Dave Losso
A laid-back delivery masking a dense layer of Midwestern punchlines.
1 special · 2021
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Dave Losso stands on stage with the relaxed posture of a guy leaning against a bar, but the material moves fast. He doesn’t raise his voice or rely on heavy act-outs. Instead, he stacks punchlines by piling on details, turning a simple anecdote about an Arby’s night manager or a neighborhood street fight into a dense piece of local storytelling. He speaks with a flat Chicago cadence that grounds the escalating absurdity of his stories.
Specials
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A gloriously low-stakes tour of bad jobs and Tinder misfires.
Stand Up! Records · 55 min
On stage
He operates on the ground level of the indie comedy circuit. You will find him headlining dive bars, small theaters, and independent festivals across the country. This approach earns him the respect of veteran comics who recognize the grind, putting him on bills alongside acts like Kyle Kinane and Sean Patton. He proves you don’t need a coastal industry machine to build a nationwide footprint.
In his 2021 special A Careless Whisper of a Man, he uses his South Side upbringing as his primary setting. He builds his jokes out of specific snapshots of blue-collar jobs and regional oddities. When he describes a neighborhood character, he provides exactly enough visual detail to make them recognizable, avoiding the trap of turning them into a broad cartoon. He observes his hometown from eye level, describing the local grit rather than judging it.
Before comedy, Losso was the frontman for a Chicago hardcore band, a background that taught him how to book his own tours and survive on the road. He also works as a comic book illustrator, a discipline that carries over into how visually he frames a premise on stage.
Turning points
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2005–2012
Transition from Hardcore Band Frontman to Standup
After serving as vocalist for the Chicago hardcore band Murder in E Minor, Losso transitioned to comedy in 2012, using his band touring experience to establish himself as an independent road comic.
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Release of A Careless Whisper of a Man
Dave Losso released his debut standup comedy album and filmed special via Stand Up! Records, charting at No. 2 on iTunes comedy and securing streaming distribution on Tubi.
At a glance
- On stage
- since 2012
- Style
- observational, storytelling, anecdotal
- Breakout
- A Careless Whisper of a Man
- Topics
- Elsewhere
- Website, Wikipedia
Fans also like
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Moshe KasherLosso's standup has been officially noted as carrying comedic sensibilities and sharp biographical hints comparable to Moshe Kasher.
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Doug Mellard
Stand Up! Records highlighted Losso's delivery and comedic energy as directly sharing hints of Doug Mellard.
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Sam Tallent
Both comics came up through complementary DIY festival and club circuits, sharing festival appearances and collaborative podcast spots.
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Kyle KinaneA prominent fellow Chicago-rooted standup comic with whom Losso has worked and shared touring bills.
Also on screen
- Hidden America with Jonah Ray
A clip to start with
Stand-Up @ Ashbary's Coffee House - 1/28/2009