King of Curmudgeon

Professional funnyman Lewis Black has made a living off of his perpetual state of rage -- and justifiably so. He is better known now for his sarcastic, politically inspired "Back In Black" segments on The Daily Show With Jon Stewart that highlight the confounding conundrums of the modern world than his work as a playwright in 1980s New York. Black often appears to be mid-aneurysm during his performances; he's a proud socialist, and he proudly claims the International House of Pancakes as his gym. A jack-of-all-trades, one might say. His new tour, In God We Rust, makes its St. Louis stop at the newly reopened Peabody Opera House (1400 Market Street; 314-499-7600 or www.peabodyoperahouse.com). The show starts at 8 p.m., and tickets range from $36.50 to $72.
Fri., Feb. 3, 2012