SARA BANNOURA
Williams will be in good company on the label, which has worked with Marc Maron, Demetri Martin, Michelle Wolf, Jim Jefferies, George Lopez and many more.
That's thanks in part to comedy tastemaker 800 Pound Gorilla Records, which will be recording and releasing an album with Williams. 800 Pound Gorilla has worked with a host of huge names in the comedy world, including Marc Maron, Demetri Martin, Michelle Wolf, Jim Jefferies, George Lopez and on and on.
The Nashville-based label will be sending members of its team to the Improv Shop (3960 Chouteau Avenue, 314-652-2200) for Williams' show on Friday, March 29. Williams will be performing two sets, one at 8 p.m. and one at 10 p.m. Each will be recorded for the album.
The opportunity serves as well-earned recognition for the hard-working comedian, who is just as comfortable working in improv groups as he is doing standup. A tireless performer, Williams worked as a writer and cast member on STL Up Late, a sketch-comedy-focused talk show that aired on KMOV (his Ronnie Jenkins-Trump character, a sleeveless redneck who claims to be the brother of Donald Trump, was a standout).
Williams also serves as a regular guest and contributor on CBS Sports Radio's We Are Live drive-time show in addition to hosting his own podcast, The Other Side of the Tracks. As if all that weren't enough, Williams works as performer, coach, and adjunct faculty at the Improv Shop, where he is part of the groups Burnside and Dadvan.
His standup career has seen him open for Dave Attell, Kyle Kinane, Joey ‘Coco’ Diaz and more in addition to headlining his own shows at Helium Comedy Club and Old Rock House. He won the title of "Funniest Person in St. Louis" in a competition at the former in 2016. In short, dude is the real deal.
"When people ask me how to get to the next level, I just tell them to crush the level you're at," Williams told the RFT for a 2017 feature. "When you crush the level that you're at, you're all of a sudden onto the next. It's like being on an elevator."
It would seem that the man has been taking his own advice. Well crushed, sir, well crushed.
Pick up tickets for Williams' March 29 shows here.
