Smart and Ignorant

Seaton Smith spends his time on stage vibrating with a frantic physical energy, working through the specific trials of trying to be a modern, progressive man while harboring deeply un-progressive instincts. The friction between his high-minded liberal values and his baser thoughts drives the hour. He is especially good at walking the line between being self-aware and completely ridiculous, particularly when detailing the exhausting effort required to respect women during the summer compared to the winter, when everyone is covered up like frozen meat.

Released as a video special and an audio album by Pinch Records in August 2024, the set catches Smith as an established club regular, known for his past roles on Girls and Inside Amy Schumer. The material relies heavily on his expressive face and highly animated pacing. He spends a significant chunk of the performance explaining how taking up jiu-jitsu was supposed to teach him humility but instead mostly taught him the awkward mechanics of having another man’s crotch in his face. It also, he notes, finally taught him how to safely handle requests to be choked during sex without panicking about a prison sentence.

The set also features a story about a jealous wrestler boyfriend who accused Smith of trying to make a move on his girlfriend in a high school photography darkroom. Rather than fighting, Smith details the frantic diplomacy of trying to explain that the room was full of hazardous chemicals and that he would never risk his physical safety for a high school crush. He excels at playing a guy who wants to do the right thing but cannot get out of his own way.