Fool Disclosure

J.J. Whitehead spent nearly two decades working international comedy clubs before releasing Fool Disclosure in late 2016. The album, released by Stand Up! Records, captures a comic who is completely comfortable working without a safety net, presenting a set that feels less like a rehearsed show and more like a guy telling stories over a pint.

The material ranges from a highly specific ranking of physical intimacy he calls the “hierarchy of holes” to a chaotic story about hanging backstage with Guns N’ Roses in Las Vegas. He also touches on girlfriend troubles, crooked boobs, and the weirdness of dealing with an unlicensed therapist.

While the album was recorded for release in November, the hour itself spent the preceding summer as a hit at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Playing the Liquid Room Annexe, Whitehead’s loose, unpretentious style was so pronounced that he would frequently start his slot by moving stage furniture around himself while chatting with the arriving crowd.