This week’s Spotlight shines on Hampton Yount, who interestingly enough, looks very odd in a suit and has one hell of an arm. More importantly however, he is damn funny.
At first glance you may look at this Warrenton, VA native and say “Oh, who is this nicely dressed young man? He seems so happy to be here; I bet this is his first time.” Then he steps on stage, and you immediately realize that you were wrong. You just got thrown for a loop, and he hasn’t even told one joke. That is how it feels the whole time you watch Hampton perform. Just when you think you have him figured him out, he surprises.
By toughing up in bumf*ck dive bars that only Larry Poon could love, Hampton has now infused a hard-nosed approach into his energetic and rosy-cheeked delivery style. Did he just say that? Yes, he did. Did you just laugh at something you normally would not have found funny? Yes, you did. Does this guy also write an online comic strip? Yes, he does.
Hampton is regularly seen at the Topaz Hotel, Chief Ike’s, Top Shelf, Wiseacres, Bistro Europa, The Bomb Shelter, The Laugh Factory and the DC Improv where he has done guest spots for Ted Alexandro and John Mulaney. He also won the October 2007 DC Improv Showcase.
CATCH THIS KID!!!
This Thursday night, catch Hampton at Wiseacres in VA.
He will also be doing some Hyatt shows next month.
DCC4N’s Interview with Hampton:
Where did you first perform? What was your first paid gig?
My first time was at Attitudes in Blacksburg. There was no open mic so I had to do guest spots right out the gate. My first paid gig was at Maria’s at the Westminster Inn. It was hosted by Bird Knight, and Doug Powell was the headliner. I did ok, and it was a lot of fun. Doug Powell was so awesome. I was so lucky that the headliner was not only genuinely funny but also great to talk to. On the drive home, I screamed out the window “I’m a comedian now!” For real.
[Click the link to read the rest of Hampton's interview, plus a video!]
When did you realize that you wanted to do comedy?
It’s actually a sad story, to me. I had a lot of fun in college, and it was a really great time all in all, but I ran into a very dark period at the end. I really hated myself and had given up on everything. I’d just lie in bed for days, not eating, being miserable. At parties, I would have so much anxiety, I’d just walk away. I always wanted to be a comedian. I was definitely the class clown growing up, but suffered from very bad stage fright (I ruined a school play in sixth grade). Plus, I just figured everyone wants to be a stand-up comedian, why am I any different? Eventually, I literally said to myself “I have nothing more to lose” and walked into a comedy club in town. I immediately felt better. Oh wait, I should have said something funny.
Who were some of your earliest influences? What about them captivated you?
I always liked seeing comedians on TV. I didn’t think they were funny, but I was mesmerized by what they were doing, telling jokes and receiving laughter. No built sets, no costumes. Today, I guess I would call it the rawness of the setup. It’s just a person and their ideas.
The first comedian I latched onto was Chris Rock. I thought he was genuinely funny AND had a perspective, which was thrilling. He wasn’t just a joke machine like all the others, he was actually entertaining. I then saw Eddie Izzard a year or two later and was blown away, because it was comedian who at least was semi-similar to my own sense of humor, which I didn’t think could happen. He’s very Monty Python.
Then came the big one, Bill Hicks, at 15. I’m not saying Bill Hicks is the best comic ever, but he was a revelation at the time. Is there any way a sarcastic fifteen-year-old isn’t going latch onto an anti-authority figure like that? I idolized him. I really wanted to be a comedian after seeing Hicks. He really is the shining example of someone who reads up on their facts and has an undeniable perspective to go with it.
But it was actually David Cross’s CDs that finally helped push me. For months, I’d just listen to those two CDs every day, no kidding. He just carries such an unbridled hatred of stupidity and liars. He’s like comedy punk rock. He taught me that nothing has to be sacred and that realness is the most important trait of great comedy.
What was your first joke?
It was a long joke about an idea I had for a prank show. I explained that this new show on MTV, Damage Control, pranked a person over a couple of days, and that I wanted to do a show called “I’m Going to Drive You Fucking Insane” which took place over years. It is such a terrible joke, but they liked the whole thing. Idiots.
Do you prefer to write on- or offstage? Do you enjoy the process of writing?
I guess my only requirement for writing is that I have to be inspired. I don’t just write to write, because then I come up with these long monologues about topics I don’t even fully grasp. Let that be a lesson. For instance I don’t write about politics because the one thing I do know is I know NOTHING about politics. I leave jokes kind of unpracticed before I get onstage. I know the heart of the joke and how it should flow, but I don’t decide on the exact word order till like the third time I’ve done it.
I’ve also realized that my brain works, and every comedian’s brain really, like a specific filter. I need to cram my head full of stuff, and then pour out whatever it is I create through that filter. Problems happen when you don’t take the time to absorb and cram your head.
What about performing live do you enjoy?
I love hearing laughter, especially a baby’s laugh. I wish my audiences would laugh like a large group of babies.
Do you ever want to convey a message?
I wish people were more cynical and unforgiving like me. Hopefully, people will realize how cool I am, and then want to be like me. Like when the first Matrix movie came out.
What's hacky to you?
I could list the different varieties for hours, but I’d rather mention a recent moment. I was hanging out with Bryson Turner, and I went on a small tirade about fat black female comics while Comedy Central was playing a stand-up performance of one such type comic. I was complaining that that breed of comics tend to do very similar material. So I give examples to Bryson like “They always say 'I once dated a skinny white man; we looked just like a [Blank] and [Blank]'” or “Whenever I wear a [Type of clothing not meant for fat people], I look just like a whale in a [Blank].” There is a slight pause as we both look at the TV, and then the comic does exactly what I just said, but she finishes hers with “I looked just like a walrus in a burrito.” We sat with our mouths open.
What is your day job?
I am unemployed right now, thanks pre-written questions. I was laid off. I worked at this startup; they wined and dined me, and eventually fucked me. I woke up and they were gone, but a single rose was laid on the pillow next to mine. Seriously though, if any comedians are reading this and have a job opening at where they work, then e-mail me. I am looking for any line of work really. On a similar note, being unemployed does wonders for writing slumps.
Were your parents supportive of you doing comedy?
Yes and no. They supported me following my dreams, but they didn’t expect the dream would take longer than two years. So now they give me some crap about it. It doesn’t help that they don’t like my jokes, and my dad thinks he would be better than me.
Where do you plan on moving next?
L.A. All my comedy heroes live there and I won’t be happy as a comedian until I have won their respect.
How do you feel about the overall comedy scene in DC? Anything you want to change and what are you going to do to change it?
I absolutely love the scene! I get so excited sometimes when I think of all the crazy talent in the area. We get to grow in a vacuum; there is a huge sense of camaraderie; and there is very little struggle for stage time. I watch comedy online all the time, and I just hate so much of it. A good 20 of the comics in the area are funnier than 90 percent of comics on TV. The only thing I would change is more rooms. I am going to try and get this room in Vienna. I’ll let you guys know if anything happens.
