222 Comedy Boom

Tiffany Broden
Contributing Writer

Laugh, giggle, chuckle, hoot, cackle. Whatever your style of laughing may be, we all enjoy a good joke that will make our sides hurt and our eyes water. “But there’s just no place to see good comedy in Fargo.” Wrong. The comedy scene in Fargo is coming out of its small hiding place at Courtney’s Comedy Club and stepping out into the spotlight for all of Fargo-Moorhead to see. Eric Zeiz, a local comedian, brought us The First Fargo Comedy Festival last summer, which featured local and national talent. It was a huge hit. Now, another local comedian, Adam Quesnell, is bringing Fargo the 222 Comedy Boom.

Quesnell has recently taken on his passion of standup comedy. “I’ve wanted to do standup for a decade.” He said in an interview. “I did it a few times on the MSUM campus in 2001, was an opener for another comic at The Aquarium in 2009, and in December of that year I was contacted to do open mic night at Courtney’s Comedy Club. I haven’t missed a show yet.”

The 222 Comedy Boom is big for both Quesnell and Fargo. “The comedy scene in Fargo is legitimate. It’s just really small.” Quesnell said. This show will acquaint the F-M area with its secret talent – comedy, something that just may blow the minds of many people. “I don’t think many people are prepared for the comics in our area.” Quesnell said.

The 222 Comedy Boom will feature all local talent to show Fargo that there is a scene they can get away from serious life and laugh at a few jokes for a night. The comics featured include: Spencer Dobson as the headliner, The Kamikaze Snowmen, Will Spottedbear, Josh Wallace and Adam Quesnell.

Spencer Dobson’s comedy has been described as “Capturing audiences with irreverent tales and leads them through psychological mind trips that are sure to bring tears to your eyes.”  After becoming a local favorite in the Midwest, Dobson was invited to the 2000 HBO U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen. This appearance generated enough interest to encourage him to move to Los Angeles. 

Dobson has returned to the Midwest to be near his family and continue to work at what he does best: stand-up comedy. His comedy weaves stories around his return to small town America, dating as an adult and trying to care of his aging family members while trying to hold on to some sanity. A prolific writer, Dobson always brings surprises and fresh material to his audiences.

The Kamikaze Snowmen have been making music (the term used loosely here) for roughly 10 years. Starting with purely improvised songs as a way to stave off boredom, the music began to resonate with various people (each with their own severe mental and/or social problems) until the group actually began performing live shows and selling C.D’s.

Comprised of three members (Terry, Paul and Josh), the group amused themselves and befuddled others for years at coffee houses and campus events before eventually going on a five-year hiatus, a combination of laziness/incompetence.

The Kamikaze Snowmen’s live performances have been described as “Neo Post-Modern Vaudeville Performance Art.” You’ll never know quite what to expect when you see The Kamikaze Snowmen perform, but chances are it will include clever wordplay, props and a healthy dose of audience participation.

Will Spottedbear will also be performing. “Spottedbear is a character. He just needs to be experienced.” Quesnell said. “He’s a local Native American and his take on everything is just great.” Spottedbear also runs the open mic night at the Red Raven.

Josh Wallace is a film student studying at MSUM and has taken his stand up pretty seriously for the last year. His stand up tends to be short and dark observations that can really catch a person off guard. And like all the other comics on the lineup, has an element of surprise on his set.

Quesnell is excited that Studio 222 was able to be booked for a comedy show. “I’ve been looking for a venue for a while now to produce occasional comedy shows.” Quesnell said. “I got Studio 222 booked, and they were also really cool about getting beer and wine available.”

“I’m hoping this show is successful so in the future I can book other shows at Studio 222 or other venues,” Quesnell said, “But right now, I just want to get that intimate little room filled on a busy Wednesday night.”

Currently, the small, underground comedy scene has been booming. “There’s more people doing stand up in the F-M area than ever before.” Quesnell said. “Shows like the 222 Comedy Boom are an opportunity for comics to get away from the open mic and do a longer set for a hip audience. We want to be able to draw a smart crowd downtown.”

There are two main places in Fargo that host open mic nights in the F-M area. Courtney’s Comedy Club holds it every first and third Thursday every month and is hosted by Quesnell himself. “Courtney’s Comedy Club is the best kept secret in town.” Quesnell glorifies. “All the shows are well attended, but if more people knew about them, we’d have that place packed.” The Red Raven downtown also hosts an open mic night every Tuesday at 9 p.m. “The Red Raven is hot.” Quesnell said. “There are eight comics that do their set and everyone one has fun. Pretty much every Red Raven show is successful.”

“If someone wants to do stand up and get serious about it,” Quesnell said, “They are able to do it in the F-M area. We have all the necessary steps to get started. It’s really a logical move for all of us. There’s just certain steps you have to take before going out on the road and booking road shows.” Quesnell believes that the comedy around here is becoming a more regular part of people’s lives. “The word about comedy is getting spread around.” And it’s booming.

The 222 Comedy Boom at Studio 222 is to take place on March 2. “It’s going to be a great show.” Quesnell boasts. The show is only $4 for entrance and will last two hours, with an intermission. The open mic part of the show starts as 8 p.m. “If local comics want to sign up, they need to do so by 7:30 p.m.” Quesnell said. Depending on how many local comics sign up, they each will have about three to five minutes of time to show people that they are serious about becoming good comics.

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IF YOU GO:
What: 222 Comedy Boom
When: March 2, 8 p.m.
Where: Studio 222, 222 N. Broadway