Josh Gondelman Tops the Best of NYC Indie Comedy This Week

See Josh Gondelman, both delightful writer from Last Week Tonight With John Oliver and one of the guys behind the bewildering, thought-provoking @seinfeldtoday account on Twitter. There’s lots more this week, so get off the humid streets and into a cool, dark comedy club.

Wednesday, July 8:

Three Friends Comedy Show
QED (27-16 23rd Avenue, Astoria), 7 p.m., $5

Jesse Joyce has been tearing up the West Coast, lending his sharp-witted writing talents to @midnight and The Comedy Central Roast series. But his heart (or at least his lease) is still here in NYC, and he’ll be home in Queens tonight alongside Dan Soder and hotshot up-and-comers Megan Gailey, Matt Wayne, and Doug Smith.

Not Quite Midnight
Littlefield (622 Degraw Street, Brooklyn), 8 p.m., $5

Gary Gulman defies categorization. He looks more like a Disney prince turned cool high school gym teacher than a twenty-year comedy vet whose intricate storytelling skills can elicit belly-stretching laughs around visits to Trader Joe’s or drinking pulp-free orange juice. He’s a fitting choice for a guest on the one-year anniversary of this unexpected and self-aware take on the live late-night talk show (which happens early in the evening).

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Thursday, July 9:

College Humor Live
UCB Theatre (307 West 26th Street), 9:30 p.m., $5

“That’s more of a tweet than a joke” is something comedians say to each other all the time, since what’s funny on one form of media may not necessarily translate to another. But College Humor’s monthly UCB show doesn’t just try to translate the site to the stage. Instead, they capture the vibe of the site with great live sketches and stand-up from some of their favorite performers, like Michelle Buteau and Carmen Lynch, who you can see on Letterman above.

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Friday, July 10:

Comedy at Stonewall
Stonewall Inn (53 Christopher Street), 8 p.m., $5

This monthly comedy and variety show at the legendary Stonewall Inn (yes, the Stonewall Inn) pays homage to the long history between the gay community and comedy. This month Chrissie Mayr, Harrison Greenbaum, and Nore Davis celebrate Caitlyn Jenner with jokes, music, and a live makeover from drag queen Dusty Boxx.

Awkward Sex, and the City
The Pleasure Chest (1150 Second Avenue), 8:30 p.m., $15

If anyone knows a thing or two about relating awkward sexual experiences, it’s Krystyna Hutchinson and Corinne Fisher. As co-hosts of the Guys We Fucked podcast, they’ve built a strong and loyal following by doing just that. They’ll be taking all that hilarious awkwardness live at this month’s edition of the only storyteller show that takes place inside a sex-toy shop. The ticket price includes free beer and wine, plus goody bags for 30 lucky attendees.

Roast Battle NYC
New York Comedy Club (241 East 24th Street), 11:30 p.m., $5 w code BATTLENYC online

This L.A. sensation gets a gritty, stripped-down NYC treatment as two comedians go head to head in a battle of wits and insults that’s well beyond a schoolyard “yo’ momma” contest. The judgment by a jury of their comedic peers is often even harsher and funnier than the battle itself, leaving everyone in the room a winner.

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Saturday, July 11:

Cool Show Comedy Music Festival
Black Bear Bar (70 North 6th Street, Brooklyn), 2 p.m., $5

This all-afternoon festival packs a massive bang for the buck, with more than 40 different performances by musical comedians, including Jo Firestone and Jessica Delfino, along with food and drinks for the full festival experience.

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Sunday, July 12:

Cuntagious
The Tank (151 West 46th Street), 8 p.m., $15

Kaytlin Bailey is a former sex worker turned comedian who has never shied away from discussing and embracing her personal history. She’s now grown from addressing her past in the form of jokes and podcast stories to create a one-woman show exploring the subject with as many tear-jerking moments as laughs.

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Monday, July 13:

Week at the Creek: Josh Gondelman
The Creek and the Cave (10-93 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City), 7 p.m., Free

It’s nearly impossible to describe Josh Gondelman without using the word “delightful.” His humor derives from a soft-spoken, unassuming nature, which manages to make even forays into darker and deeper material feel light and palatable. Not content to just be funny for himself, he is also co-author of the brilliant Modern Seinfeld Twitter account and writer on Last Week Tonight With John Oliver. You can get an hour-long dose of his warmth and charm every night this week during his Week at the Creek residency.

Myq Kaplan & Friends
QED (27-16 23rd Avenue, Astoria), 8 p.m., $5

Myq Kaplan is one of the most clever wordsmiths in stand-up comedy. His mind makes genius-level conceptual and verbal connections feel completely accessible and incredibly funny. Almost like a magician of words. This show promises performances from his favorite “comedians, friends, rappers, humans, robots, and/or aliens.” While we can’t speak to the caliber of the aliens, Nick Vatterott is another hilarious mental ninja who will keep you laughing with the absurd and unexpected.

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Tuesday, July 14:

SET LIST
Union Hall (702 Union Street, Brooklyn), 8 p.m., $12

This long-running show from creator Paul Provenza has been featured on nearly every stage, festival, and screen humanly possible. But in case you’ve somehow missed it, now is your chance to catch Ben Kronberg, Dan Soder, Michelle Wolf, and Jay Oakerson pit their comedic talents against crazy topics they’ve never seen before, thrown at them live onstage.

Cake Shop Comedy
Cake Shop (152 Ludlow Street), 8:30 p.m., Free

Jak Knight and Brendon Small are two very hot comics visiting from Los Angeles — here’s your chance to catch them both for free. They’re joined by a great selection of native talent, with surprise drop-ins and a dance party following the show.

$5 Funnies
The Stand (239 Third Avenue), 10 p.m., $5

Tuesday nights are one of the best values for catching comedy at a club — it’s typically a slow “school night,” but all the biggest names in the city are home from their weekend gigs and itching to get a set in. And that’s how you get the chance to see Nick DiPaolo, Jessica Kirson, Monroe Martin, Ari Shaffir, and Sean Patton, all for about the same price as a beer at happy hour.