Jay Smith's "Oysters, Beer, Comedy" at Lagorio's

If you asked me to describe in a single word Jay Smith's "Oysters, Beer, Comedy" show at Lagorio's in Farmington last Friday night, I would pause to search for a way to explain the loud, discomfiting and funny madness that is a Jay Smith show at Lagorio's. And I would fail.  The best I can do is: "unique."

Lucky for me, I have a lot more than one word to work with.

Jay Smith started off the night with some animated throat-clearing and improvised crowd work that served to get eyes facing frontward, and then some. He gamely attempted to quiet the loud, oblivious patrons that chattered away at the back of the house, to mixed results. He also announced that the single shot of Jagermeister held in his meaty fist was the last that he intended to purchase that night, and that audience members were encouraged to tip the Master of Ceremonies with additional shots of the imported liqueur. This would become pertinent later.

A few words about Lagorio's as a venue: the place can be lovingly (or not) described as a dive bar, with plastic lawn chairs and a cozy floor plan.  It offers the kind of ambiance that promises that, if you play your cards right, you just might get shot.  In actuality, that sensation is overblown and unfair: you'd probably only be stabbed.

There is a front door and a side door, and when you open either of them on even a mild January night, every degree of chill sweeps through the place like crackhead going through your wallet. Patrons moved in and out often enough that I wondered if a revolving door wouldn't pay for itself in a few months' time.  Employees favored the side door (what they didn't favor was closing the god damned thing once they were through it) so often that even Smith had to pause mid-show and say: "Really dude? You have to do that right now?" to an employee trundling a garbage can on a hand truck slowly and distractingly through the middle of the place. I rubbed my chilled thighs to promote blood flow and silently agreed: Really, dude?

With all this detraction, Lagorio's is not without its charms: is conveniently located smack dab on Highway 4, and is entirely without pretense. The room is not huge, but that only ensures that you're never too far from the entertainment.  The wait staff are efficient and not unpleasant.