Though he has plenty of material about things like deer not being able to hear car horns and what it was like growing up poor, Jimmy Dore describes his current set as more “current eventsy.” With the success of his DVD/concert special Citizen Jimmy, the Chicago native is taking on more of today’s hot-button issues. “Right now I’m talking about the bailout, the healthcare thing. Gay marriage and medical marijuana, the usual topics.” Of course, it’s not all serious subjects. “Jenna Jameson was on Oprah,” recalls Dore, “and she said that her goal when she got into porn was she wanted to be the biggest porn star in the world, and do it with dignity. The joke I do is ‘Hey, fellas, take it easy. You’re getting a little jizz on my monocle!’"
When he’s not doing stand-up, Dore hosts a radio show on KPFK in L.A., as well as the podcast Comedy and Everything Else. The former he describes as a cross between The Daily Show and This American Life, while the latter is more a look at comedy and pop culture. With his material being so involved in today’s issues, is it hard to stay funny? Not according to Dore. “It’s so ridiculous what’s happening, it is obviously corrupt. Whether it’s the healthcare debate or Wall Street, it’s just so obviously corrupt.”
Jimmy Dore performs at Go Bananas in Montgomery Thursday-Sunday. Tickets are $8-$12. Get showtimes, tickets and find nearby bars and restaurants here.