Dave Landau
Dr. Grins, Grand Rapids
Dec. 12-14, show times at 8, 9 and 10:30 p.m.
$5-$10
thebob.com/drgrins, (616) 356-2000
Comedian Dave Landau may have houses in both L.A. and Detroit, but it's clear the latter is the house that he considers to be home. Sure, L.A. can be glamorous and all, but who can resist the allure of Michigan?
"My wife is here, her job is here, and I really just like Michigan more than L.A., more than anywhere else," Landau said.
Michigan also happens to be where Landau got his start in comedy where at 19 years, fresh out of high school, he joined Detroit's Second City. While Landau insists his interest in comedy dates much further back than this (he cites childhood memories of his dad waking him up on weekends to watch "Saturday Night Live"), he feels that Second City's improv lessons and writing exercises were an essential tool for his development as a comedian.
"It teaches you to think instantaneously funny, you know?" Landau said. "Especially if you have a heckler or something like that, you're kind of trained for it through improv."
Eventually Landau decided to branch out from the Second City ensemble cast, and at the suggestions of friends and colleagues, he tried doing stand-up on his own. Of course, for comedians just beginning their careers, open mic nights and sporadic gigs don't quite pay the bills. This led to Landau's brief foray into the world of retail.
"I sold luggage at an upscale luggage store in the middle of a really bad part of Detroit," Landau said. "We had to close by like 5 o'clock to make sure nobody got shot."
It may not have been the most glamorous job, but it was a constant source of income that helped pay the bills, which Landau found comfort in. So much so that even when he was found himself getting spots on Comedy Central he still kept his luggage job.
"I kept my day job until I was really sure I could make it without it," he said.
Eventually he devoted himself to comedy full time, making appearances on NBC's "Last Comic Standing" and "The Bob and Tom Show." He also landed acting roles in a handful of independent films, and has recently written, produced and starred in his first feature-length film, currently in the post-production stage. This latest project, simply titled The King, is a semi-autobiographical account of a high schooler using their newly acquired driver's license to travel to Detroit to get booze.
"It's sort of like Superbad meets Judgement Night," Landau said. "But it's completely original because it's based on a true story."
For now, Landau has returned to stand-up, spending a good portion of his current tour at clubs throughout Michigan. During his free time he hangs out at home near Detroit because he just can't get enough of Michigan. And frankly, who can blame him?
"I just feel that as far as the creative process goes and being where I'm most comfortable, I like being home in Michigan."
