Originally published in Applause section, The Augusta Chronicle, 9/10/2014.
By Jeremy Craig
Sept. 10, 2014
When Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong’s Up In Smoke first debuted in 1978, the United States was in a different place culturally – and legally – than today when it came to marijuana.
Pot was illegal in all 50 states and on the fringes of polite society, but stoners had a subculture all of their own – and the duo’s humor reflected it, with the film becoming one of the highest-grossing motion pictures that year.
Perhaps they’ve had the last laugh – or maybe the ongoing laughs. Fast forward to 2014 – marijuana is legal recreationally in two states and for medical uses in countless others.
The humor might seem at first glance no longer edgy as pot is not underground among many Americans – but the laughs endure, and the hilarity of the duo’s classic sketches is coming to Augusta.
Cheech & Chong’s Up In Smoke Tour with the band War will stop at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, at Bell Auditorium, 712 Telfair St. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are $29.50 to $77.50 from the James Brown Arena box office, (706) 724-2400 or augustaentertainmentcomplex.com.
Marin said no matter how the times change, live performance is a passion.
“We love playing,” said Marin in a telephone interview. “There’s still a demand for it, and there seems to be a big audience. We like to play, to travel and see our audience.”
Chong, who is preparing to appear as a contestant on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars, said they’ve found themselves on a side of the marijuana debate that is becoming more and more respectable.
“One time, we were outside of the law,” he said. “We were outlaws, and now it’s becoming the norm, y’know. In the ‘straight’ world, there’s no us and them anymore. We’re just a bunch of ‘us-es.’ ”
The show is billed as an integration of songs from War’s catalog, from Why Can’t We Be Friends, Low Rider and Cisco Kid, into a combination of the comedy duo’s own songs such as Earache My Eye, Basketball Jones and Mexican Americans.
And of course, some of Cheech and Chong’s iconic skits such as Dave’s Not Here, Santa Claus and His Magic Dust and Sister Mary Elephant will be along for the ride.
“My favorite sketch is probably Low Rider, Chong said. “That really was Up In Smoke. It really was the king pin to Up In Smoke. It really separated Cheech and Chong from the rest of the comic world.”
War, which collaborated with Cheech and Chong along with other musical acts – recently released their first new album in 20 years.
“It’s been fun to collaborate,” Marin said. “We had their music throughout the movie – it was really cool. People in our audience really get them. With the fans, the most consistent thing we found at the end of the shows (on the tour) is that everybody is there, the audience, on their feet through the whole thing. It’s amazing.”
Marin and Chong have been around the country for the past six years with the act since their first reunion show in 2009.
When it came to picking up where they left off years ago, Marin said it was second nature.
“It’s part of my DNA at this point,” Marin said. “When we got back together, we didn’t rehearse – we just went out and did it. It was like we were separated for 20 minutes rather than 20 years.”
Of course, coming to the South, they’re entering a more culturally conservative region than other parts of the country. But stoners are stoners, and their fans are their fans, no matter where the pair go.
“It’s pretty much universal … whether South or North or East or West,” Marin said. “They know what they’re getting when they come.”
And the subculture in more conservative regions actually have the most radical subcultures, Chong said.
“I think we have probably more fans, really die hard fans in those areas,” Chong said. “And like I’ve said, we are becoming more respectable.”
Marin said they’ve found their fans not only to be part of the baby boomer set who grew up with their humor – but also younger folks.
“It’s amazing – it’s like Noah’s Ark – there’s two of everything,” he said. “What’s amazing is that younger kids have Cheech and Chong tattoos – facial tattoos, tattoos all over their body … that’s amazing. It’s like a cult.”
Beyond touring, Marin and Chong have been quite busy – Marin’s collection of Chicano art has been touring the nation and he said another movie may be in the pair’s future. Marin is also working on a few TV projects.
Right before his phone interview with The Augusta Chronicle, Chong had been talking to his trainer as he gets ready for this season’s Dancing With the Stars.
There might be a stereotype of laziness and lessened mental acuity with stoners – but Chong was sharp as a proverbial tack at age 76 as he rattled off his activities, and said he’s in good shape for his age as he’s been doing the strenuous workouts of CrossFit for two years.
“We’ve been rehearsing five to six hours a day doing routines,” he said. “I’ve always loved dancing. When I played music, it was for dances. … What keeps you going is love of music and dance.”
Salsa will be his strongest dance, he said, as he performs with his dancing partner Peta Murgatroyd.
“That’s the only problem I have is that she’s so beautiful that it’s hard to concentrate,” Chong joked. Of course, so as to not wind up in the doghouse, he gave mention to his wife, Shelby.
“I just want to say that my wife, Shelby, opens the show,” he said. “She’s a very, very funny – very beautiful lady, and is the prize of the show.”