The Whim of Tim

The core of The Whim of Tim is a brain that refuses to slow down, specifically during a failed attempt at meditation. Tim Harmston uses a dry style that leans heavily on weird, hyper-specific observations and sudden, surreal left turns. When his mind refuses to clear itself, it fills up instead with thoughts of Prince, Aaron Rodgers, the tragic naming conventions of Duluth craft breweries, and why a pelican would make a better national symbol than an eagle.

Released in May 2020 by Minneapolis-based Stand Up! Records, this is the comedian’s second full-length comedy release. Recorded with a live audience, the set wanders through the absurdities of daily life, like the color-coded eco-friendly fish tagging system at Whole Foods. Harmston also pivots into more personal territory, detailing a medical saga involving hemorrhoid surgery, strawberry-scented numbing jelly, and the frustrating gaps in health insurance.

His delivery relies on slow, deliberate timing, letting the weirdness of each premise settle in before he moves to the next joke.