Comedy Night with Monty Mitchell and Joe Kelley
10.12.2023 - It was a “four-way win” if you happened to attend the final edition of 2023’s Comedy Nights on Thursday, 10/12 at the Harvester Event Center in Historic Downtown Smithville, TN. Winner #1 was Stevie Judd, who has played lead guitar, with just about every band of note in the Upper Cumberland region – Stevie Judd graced the Flatwoods Stage at the Harvester with an opening set of meandering seamlessly through multiple genres from a “very controlled” Jimi Hendrix, to funky grooves that fit in the Motown pocket with that Strat signature sound he produced.
Winner #2 was an unexpected, but very welcome “Host” for the comedy portion of the show. Caleb McCraw hopped onstage and did a short stand-up set that was right down the alleys of diverse demographics of the fun-seeking attendees. VERY relatable material and delivery, in my opinion–I think we’re going to be hearing more from Caleb and from his two buds who followed him.
Winner #3= Joe Kelley. The Harvester crowd immediately liked Joe Kelley - his easy-going, laid-back style was the perfect transition following Caleb’s “white trash” scenario. A Flint, MI native, his approach transcended any North/South differences, and focused on the universal funny stuff we humans do, but not in a judgemental manner…rather, in a funny manner. Joe Kelley - keep your eyes open for this guy on the comedy TV shows for sure!
Winner #4, none other than “The” Monty Mitchell, who’s definitely a big league comedian type, from “right down the road”, and is a brother of our dear friend, neighbor, and supporter Amy Allen, owner of the Legacy Haus on West Walnut Street in downtown Smithville. Monty knows what’s funny to us local types, because he IS one of us, and he also knows how to push the transplants’ funny buttons because he’s lived in and played to the big city audiences. That combo, dear friends is “Formidable”! Thanks for the return appearance, Monty- Looking forward to more 2024 Comedy Nights!
Not unlike The Bard himself, and at the risk of waxing philosophical, I had the distinct flash during Comedy Night that stand-up comedy just might be the purest form of live entertainment- no instruments or accompaniment to distract–Only the performer, the listener, and the amazing ability to instantly communicate art and receive immediate response, and when live comedy is done by the right artist, everybody’s a winner! Anytime you’re in a room and every single person in the room is either laughing or has a big ole smile on their face, that’s a good, rare thing- and that’s exactly what I witnessed at Comedy Night at the Harvester on Thursday, 10/12.
Bonus Winners! Tio’s Taco Truck, and the Harvester’s spot-on Security and Service Staff..
Up next is Lady Lady (just announced!) on Thursday, 10/26, and the next round of Finally Fridays with Steady Rotation on Friday, 11/3, JL Fulks on Friday, 11/10, and Kaleah Wooten on Friday, 11/17 at the Harvester. Stay up-to-date with all the events in the Bert Driver Network (Nursery, Burlap Room, and the Harvester) by signing up for our ‘The Local Vibe’ Newsletter - released every other Tuesday morning straight to your inbox!
And remember that you too can rent The Harvester year round…weddings, retirement parties, corporate retreats, quinceanera, company Christmas parties, most anything you can dream up: contact us for more information.
