Deadbeat Hero

Listening to Doug Stanhope’s “Deadbeat Hero” is a lot like playing a game of “Would you rather…?” with yourself. There are tough questions. You might discover larger truths about your own psyche. You’ll probably be disgusted. You might put your fingers in your ears and sing “la la laaaaa!” Because, as he puts it, a Stanhope routine’s a lot like being led into battle: some of you won’t be here when we’re done. But those of you who are? You’re the hearty souls, the battle-hardened comedy aficionados not too afraid to ask, “Would I rather perform fellatio on another man in order to earn the right to use derogatory terms for gay people or confront a self-satisfied southern law-man as he righteously raids a sex shop?” or “Would I rather go through life with a conjoined twin head atop my own or go all biblically ‘eye-for-an-eye’ with a molester priest?” or even “Would I rather send my mom in as a suicide bomber to protest the withholding of breakfast sandwiches in the afternoon or stubbornly vote ‘not guilty’ on an otherwise unanimous jury just to stick it to the man?”

In addition to helping listeners probe their minds (and other regions), Stanhope proves he’s in it to win it by including a full DVD of his live performance at Seattle’s Comedy Underground, as well as rare clips of his past hairdos (and stand up routines, but let’s face it, we’re in it for the mullets) and “Street Rants” with the accompaniment of Banjo Randy. Stand Up! Records is proud - and only slightly chagrined - to present “Deadbeat Hero.”