Todd Barry, a veteran with 17 years of experience as a stand-up comedian, will be performing at Local 506 on Sunday night with band Portastatic.
This will be Barry’s second trip to the area after an appearance at Cat’s Cradle in October 2003.
The stint at Local 506 is part of a six-night rock-club tour, he said, which is a change from working a straight week at one comedy club. His set ranges from 45 minutes to an hour, and topics vary from biting criticism of pop culture and corporate America to the ever-challenging world of dating.
Barry, who lives in Manhattan, said he normally spends about four months out of the year on the road. “I at least try to put my luggage away when I’m back so it feels like someone lives there,” he said.
His stacked resume includes guest appearances on Cartoon Network’s “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” and “Space Ghost: Coast to Coast” and repeat performances on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and “The Late Show with David Letterman.” He also appeared in “Road Trip” and “Pootie Tang,” two irreverent favorites among the college crowd.
He graduated from the University of Florida in 1986 and got his start in comedy during his time down there. “I tried it down there as a goof at an open mic night, and I just didn’t stop,” he said.
While the format of having a comedian preceded by a musical act might seem unfamiliar to some, Barry said he’s done this type of bill many times before.
He’s performed alongside Amy Mann, The Shins and They Might Be Giants. He’s also friends with indie darlings Yo La Tengo and occasionally gets to jam with them when they perform together.
“They’re just big fans of comedy, and they let me sit in on the drums sometimes,” he said.
