This was going to be a simple preview. I was going to tell you faithful readers about The Iron Post and its comedy show at 10:00 p.m. on Friday night. I was going to tell you a little about the openers and the headliner and, I thought, I would urge you to see the show. That’s not the case anymore. I’ve changed my mind.
I talked to Mat Alano-Martin, the headliner of Friday’s show. He’s been studying comedians his whole life. He’s sharp and he knows his stuff. Mat is downright delightful. If reading this interview doesn’t make you want to hear what he has to say onstage, I don’t know what else could.
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Smile Politely: How did you get started? Did you always have a knack for stage work?
Mat Alano-Martin: I was a touring musician for 10+ years, and people would always comment on how funny I was in between songs — my stage banter and interactions with the audience, etc. So, when I hit a wall in music, creatively and emotionally, I put my guitar down. The next week, I did my first comedy open mic. I did comedy shows for about two years before getting picked up by a booking agency, at which point I jumped in completely and haven’t looked back.
SP: Was there something you did as a kid that was a sign of your future in comedy?
Alano-Martin: I was a comedy nerd as a kid. Used to record Dr. Demento off the radio every week … sneak out of my bedroom and watch SNL … listened to my parents’ Bill Cosby and Bob Newhart albums when they were gone. I loved it. But growing up in the rural countryside at that time … there wasn’t a comedy club anywhere close. You never met anyone who was a comic, so the road map on how to do that was completely obscured. I went into music instead because there was an obvious path to follow that interest. By the time I went to college, and Comedy Central was becoming a big influence in culture, and I lived in a place that had a comedy club, I was very committed to music. So I just remained a super fan and didn’t explore it until much later. I’ve done a lot of different thing in my life, but nothing has felt as ‘right’ as doing stand-up does.
SP: I grew up a Cosby junkie, too! What was your favorite bit?
Alano-Martin: As a kid, I really loved the God talking to Moses bit. I used to go around and do that ‘Riiiggggghhhht’ all the time, which I’m sure was incredibly annoying.
SP: Any other comedic influences other than Bill Cosby?
Alano-Martin: My influences when I first started were Dave Attell and Dave Chappelle. I really was, and still am, blown away by how infinitely creative Attell is in what seem to be a pretty defined and one-dimensional character. You can never see the punch line before it gets there. That and the fact that his jokes are so lean. Chappelle I love because he kind of improved upon the Richard Pryor model, where you can talk about and make a fantastic joke about some very serious real world issues like race or poverty, and then follow it up with a dick joke. And they’re both great [jokes] and it doesn’t seem odd [to] be talking about both.
Now that I’ve been doing [stand-up] for a while, I’m more influenced on [a] technical level by people I work with. The way they structure a joke or their timing. Working with really great people makes me constantly re-examine what I’m doing and helps me grow. To see someone who has mastered their own voice and approach. Stewart Huff is a perfect example of that, and I often refer to him as my comedy spirit animal.
SP: Are there any subjects you shy away from or don’t think are funny?
Alano-Martin: I don’t really shy away from any topics. I think comics who are really good can talk about any topics, no matter how controversial or how banal and still make it funny and interesting to most people. That’s what I shoot for.
SP: I have to ask: How do you feel about Louis CK? When I heard he used his previous closer as his new opening, my jaw dropped. It’s more than a little ballsy.
Alano-Martin: Louis? That HACK???!!!
Just kidding of course. He’s amazing. He’s definitely in his golden period where everything is clicking. It’s inspiring, since it came late in his career. It’s also a testament to his bravery to scrap everything he was doing and start over. Then to maintain that model of writing an entire new hour every year (which is something he got from [George] Carlin) is really ambitious and commendable.
SP: How do you feel about cursing or “offensive” words?
Alano-Martin: Comics — or anyone for that matter — who swear all the time rob those words of any power they might have. If you really need to say “fuck” in a joke to make it work, but you’ve been saying “fuck” constantly throughout your set, you’ve lessened the impact of it. I think curse words are great when used appropriately.
SP: I could not agree any fucking more. Have you ever performed in C-U or at The Iron Post?
Alano-Martin: I’ve never done comedy in C-U, but, when I was a musician, I played at The Canopy Club a few times. I opened for Murder by Death and Asobi Seksu. From what I remember, I liked it quite a bit there, so I’m looking forward to [this show].
SP: I’m really looking forward to it! If you’re in town for the day, check out downtown Urbana. Crane Alley and Black Dog are especially good for food and tasty beer.
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