With openers Cori Dech and Sammy Mowrey, this standup show playfully tackled queerness and politics

Since his early days writing for the YouTube comedy channel CollegeHumor (now known as Dropout), Adam Conover has made a name for himself as an “important” comedian. By addressing subjects like politics and climate change, Conover’s brand of comedy has shone through a variety of docu-style shows such as Adam Ruins Everything and The G Word with Adam Conover.

But what happens when an “important” comic wants to branch out? In his own words, other comics get to talk about the fun stuff – namely, “drugs and f*cking.” With his “Nihilism Pivot Tour” across the U.S., Conover achieves just that with a little help from his friends.

Conover’s Nov. 13 Denver performance at Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom featured openers Cori Dech and Sammy Mowrey. The three acts culminated in a riotous night of raunchy, relatable humor that did not shy away from the political challenges America faces today.

Cori Dech pokes fun at polyamory and patriarchy during her opening set | Photo: Kevin Douglas

Cori Dech: dry wit with a raunchy edge

Up first was Colorado comic Cori Dech, who hit the ground running with a short set of risque jokes ranging from polyamorous relationships, dead dads and the Twin Towers. Dech’s matter-of-fact delivery was the perfect vessel for her off-color observations.

Dech didn’t skip a beat during her set, even at its most outlandish moments. At one point, Dech made a scathing roast of men and their lack of empathy toward women: “If I was shot in the stomach right now, the men would say, ‘nice! Another hole!’”

Dech knew her audience well and did a great job reading the room. Conover’s brand of comedy attracts young liberal crowds, and in the wake of last week’s election, Dech knew how to harness the energy in the room to her advantage. Her act served as the perfect warmup for the rest of the show.

Sammy Mowrey laughs in the face of uncertainty. | Photo: Kevin Douglas

Sammy Mowrey: a friend for dire times

Next up was Sammy Mowrey, a nonbinary comedian based in Los Angeles. Mowrey’s earnestness and sincerity was at the forefront of their act, with the majority of the jokes stemming from personal anecdotes as a queer nonbinary person: “I don’t identify as male or female – I identify as a l’il slugger.”

Mowrey’s highly personable approach had the audience in the palm of their hand. At several points, Mowrey played off the audience directly, at one point connecting with a fellow queer person in the front row and declaring they were the “same-coded.” The set felt casual and comfortable, like we were all old friends sharing laughs at a bar.

This gave Mowrey room to touch on challenging subjects, such as the uncertain future for trans and queer rights under another Trump presidency. But Mowrey’s energy kept the mood light and fun even at its tougher moments, providing a great bridge into Conover’s “important” comedy the crowd had come for.

Adam Conover: finding heart in crass places

As the headliner, Conover delivered plenty of laughs with his fast-paced hour of material. He opened with a light roast of Denver, calling it “the most cosmopolitan city in the world, where you can eat food from anywhere in the world … made by a white person.” He admitted this was his only Denver-specific joke, and proceeded to jump into the politically focused material the crowd had come for.

Conover’s approach was relatable and unassuming. After certain jokes, he would grade himself, calling his punchlines an “A-minus” or “C-plus.” Not quite self-deprecating, this self-aware approach made his set feel refreshingly down-to-earth.

While the first half of his set played into the “important” comic persona, Conover admitted that he felt limited by this brand of comedy. He told us he wanted to make jokes about unimportant, crass “fun” stuff. For the final stretch of the show, he delved into subjects like online dating, kinks and repressed male sexuality.

What struck me about Conover’s performance was his natural ability to weave heart into his raunchy humor. While cracking jokes about masturbation, he expressed sentiments that hit home with the audience, such as the fact that many men go through life without ever receiving a compliment. “When you think about it … jerking off is the only nice thing men do for themselves.”

Conover’s thoughtfulness and empathy shone through even his dirtiest jokes. While he only had one performance in Denver, you can check him out for yourself on his new special Unmedicated, now streaming on Dropout.

Adam Conover in the new special ‘Unmedicated’ on Dropout | Photo: Dropout