April 25, 2012

Music

Chuckletown, USA

Mike Baldwin Is a Dopey-Eyed Genius

by Cienna Madrid

MIKE BALDWIN IS A DOPEY-EYED GENIUS

Comedian Mike Baldwin might act like he was routinely dropped on his head as a child (and again as an adult)—in fact, he cultivates that impression with his Southern drawl, dopey grin, wide eyes, and relatively mild, profanity-free material. But it only takes a few minutes of watching Baldwin explain in his gentle, hopeful voice that winter is the best season because cops can't pull you over for driving drunk in the snow—"It's just one big giant lane!" he enthuses—and his genius is apparent. His delivery is soft and relentless, and his jokes are both unexpected and so very obvious, which is why he appeals equally to young, rowdy drunks and older, more conservative crowds. It also helped earn him the crown of Funniest Dude at last November's Seattle International Comedy Competition (among his passel of other nationwide comedy competition accolades). If you missed seeing Baldwin on his last award-winning tour through town, seriously: Don't miss him this time. Comedy Underground, 8:30 and 10:30 pm, $15 adv/$20 DOS, Fri and Sat 21+, Sun all ages.