Bummin' with the Devil

Johnny Taylor’s second hour functions like a series of awkward confessions delivered by a performer who is dressed too well to be having these problems. Standing on stage in a sharp suit, Taylor maintains a low-key, conversational composure that makes his most uncomfortable autobiographical detours feel like a casual chat over a drink. He treats his personal failures and the absurdities of the modern world with a mix of exhaustion and amusement, relying on a patient, dry delivery rather than manic energy.

Recorded at Harlow’s Restaurant and Nightclub in Sacramento, California, Bummin’ with the Devil was released in late 2018 by Stand Up! Records. The hour built on the cynical storytelling of his 2014 debut, Tangled Up in Plaid, but with a more relaxed sense of pacing. It arrived during a productive period for Taylor in his hometown Sacramento comedy scene, eventually reaching the top spot on both the iTunes and Amazon comedy charts.

Much of the material thrives on Taylor’s ability to turn uncomfortable social interactions into extended routines. He recounts a conversation with an acquaintance who casually admits to trying crystal meth with her son, and spins a scenario about the absolute humiliation of having to call an ambulance after accidentally swallowing a glow stick at work. Political and cultural commentary also makes an appearance, including observations on late-2010s internet culture and a dry take on the irony of Donald Trump’s comments on abortion.