MANCHESTER, NH – I tried to catch up with Nick Lavallee Wednesday night to see how it feels to be the best undiscovered comedian in New Hampshire, but it turns out people are on to him.
Lavallee was about to do a set at the Taphouse Grill as part of the Hooksett Chamber’s Oct. 24 comedy night fundraiser. And he’s got a bunch of shows lined up in the coming weeks, including a three-night stand at the Vermont Comedy Club, opening for Tom Green Nov. 8-10.
The big news is that Lavallee is our guy, ranked No. 1 among “undiscovered” comedians in New Hampshire by a national online entertainment hub, Thrillist. He’s right up there, between Randall Thompson of Las Vegas, and Gordon Baker-Bone of New Jersey.
I’m not surprised.
When it comes to homegrown talent, Lavallee is right up there with Adam Sandler, Seth Meyers, Sarah Silverman – he’s just waiting to find his audience, and perhaps that big break that will be his ticket over to the “discovered” list. Lavallee’s a naturally funny dude who knows how to work a crowd and capitalize on the things that are uniquely New Hampshire. Salty enough to earn him his comic street cred stripes, but different enough to turn heads.
And he’s way more versatile than a five-minute bit let’s on.
In 2017, for instance, he fulfilled the other half of his creative brain by becoming front man for a band he assembled called Donaher. Hearing Lavallee croon his way through musical snapshots of his life growing up in Manchester, by way of a series of original super-catchy tunes, you’d never guess he’s a full-time stand-up comedian who just drifted into the music lane for a minute.
It’s because Lavallee is a natural entertainer, gifted with golden pipes and a gift for making comedy gold – and his Leonardo DiCaprio baby blues don’t hurt him, either.
He’s carved out a niche as a DIY Comedian, creating YouTube clips that have helped brand his NH-centric comedy and land him some pretty sweet gigs, coast-to-coast, including the college circuit. Among some of his most-viewed productions, don’t miss “I Love You Sally Struthers,” in which he actually locks lips with his ’70s sitcom crush. (Stay tuned past the end to see Struthers come back with praise for her “favorite perv” adding that she wants to be “Sally Lavallee” someday.)
He’s more than a funny man with big dreams. Lavallee is working hard to get there, and a nod from Thrillist can’t hurt. He’s got a bunch of upcoming shows, including Nov. 17 at Headliner’s Comedy Club inside the newly-rebranded Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in downtown Manchester. You can also find him every Wednesday as the big cheese at Comedy Night at the Shaskeen, where Lavallee produces a weekly live comedy show that shines a light on other rising talented comics waiting for their chance to be named the best undiscovered comedian in New Hampshire.
They’ll have to wait. This year, the spotlight’s on Lavallee.
Check out Nick Lavallee’s website theotherdude.com, catch him live at Headliner’s and the Shaskeen, or at the very least, Tweet this story to @SethMeyers asking him to have New Hampshire’s Best Undiscovered Comedian @TheOtherDude on as a guest on Late Night.
