I really appreciate the artist who works their ass off.  Why?  I think it is obvious.  The truly great ones at anything are not only born with the ability, but also work hard to master that ability.  And sooner or later the world will be aware of these hard workers.  People have said to me that the entertainment industry is not fair and there is no guarantee that the truly talented will ever “make it.”  The truly talented who work hard will “make it” I believe.  I believe it is inevitably so because the universe does have a sense of justice…even if it takes awhile.

Tom Simmons -  Tom is the perfect example of what some people call, “too smart for you own good.”  I could not disagree more with those people.  His comedy is evidence that you do not have to hit people over the head with your politics to make a good and smart point all the while maintaining the comedic integrity of a joke teller.  People always default to Bill Hicks, at least most comics do when talking about relevant and political humor.  The reason I think this is true is because he never forgot about the joke.  Tom never forgets about the joke.  In fact, even if he has to go away from the joke for a little while, he ensures there is a well trained and responsible joke sitter there in his abscense, which he is constantly calling to check the status of the joke while he is gone.  I think you get the point.  To further clarify the type of comedian he is I will use these quick examples.  He has been told by numerous club owners, “You need to dumb it down for the people.”  Or, “Why don’t you tell jokes that aren’t so real?”  And other variations of those kinds of sentiments.  Someday this thought provoking comic will crawl his way to the top of the rock.  Here is some more of his stuff, but this bastard is another one of the creatures that needs to step up his online presence game.

Matthew Ryan -  Here is a musician that owned my ears for at least a year straight with his album May Day.  He was first introduced to me by my good friend Heath Galley.  The first time I heard him was on a burned disc as I drove from D.C. to Dayton, OH.  It was the only thing I listened to the whole drive.  I was convinced this album was a soundtrack to my life at the time and still need to be convinced otherwise.  Sometimes an artist can grab you by throat and command you listen to them over and over and over again.  Matthew Ryan’s grip still holds strong.  He is ahead of the curve by constantly putting his music and other videos online for his fans to check out.  He keeps his online world fresh, so as keep people like me appeased with new offerings of his awesomeness on a regular basis.  He may not be a household name, but his music is staggering.  If your life needs and injection of some fresh, gut-wrenching, edgy, beautiful, honest, and just awesome music, do yourself a favor and check him out.

This is the third installment of this series and this time I am going to be very selfish and self-centered.  I am taking this opportunith to possibly introduce you to two of my best friends in the business.  There styles are different, but their funny is extremely high.

Geoff Tate -  Geoff is the type of guy who will sneak up on you with his funny, brash and unapologetic style of storytelling and joke making.  If you want to know what the life of that crazy son of a bitch was like that you probably knew when you were younger who was into drugs and seemed to have a death wish, sit back and listen to Geoff.  Well, its all come full circle for him now as he balances his crazy ass past with his seemingly adult and mature present with a wife and dog.  One thing growing up hasn’t done is take the edge off his ability to make you laugh.  Simply said, he’s a beast on stage with a seemingly endless vault of material.

Dave Waite -  If there was a clear way to describe this whack job of a guy, I would do it.  But, there is not.  You have to see Dave to know what I am talking about.  He is the perfect example of a headshot and bio not giving you any real idea of the funny you will witness.  If there was ever a reason to go to a comedy club and see a live show, Dave would be it.  Some of the best experiences I have ever had in a comedy club is watching an audience not get Dave.  It only makes him amp his energy up even more.  I really try hard not to judge people, but I will judge whether or not someone has any clue about comedy by whether or not they think Dave is funny.  If they do not, I will not even talk to that person.

I know most of you are too busy to stop and turn this rock over by yourself, so I am going to do it for you. You may already know some of these comedians, but we can just chalk that up to you being an astute comedy fan.  You will have your hands full trying to absorb all you can about the next two creatures I am showing you that live “Under the Rock.” It won’t be long before they, too are atop the rock.

Andi Smith – I get tired, I get down and I get a little indignant from time to time. But, I know I always can count on the dark and brilliant mind of Andi to make me laugh at all the horrible bullshit around me. If you think women cannot be funny, I’ve got news for you – you’re wrong and Andi will tell you you’re wrong. Not only will she tell, she will prove it by dropping some of the best jokes you will hear and then force them down your close-minded throat. If you like comedy that is real, even too real for the common, strip mall comedy club patron, you will thank me if you’ve never heard her stuff. Enjoy.

Hannibal Burress – Check Hannibal out and you will be reminded that yes, stand up comedy is still an artform and there are still people out there doing it for the love. There are easy ways to the top and there are the longer, round about ways to the top of this game and everyone Under the Rock takes the round about way. The round about way is the unrelenting, stay true to yourself way and Hannibal could be the poster boy for it. Some comics make you feel like you’re watching a tennis match with all the movement on stage, Hannibal sits back and lets the words do the talking. His comedy is like lethal injection, not the electric chair…and it kills.