Back in April, The Sloppy Boys played two sold-out shows at Cactus Club. Well, apparently one of the band’s members had so much fun that he went ahead and booked some more shows at the very same venue. On Saturday, August 3, Mike Hanford—who you surely know from The Birthday Boys, his Comedy Bang! Bang! appearances, his writing work and occasional on-camera cameos on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and as a member of the aforementioned party rock band The Sloppy Boys—will return to Milwaukee to treat comedy fans at Cactus Club to two standup performances.

Prior to his return to the Bay View venue, Milwaukee Record asked Hanford about his previous Milwaukee visit, The Sloppy Boys being as active as they’ve ever been, what people can expect from his standup set, and other projects he’s working on at the moment.

Milwaukee Record: This will be your second appearance at Cactus Club this year. It seems like you and the other Sloppy Boys really enjoyed yourselves the first time.

Mike Hanford: Very much so. It’s a cool bar in this cool neighborhood that just seemed to have bars on every corner. Actually, just after we did our soundcheck, I could hear a heavy metal band playing down the block, so different concerts were happening at the same time. The room is nice and small. I’ve been really playing attention room size lately. Small, condensed, lower rooms are really good for music and I assume it’ll be a good comedy room, too. But that was a fun show. The fans were wild and it was hot as hell. We had two shows that day, and the first show was so fucking hot. I was dripping sweat, and then I crowdsurfed in the second one.

MR: I do have to apologize. In the first show, I was in a group that accidentally blocked the fan. I got a real stern talking to by your band mate, Tim. In my defense, the owner asked us to fill in a gap to the left of the stage. I was wondering why I felt so comfortable as everyone else seemed so miserable.

MH: Then on my side of the stage, there was another fan that I angled towards myself and then the tech guy came down and moved it.

MR: I know you guys went to At Random after the show. Is there anywhere else that’s on your list of places you’d really like to hit up when you’re here?

MH: I want cheese curds again. Cheese curds is my number one because I didn’t get them last time.

MR: In addition to that Milwaukee show, it seems like you’ve been really busy this year. The band has been touring more than ever, it seems. In between that, your own standup, and movie premieres here and there, what have the last few months been like?

MH: It’s been very fun. It’s been like pulling back a pinball handle for a year, then letting it go and seeing all the different adventures it’s taking us on. And yeah, we’ve just been working on stuff and getting the snowball bigger and bigger until it’s ready to roll down the hill. I don’t want to sound like we’re at the top of our game because I think we can keep getting better, but The Sloppy Boys shows and my standup shows have been great.

MR: I actually wanted to get into your standup. I know your work from way back when. I watched The Birthday Boys as it was airing, I’ve heard Lennon and your various other podcast characters, kept tabs on your acting work, and listen to The Sloppy Boys. The one real blind spot for me is your standup. What can people who are unfamiliar with you as a standup expect?

MH: I’m kind of new in the standup world. This tour is just five stops, but I’m so excited for it. But how would I describe my standup? It’s pretty energetic, but not annoyingly energetic. I try to get the whole crowd excited. I’m not too dirty. It’s more silly. I’m not going up there and saying, “Hey! What’s the deal with our politics?” and breaking that down. I would say it’s pretty much just an escape from what’s going on outside the doors. The goal for me is to have a fun, silly time where everyone can be inside with me and we’re all having a good time. And then we go out into the shit. But for that hour, we’re forgetting about the world and having fun.

MR: Would you be open to Cactus Club serving your Russian Root at your shows?

MH: If anyone had root beer behind the bar, I would love if people made Russian Roots. Especially if it’s a good root beer. There’s something there!

MR: Looking ahead, is there any chance Milwaukee will get a third visit from you this year with a Sloppy Boys film screening?

MH: For a film screening? Probably not, just because these things take so long to get going. Also, we just announced we’re doing a podcast tour on the west coast, but nothing back in the Midwest for the band just yet. I’m sure we’ll be back because the Milwaukee audience was awesome and the vibe of Milwaukee is so cool.

MR: It’s not Milwaukee, but you and the ‘Boys will be close by in Chicago on July 25 for iO Fest for a concert and another type of show, right?

MH: We’re doing our first live podcast there.

MR: What’s the Drink Of The Day, if you’re able to divulge that?

MH: It’s going to be the “Chicago Handshake.” That’s an Old Style and a Malort shot. That’s going to be a fun one because I like both those things.

MR: Is there anything else you’re working on at the moment that you’re excited about? Any upcoming roles or more voice over work that you’re able to speak about?

MH: I just did some recording for my character from Digman!—Neil Campbell and Andy Samberg’s show on Comedy Central—but summertime is slow in the acting and writing world, so this is the time to get my standup going. I’ve been trying to write some songs for Sloppy Boys, but there’s no timeline on that. And I’m writing a screenplay on spec, but nobody’s paying me for that…yet!

MR: Is there anything else you’d like to say?

MH: I’m having such a fun time doing these hour-long standup gigs. I’m kind of using them to eventually cobble together something bigger that I can film and release. Come to the show and you’re going to have some fun–guaranteed.

Mike Hanford will perform at Cactus Club on Saturday, August 3. Tickets to the 7 p.m. early show and the 9:30 p.m. late show cost $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Both shows are 18+ and, since they will be seated events, tickets are very limited.

About The Author

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Co-Founder and Editor

Before co-founding Milwaukee Record, Tyler Maas wrote for virtually every Milwaukee publication (except Wassup! Magazine). He lives in Bay View and enjoys both stuff and things.