I Was In Band

Jim Tews approaches adulthood like someone who accidentally wandered onto the set of a life he never auditioned for. His humor runs on mild bewilderment and quiet exasperation, whether evaluating the lukewarm reality of New York living or admitting that he is an adult who remains terrified of getting yelled at by older adults.

Recorded live at CODA in Cleveland, Ohio, the 44-minute set serves as a homecoming show. Tews had come up in the local scene before moving east, even directing the 2013 documentary Make Fun about Cleveland stand-up. By the time Blonde Medicine released the album in April 2017, he had also competed on Last Comic Standing and authored the humor book Felines of New York.

The set moves between awkward milestones, including a stint in the Coast Guard, church youth group bullying, and high school band, before shifting to modern neuroses like juice bar pretension and the prospect of dying inside a self-driving car.

The record reached number three on the iTunes comedy chart upon release and appeared on The Interrobang’s year-end top ten list.