San Francisco Comedy Blog

by Chad Lehrman

Rob Cantrell began his comedy career in San Francisco and quickly rose to national prominence as a top 10 finalist on the first season of NBC’s Last Comic Standing. Rob now lives in New York City and tours all over the country. He has headlined the High Times Comedy Festival, toured with the Marijuana-Logues, and has appeared on Comedy Central, the Late Late Show on CBS, and VH-1. On March 17th & 18th, Rob is very excited to record his first comedy album in the city where he got his start.

March 17th & 18th @ The Punchline
8pm, $15
444 Battery Street, San Francisco

What did you know about Last Comic Standing when you auditioned for the first season? Did you have any idea it could give you as much exposure as it did?

Rob Cantrell: Not much. I had no idea. The show was something that I heard about through word of mouth. I had the day off. When I showed up there was a big line of comics. There was no stand-up on prime time TV. It was a huge amount of exposure. I remember the ratings really surprised the network. One day I was opening for Todd Barry in Sacramento, then 3 months later I was on prime time TV, taking meetings in LA and doing a ton of shows.

What was the comedy scene like in the Bay Area when you started in ‘99? Who are some of the comics you started with?

RC: It was cool. I mostly did coffee shops my first two years in comedy and then the Sunday night at the Punchline. There was Cobb’s and the Punch plus a bunch of other independent shows. There was a circuit of coffee shops, bars and theaters. I would walk, Muni, bum rides around with John Hoogasian, Mike Spiegelman and Dan Crawford.

I moved to SF in July 1999 from DC. I did my first stand-up set at an open mic at an art gallery on Market Street called the Luggage Store hosted by Tony Sparks. There was no microphone and there were homeless junkies in the crowd that would blurt random shit out. Crazy artwork on the wall, there was some wild shit hanging. During your set there would be a picture of a Jesus with a machine gun and an erection. I have never tried crack or angel dust, but my sets there felt like a combination of the two (Addictive and mind blowing).

I lived in a semi-abandoned building behind a hostel called The Green Tortoise in North Beach. My first two years in stand-up I worked the front desk at the Green Tortoise, the graveyard shift: 12:30 am – 7 am. I got free rent at the illegal building that they rented for employees.

The reason I worked there was because it was 3 blocks from The Punchline Comedy Club. The Punchline was owned by Bill Graham Presents. I got my first week of paid work there in 2001. I started to work at the Punchline opening shows for Attell, Hedberg and Lewis Black. Then I moved out of the hostel and got a couch in the Sunset District. That was nice. I was a block away from the beach and worked at a school over in the Richmond District. Then I went on my Last Comic audition and within 6 months moved to LA.

I like the different song intros in the “Rob’s Recession Tips” episodes- are you a big music fan? What have you been listening to lately?

RC: I listen to everything and in no order.

Lots of old school rap, the older the better. Grandmaster Flash, Eric B, Run DMC, and EPMD.

I also like The Cool Kids, NERD, Kanye, MF DOOM, Dip Set, Nas, The Roots and Z-Trip. I enjoy good beats.

Rock: Clutch, Fu Manchu, Fugazi, Melvins, C.O.C.

I’ve been listening to lots of LIONIZE (upcoming reggae band from Maryland that I have done shows with).

Classics: Stones, Beatles, Zeppelin, Al Green, CCR, and Pink Floyd.

What are you doing to prepare for your CD taping shows at The Punchline?

RC: I have been performing at all types of venues and shows- alternative, comedy clubs, the UCB and some late night urban shows. It has been fun going over my material and fitting the different stuff that I do together. I have been going hard for almost 10 years and feel that there is something special I need to get out. I want the album to connect with the listener, have a real feel, and not just saying material.

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