4/29 Lineup!

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Ladies and gentlemen, it was a rocky transition, but we are back, we are focused, and we are ready to knock you out with our comedy, and our comedic friends. We can’t thank you enough for sticking with us in this transitional period, and now it’s payback time. It’s time for us to pay you back with shows that literally could not be better.

I mean, come on. Check this lineup out:

Your headliner, Liza Treyger

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Liza is just the best, you guys. Whether it’s on a stage in front of hundreds of people or in the corner of a party discussing conspiracy theories, Liza is always going to be entertaining. And, she will have an opinion, and that opinion will be heard. In the past year, Liza has gone from “a great comic” to “literally one of the best in the city.” It’s been a wonderful transition to watch, but you know what’s just as good? Seeing her now. Like you can this week, at The Comedy Evening.

With…

Chris Condren

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Some people call Chris Condren “weird,” some call him a genius. Truth be told, both may be accurate, but that’s how it always goes. Someone who is a true individual will always be judged by those who are not. This is getting awfully heady for the third sentence of an intro for a comedian, but that’s just how it goes. Chris is a hilarious performer who’s been featured in the Just For Laughs Festival, and if you’ve never experienced his brand of humor, you owe it to yourself to come enjoy it this week.

Eliot Rahal

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We could not be more excited to have Eliot Rahal back with us this week. Until about 9 months (very rough estimate) ago, Eliot was a beloved friend and comic here in Chicago. Then, he moved to Knoxville, TN to pursue his love, his comedy, and his comic book career. We’re happy to report that he’s been successful in all his chase of all three. We’re even happier to have his sometime-insulting-but-always-uplifting self back with us for a visit.

Jeff Arcuri

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There’s nothing bad I can really say about Jeff Arcuri, not that I’m just going around looking for bad things to say about people. Jeff’s just a really funny guy with a great attitude. For a while, I thought he was bald, so I assumed that was what humbled him, but then, when he grew out a real nice head of hair, I realized that he had just been shaving his head. My only other theory? Good parents. Could be good parents. Whatever the case is, we’re excited to welcome him to the show this week.

Plus, special guests? Who knows? It could happen. It certainly has before, like that time Nick Thune dropped by, or that time James Adomian dropped by, or that time Hannibal Buress dropped by. Anything can happen is what I’m saying.

And, as always, the drink specials will be going nuts, the popcorn will be free, and our “award-winning” dance party will rage on deep into the night after the show. We’re really starting to get the good Comedy Evening vibe going in our new location, and we could really use your help keeping that going. I certainly hope to see you all there.

4/15 Lineup!

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With things having been so in flux and chaotic, this website has not been getting updated like it needs to be. But no longer. From next week forward, the site will feature the information and bios you’ve come to love, and the pictures you’ve come to expect.

That said, this week is still a little bit of a mess, and I just don’t have the time to find pics and write bios explaining exactly how much I love the people performing this week.  Trust me, I wish I had the time; I really miss the lovefest that this site turns into. Fills me with warmth, you know?

So, suffice it to say that I am a huge fan of everyone whose name you’re about to read. They’re all some of the most talented, most spectacular comics in the city, and we’re super excited to have them with us for our first show at Wise Fools Pub (2270 N. Lincoln).

Your headliner…Saurin Choksi (The Lincoln Lodge, Chox N Brizz)

With….

* Megan Gailey (YFF, Naked Sports Live)

* Jim Zekis (“@RexVaginas” on Twitter, unstoppable joke machine)

* David Drake (host of Three Dead Moose)

* Will Miles (2 Black Dudes, April’s Comedian-In-Residence)

As always, even though we’re in a new location, the drink specials will be fantastic, the popcorn machine will be in the building, and our “award-winning” dance party will rage on deep into the night after the show. We’ve got one more familiar thing coming with us from Ace, but I’m going to let that be a surprise. It’s something we’re really excited about though.

Hope to see you all there.

Important Announcement Regarding The Future

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We’re sorry that we haven’t posted the lineups for the last few shows. You see, things have been a little chaotic, generally speaking.

It is with a great deal of sadness that I come to you today. After 11 months of unbelievably fun shows there, this week will be the last week that we put on The Comedy Evening at Ace Bar. I cannot get too much into the reasons behind the move, but suffice it to say that under ideal circumstances, we would never consider relocating.

The first time I set foot in the bar, I completely fell in love with the space. It was McDunna’s back then and it was home to a fairly uncomfortable open mic, but I knew that the space had an amazing untapped potential. The size of the room, the height of the stage, the overall ambience; it was a perfect performance space. Years later, new ownership had come to the bar. The place was alive, so much fun. Nate Burrows and Eliot Rahal had taken over the Sunday night open mic, and the energy was substantially improved. I loved it, and made it out as much as my decency would allow (I had no job at the time, so late drunk Sunday nights were much easier to pull off back then).

My life in Chicago comedy will always be inexorably tied with Ace. So many of my favorite conversations have taken place there. So many friendships have been built or strengthened there. The first real show I helped produce, ChiTown Comedy (shout out Timmy Brochu and Gary Lee), took place there. And now, the thing I’m most proud of (by a large margin), The Comedy Evening, takes place there.

Ace has been a home, in the truest sense of the word. The staff have been so supportive, to the point where they have made themselves part of the show, part of the experience of the event. It’s hard to imagine the show being as fun as it has been without Ashley, Eric, and Chuck behind the bar (and Angie, when she would fill in). Our sound man, Asim, has gone out of his way over and over again to help us put on a professional show, to the point of taking on duties that extended outside of the actual show. Pedro was a beast in that kitchen, and those burgers will be greatly missed.

It pains me greatly to leave, and I highly doubt we’ll ever be able to find a crew like the one we have at Ace, but we have to move forward.

Beginning on 4/15, we will be putting on our show at Wise Fools Pub, at 2270 N. Lincoln Ave. All the details will remain the same, we’ll just be at a different bar. Still Monday nights at 9 PM. Still “pay what you want” for cover. Still rocking the “award-winning” dance party after the show.

We can’t thank you enough for all the support you’ve shown us over the last (almost) year, and it would mean the world to us if you would come out and party with us for our last show at Ace. It would also mean the world to us if you would make the trip with us, and join us moving forward at Wise Fools.

All that said, we are keeping this week’s lineup a secret. Suffice it to say that it will be amazing, and worth coming out. Please do join us.

3/18 Lineup!

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Ladies and gentlemen, what a hoot last week was. I can’t say enough how fun that show was, and how excited I am to do it all over again on Monday. We hope you’ll join us again, or if you missed the last show, we hope you know better than to make that mistake again. I mean, check out this lineup:

Your headliner…Derek Smith

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If there were some sort of 6 Degrees of Chicago Comedy game, the game would go from kind of fun to just pretty boring once you realized you could use Derek Smith to connect just about anyone. The man is prolific is what I’m saying. Derek is not only one of the funniest and most engaging comics in the city, but he also has a seemingly bottomless supply of energy that he funnels directly into making fantastic tee-shirts and producing some of the best shows in town, including but not limited to The Lincoln Lodge and Speakeasy Comedy. Please do yourself a favor and come see him headline our show this week.

With…

Aaron Weaver

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Aaron Weaver is without a doubt one of the best comics currently working around Chicago. His material and style are so infectious that I absolutely cannot imagine an audience not just loving him. His laid-back flow somehow perfectly match his deceptively deep insights into the human condition. Every time Aaron’s been at our show (or any show I’ve seen him at, for that matter), it’s been an unbelievably funny time, and this week will be no different. I don’t mean to put it too bluntly, but if you don’t come see him, you are really doing yourself the opposite of a favor.

Nate Simmons

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There are few comics around who have the drunk story-telling chops of a Nate Simmons. Whether you spot him on stage or hovering around a keg at a college party, when you see him raise that glass, you better just strap it down and enjoy, ’cause a great story is a-comin’. He’s a cast member of Chicago Underground Comedy, and an absolute hoot.  Come on out, grab a drink, and let the doctor do his work.

Kyle Scanlan

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Not only is Kyle Scanlan the host of one of the best open mics in the city (Sully’s House, Thursday nights), but he’s also the creator of The Whiskey Journal, perhaps Chicago’s strongest satirical news blog.  He’s a real funny guy with a real respectable beard, so you’d really be a fool not to come take both of those things in. A treat for your eyes and ears!

And, as always, the drink specials will be popping off, the popcorn will be free, and our “award-winning” dance party will rage on long into the night after the show. As we get closer and closer to our 1st anniversary, we just keep thinking about how much fun it’s been doing this show and dance partying with you all over the course of this year, and we pray it keeps on a rolling forward. Hope to see you all there.

3/11 Lineup!

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Ladies and gentlemen, I cannot thank you all enough for the outpouring of support shown last week at the show for The Nicest Guys In Town fundraiser. I hate to speak in specifics, but let’s just say that the money raised at the show last week alone is enough for us to buy new mics for our studio. God bless you all.  In an attempt to thank you for it all, we’ve put together this fantastic lineup for you this week:

Your headliner…Danny Kallas

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Danny Kallas is Chicago comedy in human form. No one is a bigger supporter of what this city could achieve, no one a better motivator of blossoming talent, than Danny. And that just makes sense, as Danny’s comedy is a lot like the city itself: a perfect combination of charming and aggressive, erudite and working-class, insightful and goofy. It’s no coincidence that Danny is our first re-returning headliner, so if you missed him before, now is your chance to make up. If you saw him before, you know better than to miss it. Either way, come on out, you goons.

With…

Charlie Bury

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If you don’t know who Charlie Bury is, you’d better ask somebody. I’ll wait. Oh, you’re home alone at your computer and have no one to ask? Alright, I’ll tell you, since you asked so nicely. Charlie Bury is one of the hottest, freshest comics coming up in Chicago right now. There are a lot of comics around who are great at what they do, but there are few who were made specifically for comedy. With his immense talent in writing, performance, impressions, and just straight-up talking, I posit that Charlie Bury is absolutely one of those rare, precious comics. Do yourself a favor and come enjoy him with us this week.

Cameron Gillette

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Cameron Gillette is the kind of guy who would like you to think that he’s really antisocial or awkward, at least that’s what his public persona would seem to suggest. But, I’ll tell you this: approximately a year and a half ago, Cameron Gillette introduced himself to me in the bathroom at an open mic. Is that the act of an awkward person? Wait, I guess it kind of is. A real bold awkward person. Thankfully, he’s also a real funny person, so I’ll just go ahead and leave that awkward/bold question alone.

Sean White

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Boy, it is hard for me to try to describe Sean White. Not because I don’t know him at all or because he’s mysterious; it’s just that I don’t want to give away anything. I don’t want to ruin any of the surprises or fun of seeing him. Suffice it to say that Sean’s a great comic, very dark and very funny, and I’m sure you’ll absolutely love him.

And as always, our “award-winning” dance party will rage on late into the evening after the show. Oh, and the drink specials will be popping off, and the popcorn will be free. I cannot wait for the fun, and hope you all come out and join us.

3/4 Lineup!

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Ladies and gentlemen, I hate that I have to do this, to come to you in this state. I just really need your help. You see, me and some of my funny friends are trying to start up this podcast network and multimedia content website and we’re really coming down to the wire toward our launch date. Things are coming along, but the thing is I need you to help us with…celebrating how awesome all this is going to be.

This show will begin the one week countdown to the launch of our website, The Nicest Guys In Town, and we’ve put this amazing lineup together for you, filled with the podcasters from the network, and a couple of really special guests. Check this out:

Your headliner…Matt Riggs

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Matt Riggs is the co-host of one of our flagship podcasts “Bad News, Good Timing,” where Matt, Joe Fernandez, and a guest break down the week’s headlines using excellent timing. At least, that’s what they intend to do, but more often than not, they just have hilarious, charming chats about personal news items. If you like Matt’s relaxed, conversational sense of humor, you’ll absolutely love Bad News, Good Timing. Give it a look, won’t you?

With…

Renee Gauthier

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In the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you that Renee Gauthier is a very special guest, and does not have a podcast on our network. We wish she did though. Renee’s just such a funny lady, and she’s got a voice I could listen to for hours. Though she hails from Chicago, she’s now living in LA, tours all over the place, and has been all over cable and network television. We’re thrilled to have her this week, and we’re sure you’ll just love her.

Joe McAdam

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Some people might describe Joe McAdam’s comedy as immature or stupid, but that doesn’t really matter. Anybody who would think or say such a thing is just showing their own stupidity.  Joe’s an amazingly talented man whose creations my be misunderstood by the stupider among us. He’s like some of the great rock-n-roll artists in that way, which is only fitting, as he and Nicholas Rouley host Revolutions Per Minute, a fantastic music podcast on our network. Come enjoy him this week, and check out his wonderful podcast.

Edgar Allan Poe

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Honestly, I’m not sure how Edgar Allan Poe ended up on the lineup this week, but he did. This is really a pretty a pretty big “get” for us, so come and enjoy the man who inspired H.P. Lovecraft and all the greatest spooky writers of our time.

Nicholas Rouley

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Nicholas Rouley, or as DJ Jamz Earl Jones refers to him, “that dude loves to talk about anal.” I don’t know what Jamz is talking about; I think Nicholas talks about anal just about the right amount. You know what I think? I think that DJ Jamz Earl Jones doesn’t talk about anal enough, which leads me to believe that he either has never “taken the long way home,” or he does so exclusively. Either way, that has little to do with how funny Nicholas is, both on stage, and as Joe McAdam’s co-host on Revolutions Per Minute.

And as always, the drink specials will be popping off, the popcorn will be free, and our “award-winning” dance party will be raging on throughout the night after the show. Most of the proceeds from this show will go directly toward The Nicest Guys In Town fundraiser, raising money to build a better recording studio, so it would really mean a lot to us if you all came out and joined us. If you feel like donating, great, but if not, we would still love to have you there, joining us in celebration. Hope to see you all there.

2/25 Lineup!

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Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for my tardiness. This is coming to you so late. I wish I had some sort of legitimate excuse, but the truth is that I descended into a drunken stupor for a couple days there. I was a little bummed out about some stuff. Oh no, don’t worry, it had nothing to do with you. You’re great. You’re the best. You do the opposite of bum me out.

Seriously, do you think that if you bummed me out, I’d have this lineup for you this week?

Your headliner…Kenny DeForest

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The Midnight Rambler! One of our favorites, Kenny DeForest, comes back to the show this week for what promises to be a presentation of hilarious and insightful things. That’s what you get when you go see Kenny, you get very funny things that shine light on important topics. You might get a good drug story too, but even that will be hilarious and insightful. Kenny’s one of the comics in town who is most interested in searching for truth and it really comes out in his stand-up, which is only one of the many reasons we’re excited to bring him to you this week.

With…

Caitlin Bergh

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If you were a lazy person, you would absolutely hate Caitlin Bergh. This girl has a serious productivity streak, which goes a long way toward explaining why she has an impressive resume going. She’s a cast member of the Lincoln Lodge, she created the critically-acclaimed Funny Story Show, she runs Performance Anxiety (a comedy show at a sex shop), and now she’s in the middle of a run of her first one-woman show Chunks. To be honest, I got exhausted just typing all that out. While I may not quite have the drive to get as much done as Caitlin, I’m glad she does. The world could always use more quality projects.

Matteo Lane

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Matteo Lane is one of the rarest sorts of talents around. He’s got stand-up chops, he has the voice of a song-bird, and has an actual, marketable skill to go along with it in his drawing ability. You see, most of us either don’t have any useful creative skills or we never think to spend time developing them, choosing instead to spend our precious time watching season 3 of LOST again. I mean, granted, there are some great episodes in there, but still, I highly doubt I’ll be able to find a job in New York drunkenly rambling about how great Flashes Before Your Eyes is. Matteo was able to find a job in New York, illustrating, and we’re very excited to have him back in town visiting us this week.

David Phillips

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It’s been almost six months since David Phillips has been with us at the show, and would you believe it, he still has no better pictures of himself doing stand up on Facebook. I’m not sure what I’m amazed by more; his complete disinterest in upping his online presence, or his unbelievable lack of ego, as evidenced by his disinterest in upping his online presence. I mean, I know the guy, and trust me, his talent deserves at least six or seven quality pictures of him doing stand-up online. What I’m saying is, please, can some photographer come out this week and snap a good one for him?

Jesse Silva

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Jesse Silva is a fantastic comic out of Kenosha, WI. Some people in smaller towns have a tough time developing as performers, but to Jesse’s credit, that is not a problem he has. One could make the argument that this is due to a natural talent, and that’s definitely a part of it, but I would be remiss if I didn’t give credit to his hustle, working hard doing shows regionally, and creating Shameless Comedy, a fantastic local show. We’re big fans of the man, and we’re excited to have him at this show this week.

That’s a hell of a show. A lot of exciting new faces, and a couple old friends, plus, get this…we will be blessed by a visit from guest host Marty DeRosa. It just does not get more exciting than this. And, as always, the drink specials will be popping off, the popcorn will be free, and our “award-winning” dance party will rage on late into the night after the show ends. I hope to see you all there.