24/05/2021
On any given weeknight comedic hopefuls herd themselves into dive bars, grasping at worn-out notebooks filled with graceless setups and banal tags. One by one they stand on a small stage and give heart-rendering speeches. Some are salacious, some are sagacious, others are simply crude. Most of these acts go unobserved as the audience, who consist of other comedians, croon over their own jokes.
Arash Tadjiki, perhaps the most brilliant of the bunch, can frequently be spotted at an open mic huddled over his black notebook methodically writing jokes. With his handsome demeanor and strident laugh, it is difficult for Arash to be inconspicuous in any setting. However, it is his cadence and natural charm constructed together that make him compelling. Whereas many locals have situated themselves as callow comedians, Arash’s act strings together narratives that serve as an introspective look at American culture and his experience as a first-generation immigrant. Many of his anecdotes muster a modest amount of vulnerability that in turn invokes approachability. In a certain sense, he crafts his jokes with a pinch of poeticism, though they skirt around ribaldry. His contentions are often met with roaring laughter from audiences and praise which he shrugs off in a lowly fashion. With the combination of these characteristics, it is evident that Arash will reach stardom and notability. Meanwhile, Arash spared some time to sit down with Salt Lily Magazine to discuss comedy, joke writing, and performing.
On any given weeknight comedic hopefuls herd themselves into dive bars, grasping at worn-out notebooks filled with graceless setups and banal tags. One by one they stand on a small stage and give heart-rendering speeches. Some are salacious, some are sagacious, others are simply crude. Most of these