Photo: provided
Not only has Cincinnati produced dozens of homegrown
stand-up comics, it has been the adopted hometown of several more. That
list includes Greg Warren, Mike Lukas and Jeremy Essig. The latter came
to the area to attend grad school at Miami University, but decided to
drop out four days before the start of classes. Instead, he started
doing stand-up at Joker’s in Dayton and Go Bananas in Montgomery. He
tried graduate school again a few years ago.
“I was kind of at a
crossroads and wasn’t sure what I wanted to do,” he explains. An offer
to tour with comedian Brian Posehn pulled him out of grad school once
again. “I wasn’t super familiar with having a job. Graduate school is
fine, but what I was doing before was way better.” Over the years, his
style has evolved. “I started when I was 22. I didn’t feel comfortable
in my own skin and I didn’t like a lot of the people around me. I just
didn’t feel like I fit in. There was…a certain punk-ness to it. Now it’s
kind of personal. I’m in a better headspace. Not to ruin anything, but
I’m happier.” $8-$12. Through Sunday, Jan. 6. Go Bananas Comedy Club, 8410
Market Place Lane, Montgomery. 513-984-9288, gobananascomedy.com.
