Richard's a semi-retired alternative comic from Western New York with a
voice unique among stand-up comedians. He began tossing budding
director Frank Stamm ideas for short films a few years ago, and their
partnership is just beginning to ripen into something sickly sweet.
To give you an idea for what Richard's stand-up work was like,
here's a review for his CD "Misfit King" written by alternative
recording artist/actor Del Rivers: |
"Rich Gagnier's new CD  is the best thing since sliced bread meeting up with
Mom's apple pie-- but only if the bread was encrusted with a thin layer of mold,
and your mom slept with George Carlin. His work is perhaps reminiscent of some
scene in a pulp-fiction novel with cigarette smoke, a knife, a bottle of hard
liquor, along with a flashing neon light in the background. Rich spent a few years
perfecting the graphic, and dark, 'ugly beauty' nature of his humor.
After hanging-out with other characters and comedian misfits at several open
mikes, he developed a style that goes beyond where Stephen Wright might
have trekked had Mr. Wright been thrown into prison, got lost in the woods, or
been abducted by aliens. Richard's humor is note-for-note perfect on this CD
which magnifies the best moments of his stage work in front of coffee-drinking
know-it-alls, who all laughed despite being conservative Rochesterians.
Hopefully, somebody will get off on Rich's CD and realize that you don't have
to be famous to be great at what comedians should sound like." .: Del Rivers |
