Influences Update 2009 and beyond:


I have been realizing lately as I go from comedy show to comedy show (in a collection of equally improbable locations) that I have been changing from one "style" of comedy to another pretty quickly these last few months here in sunny L.A.

I think more then anything this comes from a new perception of comedy brought on from the change of local. I have a new lease on what the real art is because I have a much broader spectrum of live shows to see, and much LESS interest in the people who make it on TV with the whole sold-out side of the art form.

Still mostly TV comedians like George Carlin, Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, Louis C.K., Patton Oswalt, Eddie Izzard, Dennis Leary, Sam Kinison and mostly Bill Hicks.

Frankly it comes as no surprise that most of those men are dead... and long so... as modern comedy is still trying so hard to capture the lightning in a bottle of the Pryor era that its lost focus of where it is going... at least on TV. The few living comics that are mostly TV seen are obscure.. or unique in their focus on say... obscure history improvisation.

More then anything I am influenced by comedians that I play with or see live here in LA... with the obvious exclusion of GEORGE HAMM who is now, and always will be my greatest influences...

George "Hammy" Hamm is in my mind (and I am not alone in this) the greatest comic to ever could out of Maine and the anchor that keeps the Comedy Connection profitable and present...

He has something that all Portland comics have tried to mimic from day one... he is comfortable... almost vibrant on stage... and he is human and real and all of this adds to a level of pure funny that is seriously... jaw dropping! I have never... never... never... seen him unable to find a crowd, even the hardest crowds with the worst attitude warm up to the man. He has so much material in his head that he can adapt to any audience pull, any suggestion, any shouted random comment. The man is a master comic and he more then anyone showed me what I need to do to "do it right". He is also a great friend and charming entertainer of not just audiences but folks outside smoking etc... he's just a born entertainer... and I love seeing him work. I doubt I would be able to capture that magic in any whole way, but I try to channel little bits on stage and I know it makes me a better comic.

Also from the Portland Comedy Connection I am strongly influenced by Tuck, Joe Riccio and Rich Pickford... who both found unique voices and delivery and are never afraid of being themselves on stage and that's an important lesson to have been taught. Also just great people, who keep that inter-fraternity of comics fun and humanizing.

Following me to LA, and in many ways contributing to the LA comedy landscape as soon as they arrived were my fellow Insiders of Comedy; Dan Fredricson and Dustin David who I have the advantage of "growing up with" comedicly. We have learned from and taught each other. Dustin of course couldn't be any closer to me then any other comic and we talk about all these developmental things and bumps in the road. Dan is like liquid inspiration and working with him to this day helps me write.

"Honorary Insiders" Kevin Kneles, Ian Harvie, and Tony Moschetto are also people I can totally look up too, and who teach me about some of the most important stage lessons but also mostly being at it longer then me can help me with the "why am I doing this" questions we all have.

Here in LA however I have found some real amazing folks that have changed the way I see comedy... and who have made me want to get better, faster, but also to capture something of their unique spark and style that entertains me so much. I am strongly influenced in LA mostly by: Duncan Trussell, Kyle Kinine, Natash Leggero, Ian Bagg, Yassir Lester, Leah Myette, Matt Fulchiron, Eddie Pence, Hugh Moore, Fancy Ray McCloony, Dragon Boy Suede, Ron Lynch, Mark Ellis, Ed Greer, Angelo Bowers and Mack Lindsay (who I can't say enough about).

Its been such a gift to work along side all these great comedians and to learn from them.

I adore their work so much, its the best part about comedy is to be so close to so much amazing talent and often free.

I love comedy, and its mostly because of people like these... who make me strive to be better every day!