5 Gulf Coast Comics Everyone Should Know

Howdy partner! It's Jacob back again with another blog post, and for this one I wanted to spotlight some comics from the region that I call home. If you listen to our podcast, then you know that our passion is to truly promote other comics that we think are funny and marketable, and that's especially true to the comedians working on the Gulf Coast. Encompassing every piece of land that the Gulf of Mexico touches, some of the hot spots for comedy on the Gulf include Ocean Springs/Biloxi, New Orleans, Mobile, and Pensacola, with many more scenes that I personally am not quite familiar with. However, I have a handful of comics that I want to feature from the cities mentioned, and I hope you guys discover a new comic to follow and support.

1. Jeremy Kirkland

Comedy in Mississippi is in a weird spot right now, where most of the legitimate comics on the Coast have either moved away to pursue their dream or quit comedy altogether due to lack of opportunity. Jeremy Kirkland is one of the few comics left who is an absolute pillar and staple in the comedy community of Biloxi and Ocean Springs, and he's infinitely bookable. He has a set that is so polished and relatable, that I truly believe he could kill in front of any headliner for any demographic of people. I would put Jeremy on any showcase to proudly represent Mississippi comedy, and quite frankly I wish he got more work as a feature comic.

2. Ryan Adams

When I was coming up early on, Mobile, AL was a real hotspot for local comedy, breeding some absolute killers and opening up opportunities for huge headliners like TJ Miller to come through. There was an open mic in Mobile around 2015-2019 that was in the fucking attic of a bar, and it was so notorious and popular in the comedy community that Hannibal Burress stopped by to practice his hour set there. There are very few comics that are left in Mobile from that era, and one of the best is Ryan Adams. Ryan is known as one of the best comedy hosts on the entire Gulf Coast, and has a real unique voice with his subject material. A big shout out has to go to Carson Taylor and Zeke Buckhaults as well for being the holy trinity that keeps comedy in Mobile afloat.

3. AJ Bell

New Orleans is one of the biggest cities on the Gulf Coast, and with that comes a dedicated comedy scene that consists of multiple shows and open mics on any given night. Pursuing comedy in a place like that gives you plenty of chances to work on your craft, and that's exactly what AJ Bell has done. AJ has solidified himself as one of the most undeniably funny comics in the entire city, and makes an excellent addition to any show as a feature or even headliner.

4. JP Leonard

Another Louisiana native, JP Leonard is the kingpin of Lafayette Comedy, and has made a mark for himself as a world class producer. Club 337 is consistently getting recognized as one of the best clubs in the country by acts like Mark Normand and Robert Kelly, but JP is an excellent comic as well. Doing work featuring for big names and headlining shows all over the South has garnered him enough attention to have worked with legends like Dave Attell, and allowed him to bring his brand even further than if he was just a producer. Lafayette Comedy is not far away from reaching heights never before seen in the Southeast, and neither is JP.

5. Delisia Nicholas

Delisia Nicholas is one of the most remarkable comedians I've ever witnessed in person, and I'll tell you why. I once produced a roast battle in Gulfport, MS, where comedians from all over the Coast came to compete for the championship, and Delisia was there supporting her friends from Pensacola, FL. Between rounds for the battle, I put up some comics to do time so that everyone can prepare material and learn the bracket, and she agreed to do a guest spot without any intention of performing that night. I personally watched her take a drunk, rowdy crowd that three comedians before her bombed in front of, and turn them around so that they were practically eating out of her hand. She is so funny and has such an excellent stage presence that she can command attention in any circumstances. Since that roast battle she has gone on to headline all over the Coast and beyond, and I believe that she's one of the most marketable comics in the region.