HARI KONDABOLU

If I could arrange perfect pairings of people—the way some people pair sips of varied wines with their many-coursed meals, for example, or the way I've taken to pairing whiskey with breakfast—I'd pair comedian Hari Kondabolu with an Eastern Washington or Idaho audience. Here's why: Aside from being generally hilarious, Hari is well known and loved by Stranger staffers and young, progressive (Capitol Hill–centric) Seattle audiences for his on-point political and social commentary. His setups challenge audiences as well as provoke laughter; I've seen his jokes sing in front of like-minded crowds. But, as with any comedian whose jokes carry critical weight and purpose, I'd like to see how his views on sexist beer advertisements land with beer-swilling Yakima residents, or watch as he attempts to explain the concept of "white guilt" to fiercely white, unguilty Idahoans.

To my knowledge, Hari has no immediate plans to tour Yakima or the state of Idaho, but this week he offers the next best thing: three nights of standup in Kirkland, a city that's 80 percent white, where residents primarily work for Google, Microsoft, and the Seattle Police Department, and where homes boast a median price of $500,000.

It's no Yakima, but it's sure to be an evening of comedy outside of everyone's comfort zone, which makes it entirely worth the drive. Laughs Comedy Spot; Thurs 8:30 pm, Fri–Sat 8 and 10 pm; $10–$15; early shows 18+, late shows 21+.