It's Monday. The air in this bar is cool, but heavy with anticipation as each person makes their way back from the bar to their seats. A friend of mine is on the mic, telling a story about how getting into a car with skinny jeans on is more of a trust fall then anything else. His name is Jake Breunig. He's a master multitasker, superb comedian, and also my roommate who lives in the bedroom across the hall. He frequently knocks on my door to remind me that my alarm is going off and I frequently ignore him.
Breunig is a man of many hats: stand up comic, podcast host, musician, producer, writer, and chief of the Blunderdome, the name bequeathed to our humble abode by many of our friends in the Chicagoland comedy scene. Of his creations and successes, he lists Shots and Giggles Open Mic at the Tin Roof in Joliet, Still Not Friday Comedy Showcase at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora, and the host of a podcast delving into the lives of different artists from all walks of life, titled “Where’d My Mind Go.” With all of these at hand, most are amazed to find that in addition to all that he does, he also keeps a day job,
I asked Jake to meet with me in order to discuss his take on current events in society, in comedy, and in his personal life. Despite the fact we LIVE IN SAME HOUSE, I got the answer I expected; “Let me check my schedule.” We settled on Tuesday night after work, otherwise known to Jake as “Underwear and Socks Night”. This is because he washes his socks and underwear on Tuesday nights. To no surprise, Jake asked that he hit an open mic before sitting down for our pseudo-interview.
As he lays on the loveseat in our living room, Jake looks as if he is one blink for an extended, almost no time limit, nap. “You know all the stuff I do,” says Jake, as I ponder how to write a feature about a comedian I have seen a hundred times and know fairly well up to this point. I ask him mundane to get the ball rolling.
Tim: Kimye or Taylor
Jake: Hm?
T: Kimye or Taylor
J: I think I have to go Tay Tay on this one. I respect her as a songwriter and one day we’re going to get married and have a beautiful garden together.
T: What artist or band to you have on repeat at the moment.
J: Anything Brian Fallon; Gaslight Anthem, his solo album.
It is at this moment, I come to find, this format is not working. I look at Jake as he laughs at this struggle between friends. This is not the first time I have had Jake sit down for an interview. In fact, this is the third. The text format does not do the awkwardness of this interview any justice.
Jake currently is on a mission to resuscitate his podcast, “Where’d My Mind Go” from an unintentional hiatus. Jake tells me that the inspiration for his podcast was his love for unconventional interviews, specifically in Marc Maron’s Podcast “WTF”. He learned that the more he spoke with comedians specifically, comedy was not their only pursuit. He thought to himself, “What to do my friends do when not pursuing their artistry to keep a level head?” Obviously, he talks the craft with his friends, but he explores their religious beliefs, other hobbies, their demons, and their saving graces. I should know, I have once guest starred.
The initial cause of the hiatus was a weird combination of issues. For a long time, I personally believed our moving together is what caused it, but Jake confessed in me that he found that in order for his podcast to meet the caliber at which he felt listeners deserved, he need more financial support. “I don’t want to put crap out” he says. “I want it to be top notch.”
The format of Jake’s show varies by guest, but is typically separated into three portions; one for talking shop, one for personal struggle and hardships, and one for the outlets his guests use to overcome them. His show is a true exploration of the human condition in people who seem almost like living cartoon characters. Each guest he has had has dealt with an intense struggle but have also achieved great successes in their own right, whether those successes be in or out of their comedy careers.
With all this talk about his podcast, I decided to probe the young comedian about his showcase in Aurora. On Thursday nights, Jake acts as an associate producer for Still Not Friday Comedy Showcase, after having worked his way up from intern. The start of this journey began about a year ago, last June. At the time, the showcase had been on an extended hiatus and was making a return, and through good friends and connections in our community, Jake found himself in the door.
As an associate producer, Jake earns his title of “Jack of All Trades”. Between sound board, lights, photography, and now starting to book comedians, Jake keeps his life busy while in the Roundhouse. He assists suburban comedians Alec Stein, Matt Drufke, Katie Keller, and Kat Rybarsky in putting on one of the most entertaining nights of comedy in the Chicagoland area. Having been in the presence of comedians like Chris Redd, Mike Stanley, Danny Kallas, Kristen Toomey, and a countless amount of other well known Chicago comedians, it is safe to say that Jake has been running with one of the best packs around. He feels undeserving when asked to do sets at the showcase with such big names, but anyone that knows him understands that he is a hilarious underdog in the comedy scene.
Jake’s humor is one part self deprecating, one part cultural observation, and a sprinkle of attitude reserved for punk rock bands playing their first Warped Tour. This observation does him no justice, as he often describes himself as very soft, especially when suggesting that hugging him too tight, results in a squeaky toy noise. Jake tends to lean to topical humor but shines when telling stories about his personal life, especially when he himself is the butt of the joke. Jake often tells a story about his one-sided rivalry with a pitcher for the Atlanta Braves.
Mike Foltynewicz, the aforementioned pitcher, once struck fear in the heart of a young Breunig when playing Little League Baseball in Minooka, Illinois. That’s right folks, someone famous besides Nick Offerman comes from Minooka (Jake interjects, in his switch to comedy, that he gladly lives in the shadow of the mustached Parks and Recreation alum). A year ago, after some lucky swings at a batting cage and one too many drinks, Jake found himself suggesting that despite Foltynewicz’s MAJOR LEAGUE success, that he could bat against him in that moment. After too many drinks. After too many lucky swings. Jake thinks he could bat off a major league pitcher. “I said this a little too loud and a friend who keeps in contact with Mike said he would let Mike know,” Jake says as he gets up from the love seat. “The next morning, I woke up on a floor. Not my floor, a floor. I was in a cold sweater, with Mike’s highlight reel pulled up on a nearby laptop.”
We pause so that Jake can switch his laundry. We pause so I can chuckle to myself about how hilarious this story is to me.
Mike has never gotten in contact with Jake since that night. Jake now lives in constant fear that one of the hottest fastballs in the major league now has an out for the quirky comedian who lives in the room across the hall from me.
Jake’s long term goals and aspirations are not what would one expect someone to say, but Jake’s goals for his comedy is the same for any comedians, “If I can pay the bills with jokes, I’ll be satisfied.” He recognizes that mainstream fame would help that along, but he recognizes this as a side effect, not a symptom of potential success. Jake and I look at our phones, understanding that it is almost midnight and we have work in the morning. He sits in the love seat across from me, as we debate what show to watch on Netflix before we go to bed. I know he will suggest the CW’s Arrow and I will give in to his suggestion.
You can follow Jake on Twitter at @jakebrewnig. Jake also has a GoFundMe for the return of his podcast! Click HERE to donate. To listen to an episode now, click HERE to listen to his interview with comedian Aimee Blaze. To learn more about Still Not Friday Comedy and see upcoming shows, click HERE.
