Oliver Anthony, The Viral "Rich Men North Of Richmond" Singer, Dropped In For A Surprise Performance At Joe Rogan's Comedy Mothership Last Night
Virginian Pilot. Getty Images.Oliver Anthony is having an absolute fucking month. It was THREE WEEKS ago that he posted "Rich Men North of Richmond" on YouTube from the woods near his home. Of course the song immediately went to #1 on the Billboard and the YouTube video now has almost 50 million views, thanks to it being shared by some of media's biggest personalities—including God himself, Joe Rogan.
You know this song was a force to be reckoned with when the NYTimes had to write a clarifying article about Anthony's lyrical subtext following the recent Republican debate:
“It’s aggravating seeing people on conservative news try to identify with me like I’m one of them,” he said. “I see the right, trying to characterize me as one of their own. And I see the left trying to discredit me.”
“It was funny seeing that presidential debate,” Anthony said [of the Republican debaters who referenced his song]. “I wrote that song about those people.” - NY Times
The song is wonderful, and it underscores that you don't necessarily need a massive recording studio or a record label behind you in order to become a sensation these days. Anthony's dogs are chilling on the forest floor at his feet as he strums his way through a life-changing performance. There's a folding soccer mom chair in the scene too.
But from this blogger's perspective, Anthony's crowning coronation came last night, when Tom Segura brought him up to perform at Joe Rogan's incredible new comedy club in Austin—the Comedy Mothership.
Such a cool moment. Maybe I'm overanalyzing, but my guess is that this comedy crowd is expecting Segura to announce someone like Chappelle as a special drop-in surprise, as comic stars of that caliber have become the norm at the Mothership. Instead, he announces Oliver Anthony. Now, Oliver Anthony's name isn't maybe as recognizable yet as his viral song, so the pop for his name isn't huge. But when he emerges from the curtains with his trademark resonator guitar, red hair and beard, the crowd goes nuts. "OH IT'S THIS GUY! THE RICH MEN NORTH OF RICHMOND GUY!! FUCK YES."
But soon, if not already, Oliver Anthony's name will result in immediate ovations. Well done young man! Just another prince-made-king by the kingmaker himself, Joe Rogan.
