Mike Baldwin
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Mike Baldwin

Kansas City, Missouri, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2000

Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Established on Jan, 2000
Solo Comedy

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"Stand-up Tuesdays: Mike Baldwin"

This week, we are putting a spotlight on Mike Baldwin and her (yeah, it says "her" in the article!) latest special, Bees Can Taste With Their Feet. If you or your comedy troupe would like to be featured on Stand-Up Tuesdays, please email utgjames@gmail.com.



Finding yourself compared to the likes of Andy Kaufman, Mitch Hedberg and Steven Wright when it comes to stand-up comedy would be enough to put a world of pressure on the most seasoned of comics. But Kansas City’s Mike Baldwin is handling it just fine. The twice-named Funniest Person in Kansas City released his first full-length CD, Bees Can Taste With Their Feet, in March 2011, and it’s quickly become an iTunes favorite.

Having only listened to the CD, and not having the luxury of actually seeing Baldwin perform, it took a few minutes into the album before I got a good feel of whether or not he’d have me laughing – he takes the stage with a slightly ambiguous stoner-tone to him, leaving the audience wondering what’s in store for his set. There’s no high-energy entrance, no major attempt to rile his crowd up – but it soon becomes clear that Baldwin just doesn’t need to.

Baldwin’s stories are stealthily well-crafted, to the point where you could easily forget being in a comedy club and instead feel as if Baldwin is sharing a drink with you at the bar, recounting tales from his past. There’s a comfortable sort of kinship he creates that makes me want to invite Baldwin to all of my parties and outings simply for entertainment value.

From the very start of his set, Baldwin has his audience in stitches with his almost overly-simple observations: “If you’re a ninja, you probably love the spring and hate the fall, ‘cause there’s crunchy leaves.”

It’s this kind of pothead-observational humor that keeps you on your toes while listening to Baldwin. As he weaves his way through one line of humor, by the time you’ve caught your breath from laughing so hard he’s somehow ended up at a completely unexpected punch line.

In one track, Baldwin describes his condiment invention – a combination of ketchup and mustard, in one bottle – called Must Up – before laying down the hilarious concept of advertising for the product.

“There’s a guy sitting there, and he’s squirting some onto his burger – and then his friend walks in and says, ‘Woah, that’s mussed up!’”

Baldwin’s jokes range from penis comparisons among his guy friends to the obligatory line of pot jokes (one look at Baldwin and that is to be expected), all of which is done so masterfully that Baldwin’s comedy really stands out from the abundance of pot humor that’s out there today.

It’s also refreshing to find myself laughing my derriere off to a comic that, prior to listening to Bees, I had never been exposed to. Baldwin isn’t shoved down our collective comedy-fan throats – and, hailing from Missouri, possesses that small-town comic feel that just seems to make it that much funnier. As stand-up comedy explodes throughout the country’s heartland in cities like Nashville and Kansas City, it’s awesome to see the little guys getting a chance.

Bees Can Taste With Their Feet is a delightfully hilarious forty minutes that is definitely worth the measly $9.99 on iTunes, so be sure to pick up your copy today – and keep your eyes and ears peeled as you’re sure to hear more about Mike Baldwin in the coming years. - Under The Gun Reviews


"Mike Baldwin's "Bee's Can Taste With Their Feet""

The name of the new CD from Mike Baldwin is Bees Can Taste With Their Feet. It is named as such, I assume, because toward the end of the album Baldwin explains that he doesn’t just tell jokes. He also shares facts.

Following that same idea, I won’t just review his CD, I will also share facts with you.

FACT: Mike Baldwin is funny.

FACT: Bees needs to be added to your comedy library right now.

It may take a minute or two to familiarize yourself with Baldwin’s slightly-skewed approach to comedy and laid -back timing, but once you’re dialed in to his wavelength, you’re in for a fun ride. He has a great bit about why ninjas probably aren’t fans of autumn that serves as “a tester joke.” Baldwin explains, “The people that get it, totally get it. The people that don’t are like ‘He’s dumb. I don’t like him already.’” He then adds, “Well, that’s pretty much how all of these are gonna go, so…”

Fortunately, we get it.

Baldwin tells his stories with a childlike enthusiasm, almost as if he’s impersonating the way a 9-year-old talks about what happened to him on the bus on the way home from school. He shares his stories with us like he’s talking to his best friend and he knows he can be totally honest. He tells us of his idea for a new mustard/ketchup/relish hybrid with an innocent zeal and doesn’t mind taking Alan Jackson to task for not understanding how time zones operate (“If it’s half-past anything, it’s not five o’clock anywhere.”)

On track 3, “Superpowers,” Baldwin explains why he would love the power of flight – but only Superman-style, not like a bird – and he talks about having the ability to freeze time. I won’t explain any more about this track lest I give something away (part of Baldwin’s comedy strong suit is the unexpectedness of what unfolds, and I don’t want to take that from him), but to suffice it to say Baldwin would put that power to some amazing use. “Superpowers” made me laugh so much, the cat left the room.

During one of his transitional pauses, Baldwin is heckled with one of the most random heckles I’ve heard: “Rest in peace, Mitch Hedberg!” Baldwin’s response is not only brilliant but also a fine example of how quick he is on his feet.

Toward the very end of the album, Baldwin seems to lose a bit of steam. The material seems to have a few kinks that need worked through, the laughs are fewer, and, given the strength of the project up to the point, I was a little surprised to find him allowing the audience to slip away. Fortunately, Baldwin is able to regain his footing and bring us all back around with the aforementioned facts he enjoys passing on.

By the time he is thanking the crowd and wishing us a good night, Baldwin is back on top. The rough patch he was able to work through is more of a small mis-step than a deal breaker and at the end of his set, I found myself truly happy to have stumbled upon Bees.

One final note: The first time I listened to this CD, I was home sick suffering from kidney stones. As you may – or may not – have heard, they can be pretty painful. I almost put off listening to this project for a later time because the pain was so intense, I didn’t want it to distract from my listening; I wanted to give the CD my full attention. As it turned out, though, the opposite happened. Baldwin had me laughing so hard, even through the intense pain I was experiencing, I knew I was listening to something special. If something could make me laugh as much as I did while it felt like my stomach was going to explode, I knew it must be pretty funny. Later, upon listening to the CD a few more times after the pain had gone away, I was happy to discover I wasn’t delusional. This CD is indeed amazing.

FACT: Bees can taste with their feet.

FACT: Mike Baldwin is stronger than kidney stones. - Comedy Reviews


"Mike Baldwin is a Dopey-Eyed Genius"

Comedian Mike Baldwin might act like he was routinely dropped on his head as a child (and again as an adult)—in fact, he cultivates that impression with his Southern drawl, dopey grin, wide eyes, and relatively mild, profanity-free material... - The Stranger


"Friday Stand-Up"

I had the honor to help judge one of the MANY rounds of the Seattle International Comedy Competition last night and was wholly impressed by the 16 talented comics who turned out. Among them though, only Mike Baldwin (who went on to take first in the final five for the night) was able to make me forget about judging and just laugh at the comedy. - Punchline Magazine


Discography

March 2011 - Bee's Can Taste With Their Feet

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Bio

If you want to have a great time at a comedy show, be sure that Mike Baldwin is performing! Considered by many to be one of the smartest, funniest and most likable comics working the road today, Mike has a clever writing style and a one-of-a-kind delivery that will have audiences rolling with laughter!

"His style is instantly likable, entirely personal and it highlights his attention to detail. His material is crisp and perfectly efficient and he supplements that material with subtle but perfect facial expressions and vocal inflections."

Mike most recently won the Seattle Comedy Competition, following his win in the Trial By Laughter in Indianapolis, beating out more than 400 comedians. He was a finalist in the prestigious San Francisco International Comedy Competition, and he was twice named Funniest Comic in Kansas City. He released his debut album "Bee's Can Taste With Their Feet" last year, and it soared to the top 10 on the iTunes Comedy Charts, and he was also a featured artist on iTunes after the successful release.