Adams delivers laughter, music

By John Benson

Mike “Mad Dog” Adams wears many hats. The multifaceted performer is a singer- songwriter, comedian, barroom philosopher, musician, promoter and agent.

For his shows tonight through Saturday at The Funny Farm Comedy Club in Niles, Adams said it’s the comedian hat that he’ll be wearing. Oddly enough, stand-up comedy isn’t where he got his start.

“When I started doing comedy at the tender age of 30, I was already making a living in music for 10 years,” said Adams, who owns homes in both East Harbor and Cleveland.

“When I went into comedy clubs, they said, ‘Don’t use a guitar; don’t do any props; just do stand-up. That’s how you learn, and you have to. You have to learn by failure, and keep failing. That’s how you end up doing good monologues and good stand-up.’

“So I did that and I keep my music gigs, particularly at Put-in-Bay, where I’m starting my 30th year at the Roundhouse. But now my act is whatever I want it to be. I’m one of the last guys standing in a sense, because I have all kinds of work. I do music and comedy and original songs.”

Averaging roughly 100 shows a year all over North America, Adams the musician considers himself a disciple of Jimmy Buffett with his own personal influences — country, blues, rock ’n’ roll — offering something unique.

As far as his stand-up career, Adams said these days he’s playing more clubs and fewer comedy venues. Still, his audience remains loyal no matter the location, which means the Put-in-Bay legend often has to perform some of his popular older bits and parody songs.

“I have the ‘Gilligan’s Island’ thing or Alvin and Chipmunks routine, so I’ll probably do some of the old popular routines I did,” Adams said. “I have some new things I’m working on. Of course we’ll be doing the ‘Blowing of the Conk’ and the ‘Choking of the Chicken,’ two of my great prop routines. I’ll be commenting on things in the news like Bernie Madoff, Rihanna and Barbie’s 50th birthday or something.

“It’s an adult show, and it’s audience participation. We drink, we laugh and try to make people have as good a time as they possibly can.SDRq

A veteran performer, Adams said at this point in his career he’s confident his show is entertaining no matter which direction he leads his audience.

“The act is basically about my lifestyle and my philosophy about life, which is basically every day above ground is a good day,” Adams said. “I want people to come in, relax for a couple of hours, and they’re going to get music, they’re going to get prop stuff, and they’re going to get jokes.

“Basically, it’s whatever I’m in the mood for. That’s what I do.”