the overwhelming popularity of the event, we are moving the concert venue to Woodruff Park this year so music lovers and their dogs can “get down” to the tunes of some of the most sought out bands in Columbus. The 2018 Barks & Blues Festival will be a slightly more “grown up” event with nonstop music from 4 – 11 pm. A friend of Paws Humane Society from the beginning, the Neal Lucas Trio will open the festival this year. This well-loved Columbus staple is known for their mix of jazz, blues and southern rock. Next on the line-up will be GP38. This four-piece band from Muscle Shoals, Alabama delivers high-energy performances of “real country music along with all your southern and classic rock favorites. Up next will be Mark Sasser and Soul Kitchen performing their mouthwatering brand of heavy blues rock. A crowd favorite last year, we are thrilled that Mark is not only coming back to perform but is also part of the planning committee for 2018. Thank you, Mark! I can’t wait to see Damn Skippy, if only because I love the name. They are described as a “full on party rock cover band with influences from Van Halen to Guns and Roses, Metallica and Hank Williams, Jr.” By the time Damn Skippy comes on you will be all warmed up and ready to let loose, that is if you haven’t gotten there already. The iconic Tom Petty left this planet in October, but he is not forgotten thanks to tribute band, the Breakdowns. Their “all Tom Petty all the time” set will close the night for a reason. We know this year’s line-up is going to make you want to come back next year. Your favorite food trucks will be on hand to satisfy your appetite for supper and refreshments, and of course you can’t have a blues party without plenty of beer. The event continues to be family friendly with a kid zone, microchipping for your dog and pet adoptions. Start planning now to wow our celebrity judges during the Pet Costume Contest at 6:30 that evening, where prizes will be given for Owner/Pet Lookalike, Best Dressed, Most Creative, and Best in Show. If you love music and you love animals then this is the place to be on May 19. Best of all admission to the 2018 Barks & Blues Festival is FREE! That is thanks to our amazing sponsors, especially the Stelzenmuller Rescues. Bobbi Yeo lives in Opelika, AL. She is the CEO of PAWS Humane in Columbus, GA, an animal shelter and veterinary clinic offering low-cost spay/neuter and other services to the public. Email her at byeo@pawshumane.org with your comments and story ideas. Adoption Hours Mon-Fri•10am-6pm, Sat•10am-5pm, Sun•12pm-5pm 4900 Milgen Road Columbus, GA 31907 www.pawshumane.org office@pawshumane.org (706) 565-0035 Vet Clinic phone number (706) 987-8380
a friend says to me. We meet at a local favorite because I was told that he is a comedy veteran of 50 years, had fallen in love with Columbus, and I had never heard of him. How does that happen? I watch, read and listen to all things comedy, so I was certain I would at least recognize him from his career. After a quick Google search, I still didn’t know him. Upon arrival it was clear why my friend needed for others to soak up Jerry’s wisdom. In one evening I learned that he was 77 with the mind of a 40-year-old (or younger), was doing a set at No Shame Theater, and he could charm me into doing five minutes of standup. Last month I was fortunate enough to attend Jerry’s 80th birthday party at The Loft’s comedy night, where he did an hour set, proving to us all that he can still work a room. I watched him walk around, give people his full attention when he met them, and leave on a high note or one-liner with a “great to see ya again” or “nice to meet ya.” Twenty minutes into his set, those same people were in the show. The soldier he’d met just before taking stage was now being asked if he remembered picking up those hookers with him “that one time.” He honors his audience with jokes at their expense without hurting any feelings. His jokes land with a jab, but Jerry quickly throws a blanket of laughter around the crowd to make them feel better about what he considered a very troubled world, one more in need of laughter now than ever. He told me that most people don’t pay to feel uncomfortable, so he tries to bring a spirit of service to his audience—and by audience, I mean anyone he’s talking to. Jerry is always on. “Most comedians’ art comes from an insecurity, a need to make strangers happy,” Jerry said. He does admit, however, that the art of comedy is also about selfexpression, and when done with love can be healing to everyone in the room. And with Jerry, this art seems to have no shelf life. Jerry is a classically trained pianist and began his performing career playing piano in bars. “Piano bars used to be much more popular than they are today,” he said. He found that as people would drink they would become belligerent, so he started filling the space with jokes. This gift of defense led to a long career as a stand-up comedian. He moved to Columbus from Atlanta because the city had exhausted him for many reasons, and much to his delight, he found more work at a pace that will allow him to tell jokes past the century mark. If you’re lucky you can sit around the piano at Mabella’s on certain Saturday nights while he entertains you with the perfect melody, stops to tell some half-true story finished with an unexpected punchline. Jerry Farber is proof that you can work your entire life and continue to hone your craft, provided you keep your mind active. Jerry is also very spiritual. He studied the Old Testament, the Talmud and has a regular practice of Buddhist meditation. All of this makes him more hilarious as he walks through The Loft surrounded by five beautiful women while young men do a double take. Two young men at the bar, who were distracted from a game on TV by Jerry’s entourage, gave the classic “who the hell is this guy?” look. Jerry leaned into the ear of one of the young men and said, “Stay asleep, boys, because I am wide awake.” u
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May 2018
