Aaron Weber serves up quality comedy with ‘Signature Dish’

Widely known as the “Mark Twain of Lilburn,” I have an appreciation of stand-up comedy as an art form and humor more generally as a quality that enhances life.

I am aware of my readership, so from time to time I enjoy performing a public service and letting you in on a comedian whose work you may not know but is trending. They are typically clean, Southern and funny.

When I do review a comedian’s body of work or review their latest special, they inevitably explode in popularity. I like to call it the “New South Essays Effect.” (Which is not to be confused with the “New South Essays Affect” which is something altogether different and involves me saying “y’all” a whole bunch in an accent my wife hates.)

You may recall that on February 6, 2021, I wrote about Dusty Slay, a Southern comedian whom my oldest son, Barron, introduced us to. Dusty has, as the kids say, “blown up.” (Do they still say that?) He’s recorded multiple specials, including “Working Man” on Netflix, joined the crew of the Nateland podcast, appeared on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (again), and even managed to connect with me during a club date in Atlanta at the Punchline. We are definitely best friends (Sorry Bob & Brian.)

Now, he’s about to record another special at the end of February in Chattanooga and is rumored to have a television project in the works. You’re welcome, Dusty. New South Essays believes in your work.

And what can I say about Nate Bargatze that hasn’t already been said? When I wrote about him in New South Essays way back in October of 2023, it was admittedly very self-serving. He read my comment on his podcast. But, since then, he has produced several specials, hosted Saturday Night Live twice, developed and starred in a Christmas variety show, set attendance records on his national arena tour, has television and movie deals of his own in the works, launched a dozen specials with other comedians, has a book coming out in May –  “Big Dumb Eyes,” is about to launch another national tour and is even appearing in a DoorDash Super Bowl commercial this weekend.

Did New South Essays cause this? I don’t know. Maybe. With the unreliability of facts on the internet these days, it’s impossible to rule out.

I have also encouraged you to check out other comics in the Nateland Cinematic Universe: Greg Warren, Mike Vecchione and Joe Zimmerman, all of which are worth your time.

And now I’m giving the New South Essays Comedy Seal of Approval to one, Aaron Weber. 

Aaron Weber (“Weber” with one “b,” like the grill) is having a moment. The 32-year-old stand up is based in Nashville but grew up in Montgomery, Ala. He’s a member of the Nateland Podcast regular crew, and he tours extensively.

To be fair, I have mentioned Aaron in passing in New South Essays several times in the past, and I have seen him live twice, both times as a featured comic for a different headliner. I saw Aaron in February of 2023 at Center Stage in Atlanta opening for Dusty Slay and in April of 2024 at his home club, Zanies Nashville, opening for Josh Wolf. 

On January 31, Aaron released his first special, Signature Dish, a 30-minute set shot at The Lab at Zanies Nashville and produced by Nateland. And he made his debut on “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon this week on Feb. 3. 

If you want to jump on the bandwagon of his rise to comedy stardom, now is the time.

As I watched “Signature Dish” a second time Friday night, I was able to put my finger on what is so appealing about his humor: yes, it’s self-deprecating, but it’s young and fresh. It doesn’t feel mean, and it isn’t depressing. It’s observational in a way that I found funny before, but now that he and his wife, Lucy, have had their first child, he’s incorporating parenting material that I relate to more than his jokes about his experiences traveling the country as a stand-up.

I have always appreciated Aaron on the Nateland podcast. He is the youngest member of the cast, so he takes quite a bit of abuse. He’s also a Notre Dame graduate, so he’s often the butt of the joke when college comes up as a topic. He runs the computer, conducting internet searches to bring up images and content related to the topics they discuss. That leads to frequent piling on by the guys. But he takes it well and gives as good as he gets.

I don’t tend to feel much attachment to celebrities (I know, surprising, given my own levels of fame), but I am sincerely rooting for Aaron. He’s a good guy, working hard and trying to do comedy the right way. He’s also very funny and honing his stand-up craft.

He has earned the New South Essays endorsement. If you like his Fallon appearance and YouTube special, check out his 2021 album, Shirts and Skins, on Spotify. You can hear how he’s grown and improved as he has matured.

Listen, life can get you down sometimes. We all could use a laugh. Add in a little Aaron Weber with your consumption of the humoristic stylings of New South Essays and you’re guaranteed to feel better.