If you missed the first blog I wrote about Clear Water Comedy, then you need to rethink your life choices.

Clear Water Comedy is essentially Eau Claire’s very own SNL crew; they bring comics from all across the United States to The Plus every week, and they host numerous events around Eau Claire (including Open Mic and Trivia Night at The Plus on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, respectively).

OH YEAH, and Conan O’Brien knows who they are; he name-dropped them on his TV show last month.  If Conan knows who they are, then you should, too.

Here’s the low-down: Clear Water Comedy is a local stand-up group that puts together a comedy show for community members and visitors alike every Thursday night at The Plus (an amazing all-ages restaurant and entertainment venue located on Barstow Street). What better way is there to kick off your weekend than to laugh away all of the stress of work (or school) and order some half-off apps and taps?

Answer: There isn’t a better way.

Meet Pher, Eric, Mackenzie, and Ryan!

Pher

Q: Describe yourself in three words.

A: Manic-depressive. Nerdy. Crepuscular.

Q: How did comedy start for you?

A: Comedy started for me in about 2007 at a convention called Wisabicon. I was asked to do a stand-up set for 5-6 minutes, but it ended up being a 20-minute set. I had to do a lot of thinking on my feet, but it went pretty well. So, I decided to try Open Mic at The Plus in either September 2011. I made a lot of giant robots and anime nerd jokes, and then I met Cullen Ryan and Justin Schenck.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about Clear Water Comedy?

A: My favorite thing about Clear Water Comedy is that it’s noncompetitive. Clear Water Comedy is a family; everyone is supportive of each other, and it’s a community.

Q: What qualities do other comedians have that you admire?

A: Storytelling. I also really admire comedians who have their own unique style. Jordan, Cullen, Mackenzie, Eric, Christina, and everyone else in Clear Water Comedy have their own style of comedy. You can always expect something different when each person goes on stage.

Q: What process do you use to develop your stand-up material?

A: I run all of my jokes by my 6-year-old daughter. If it works on her, then I put it into text. I try to get immediate feedback; it usually takes me about a month or two to get a joke just right.

Q: What’s a weird fact about you?

A: When I was in middle school, I could play the mandolin with my feet.

(Additional fun fact: Pher just released an album called “Everybody is Having So Much Fun.” It’s available on iTunes, Spotify, and Tidal, and it’s very popular in Denmark right now.)

Q: If a deli named a sandwich after you, what would be on that sandwich?

A: The Pher: Roast beef, five cheese, coleslaw, and honey mustard.

 

Eric Christensen

Q: Describe yourself in three words.

A: Rocketship… that’s one word. Slow rocketship. Cheese. Effervescent.

Q: How did comedy start for you?

A: I was actually living in Minneapolis when I started doing comedy. I’ve been a friend of Jordan James for a long time, and I saw on Facebook that he was doing Open Mic at The Plus. I thought it sounded like fun, and it worked out really well because I had Tuesdays and Wednesdays off every week; so, I would drive down to Eau Claire for Open Mic on Tuesday, and then I’d drive back to Minneapolis on Wednesday.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about Clear Water Comedy?

A: I’ve met some of my closest friends through Clear Water Comedy, so I’d definitely say the relationships that I’ve created with others is my favorite thing. I like that we’re building somewhat of a community through our weekly shows; I’ve become friends with people who I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to meet because they come to our shows. It really brings people together.

Q: What qualities do other comedians have that you admire?

A: I have a lot of respect for people who are fast, sharp writers. I also have a lot of respect for people like Cullen, who might not know what jokes he’s telling one night but can totally engage the audience. I wish I was better at riffing, but I’m working on it.

Q: What process do you use to develop your stand-up material?

A: I try to think of mundane things and blend them together with other topics. My style is more of absurd humor, which is the type of humor you get from Eric Andre or Tim and Eric or even the abstract and referential humor you get from Cullen. I spend a lot of time developing my voice; it takes me a while to get into the right headspace.

Q: What’s a weird fact about you?

A: I grew up in the Home of the Hamburger (Seymour). Every year, they have a festival, and they include things like a parade, a hot air balloon, and a ketchup slide.

Q: Who are your ideal dinner guests?

A: Drake… just Drake. I think we could really hit it off. He likes good music, basketball, and money, and I like all of those things. Maybe he could take me to Canada (which is where he’s from), and then he’d buy me a car or something. I don’t know.

 

Mackenzie Bublitz

Q: Describe yourself in three words.

A: Cheesy. Boozehound. Tenacious.

Q: How did comedy start for you?

A: Comedy started for me after I took an improv class with Ben Richgruber at the State Theater. I joined the Backwards-Thinkers Society at UWEC, which is a student-run improv theater and comedy group. I did a Comedy Crawl with them, and then I met Christina Wolff, Jordan James, and Cullen Ryan. They convinced me to do Open Mic at The Plus. Even though it was only for two minutes, I was super nervous my first time. But now, here I am doing it… forever.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about Clear Water Comedy?

A: ALL THE THINGS... but really, my favorite thing is the support and the family vibes. With Clear Water Comedy, they’re all your friends and your comedy peers. It’s not competitive at all; it’s special.

Q: What qualities do other comedians have that you admire?

A: I admire comedians who are polished and really know their material. When it comes that naturally to them and they have confidence; that’s what I admire.

Q: What process do you use to develop your stand-up material?

A: I don’t really have a process. Whenever I think of an idea, I put it in the notes on phone. Later, I sit down and write out the joke, and then I test it out at Open Mic.

Q: What’s a weird fact about you?

A: I love the beef sticks at the Mousetrap.

Q: Who would win in a fight between Gordan Ramsay and Donald Trump (or Drumpf)?

A: Gordan Ramsay; he’s the cook, right? Yeah. He can use his kitchen utensils. He’d win.

 

Ryan Kahl

Q: Describe yourself in three words.

A: Good. Nice. Dumb.

Q: How did comedy start for you?

A: Comedy started for me when I was 18, so right after high school. My first Open Mic was in Rochester.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about Clear Water Comedy?

A: The sense of community. It feels like a family, and that’s unique because it’s not competitive. I feel like I can really trust everyone in Clear Water Comedy.

Q: What qualities do other comedians have that you admire?

A: I really admire Cullen because of his unending enthusiasm. In general, though, I admire comics who can make people laugh without resorting to low-hanging fruit.

Q: What process do you use to develop your stand-up material?

A: So, I get an idea, and it’s starts off as a skeleton. I put the idea in the notes on my phone, and then later I grab a notebook and really think about the subject. I write whatever comes to mind about that topic—anything at all—and I build the joke from there.

Q: What’s a weird fact about you?

A: I’m originally from Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Q: Who could you take in a fight?

A: Mackenzie Bublitz. I’d lose an eye, but she would lose both of her arms.

 

Upcoming Shows:

  • Chad Daniels – 9pm on Wednesday, November 9th at The Plus ($10 cover)
  • Aparna Nancherla – 9pm on Thursday, November 17th at The Plus ($10 cover)
  • Mike Recine – 9pm on Thursday, December 1st at The Plus ($5 cover)

Do you have a favorite comedian in Eau Claire; if so, who is it? Let us know in the comments section, and make sure you read the next comedy blog!