Oct. 13—Sutter Buttes Brewing of Yuba City recently launched its own comedy night series called Sunday Night Speakeasy, hosted on the third Sunday of every month starting at 5 p.m.
This new endeavor was formulated by the unofficial Sutter Buttes Comedy Committee — composed of Scott Sargent, Christian Pointer, Todd Remund, Randy Warner, and professional comedian "Chicago" Steve Barkley.
Additional credits go to Cindi Sargent, Scott Sargent's wife, who first suggested using comedy to fill a gap in both the community's entertainment options and the brewery's schedule.
"We had been closing the restaurant at 5 p.m. on Sundays because Sunday nights weren't very busy and gave us and our staff a bit of a break," said Scott Sargent, one of the brewery's principal owners. "But we started thinking it would be kinda cool once or twice a month to do something on a Sunday that didn't require the whole staff but would still draw in a bit of a crowd."
Word quickly spread to Warner who's strong MC skills garnered him a reputation during the old open mic comedy nights at Cellar & Sudz with Angel Diaz in Yuba City. Guests might also recognize Warner from his time with 93Q Radio as a co-host for "Into The Neighborhood," or his locally based podcast "YaS Cast." After the closure of Cellar & Sudz, comedy events like these have sprouted on and off throughout the community, but pinning down a consistent time, place, and venue has been a struggle.
"What we've noticed is that a lot of these places weren't really geared toward supporting this type of gig," said Remund, a partner owner of the brewery. "People would be in there for other things and the comics would have to fight for the crowd's attention."
To combat this, the brewery plans to curtail its offerings to just drinks and appetizers during Sunday performances with a $20 cover charge that includes two drinks and access to the show. The idea is that those attending will be there specifically for comedy, narrowing down potential distractions.
"Comedy is an intimate art form," said Barkley. "That's what makes it unique, and a room like this is perfect, it's exactly the right size for comedy. There's not a bad seat in the house, it's right downtown, great beer menu, delicious food, it's just a winning combination."
The brewery's first Sunday Night Speakeasy kicked off on Sept. 17 and everyone on the committee agreed that it was a success. Positive feedback was given from both the crowd and comics and everyone made it home before 9 p.m. to rest up for the coming work week.
"Not everybody wants to stay out super late, so our idea was to get 'em out, get 'em laughing and get 'em home at a decent hour," added Remund.
One of the driving forces behind these events is Barkley, a professional comic with over 40 years of experience who now resides in Brownsville. His career has included opening gigs and tours with popular entertainers such as Ray Charles, The Doobie Brothers, Michael Bolton, Neil Young, The Righteous Brothers, and Smokey Robinson, just to name a few. He has also appeared either onstage or in film with Jerry Seinfeld, Milton Berle, Gallagher, Dana Carvey, Sid Caesar, Danny Thomas, Whoopie Goldberg, Jon Lovitz, Robin Williams, Timothy Leary, Gary Shandling, Bruce "Baby Man" Baum, Father Guido Sarducci, Pat Paulson, Will Durst, Bobby Slayton, Jay Leno, Kevin Pollack, and Paul Rodriguez.
Barkley will occasionally perform and co-host alongside Warner while using his connections to book quality comedians both locally and those traveling through the state's Highway 99 and Interstate 5 corridor.
"Having it on a Sunday is ideal because a lot of these comics have already performed Thursday through Saturday at the comedy clubs so they've got an open mic and it works out absolutely perfect," said Barkley.
"Working with Barkley has been a really amazing experience," said Warner. "He's been like a mentor of mine. I first saw him at Laughs Unlimited before I ever did comedy and I laughed the entire time, so it's kinda like being able to work with your hero."
Sunday's comedic line up includes Mike Betancourt, Roman Guzman, and a special appearance by Barnac the Magnificent. Betancourt is a prominent up-and-coming comedian, actor, and writer on the Sacramento scene with notable impersonations, especially those revolving around Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin character from "Spider-Man." Guzman has been in the entertainment industry for over 20 years and can be heard every morning on the Modesto-Stockton radio station "The River" on KRVR 105.5FM. Lastly, Barnac is a spin-off Carnac the Magnificent, a recurring comedic role played by Johnny Carson on "The Tonight Show."
"The last show was so much fun that we want to keep building on that enthusiasm and establish something that people want to come back to again and again," said Sargent.
Doors will open as early as 5 p.m. and guests are invited to enjoy some live pre-show music by Pigeon Town Hoochers. Seating will be on a first-come, first-serve basis and space will be limited.
Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at the brewery during normal business hours. A ticket will include admission to the show and a choice of two drinks: craft beers, Munger Family Vineyard wines, ciders, or non-alcoholic beverages. The show is not recommended for those under the age of 18. Comics will begin at 6:30 p.m.
In addition to this, Sutter Buttes Brewing is working to participate in Maui Brewing Co.'s Kokua Project. This special beer, named after the Hawaiian word for "help," is being brewed to support those affected by the Maui wildfires through the collection of proceeds from its sale. Organizers believe this brew will be ready in time for November's comedy event.
The brewery is located at 421 Center St. in Yuba City. For more information about Sutter Buttes Brewing and its upcoming events, visit sutterbuttesbrewing.com.
