Going North on the 101 through Eureka, almost all the shops are closed. But there’s one establishment with neon signs in the window and a cacophony of laughter coming from the door. The only lights come from the stage as the crowd welcomes the next comic of the night. He steps onto the stage a man wearing a colorful hoodie, sparkling gold shoes, and 3 jokes about seasoning.
Savage Henry Comedy Club is a local all-ages comedy club (excluding a few shows) In Eureka California. In addition, its owner, Chris Durant, started working in Humboldt County for the Times Standard as a reporter. Here he became the entertainment editor, a position which was eventually taken from him while on leave.
Durant started his own publication in 2010 Called Savage Henry Magazine, and published over 113 issues. “Quote about them stopping from the price rise, Also the legalization of weed trickled down and affected us too,” Durant said. Since the magazine contained a lot of humor about cannabis and “grow” culture, it wasn’t as relatable after legalization.
The Savage Henry comedy club came as a result of the magazine. A very special comedy club with an incredibly active and important community. Savage Henry wouldn’t exist without the community. “My name’s on all the stuff but then people put all the laughs on the walls,” Durant said.
The venue has so much history and media physically on its walls, that there’s even a part of the building, toward the back, where performers write their names on the wall so you can see everyone who’s performed there.
“I feel like as much as it is a club, there’s a lot of it that’s inviting; To make you feel like you’re at home,” Josh Barnes, a well-known comic who’s been in the scene for years said. “The way that even the stage is set up to an extent and with the background, it feels like you’re sometimes in someone’s house.” The venue isn’t fancy, but it feels lived in, and that’s what makes it charming and unique.
Savage Henry is one of the West Coast’s many independent venues, which have been closing recently. “I know the owners of these places too, these are friends of mine, it’s just, I feel like I have to carry the flag,” Durant said.
