Comedian / Guitarist performas at SAU

Dec. 9, 2004
By Maureen Schulte
Guest Writer

With his creative blend of comedy and music, self-taught guitarist, J.Chris Newberg has made his way onto the national spot light.

Newberg, 34, received his first big break in L.A. when he was performing at an open mic night, when a representative from Comedy Central saw his act.

“The guy from Comedy Central really liked my show and improvisation and he called me up and asked me if I wanted to be on Premium Blend and I was like, ‘Yeah!’” Newberg said.

Since Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, Newberg has made appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and the nationally syndicated radio program, The Bob and Tom Show.   He has opened for music acts such as Spin Doctors, John Mellencamp, and BareNaked Ladies.

Through the comedian influences of Richard Prior, Woody Allan, and Seinfeld, and musical influences such as Elvis Costello and The Cure, Newberg has been able to develop his own unique style of performing.

“I was in a band and we really didn’t succeed and I kinda quit playing music and taking it so seriously,” Newberg said.  “I missed performing and I always liked comedy so I mixed it and it just kinda happened.”     

Newberg is inspired to write most of his songs about music and comedy from everyday life experiences. 

“All comedy is truth and pain and all comedic situations and circumstances come from either truth or pain so there is always something funny about that,” Newberg said.

During his performance at Ambrose, Newberg had the crowd bursting with laughter with his clever songs and comedic improvisations about students in the audience. Newberg had to alter his act because some felt that his material was inappropriate for a private school setting, but the audience still found his performance extremely funny.

“I enjoyed his sense of humor, but it was toned back by authority figures,” SAU student Tait Hillmer said.

Newberg, a resident of Birmingham, Michigan, has been on tour traveling to many colleges such as St. Ambrose, Simpson College, and Loras College to promote his act as well as his album, “Sucker For A Pretty Face.”

“I’ve been traveling so much that I feel like I live out of my car,” Newberg said.

Newberg’s love for performing will continue to keep him writing and playing his songs and he hopes to take his act as far as it will go.

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