We had the chance to catch up with Braden Lyster (AKA: Troo Knot) about his comedy style, influences and his annual theatre show “Troo Knot – SPICY!”
How would you describe your comedy style?
Wild, absurd, playful. I put a lot of thought into the writing but once I’m on stage I just become a crazy person. Writing is for thinking and the stage is for playing.
Who are some of your influences?
Reggie Watts is definitely the artist who inspired me to get up on stage and play with comedy/music. He improvises everything and that kind of freedom on stage totally captivated me.
I was like, “Oooh I can just get up on stage, be ridiculous, and see where it goes?” Then I got hooked. My style has changed over the last 8 years of performing but improvising and ripping off Reggie Watts was where it all started.
Who was your favourite comedian growing up?
Jim Carrey. Ace Ventura, Dumb and Dumber, The Mask, Liar Liar, Cable Guy, come on! The amount of funny that guy blasted into the world is unmatched.
Who is your favourite comedian now?
Fahim Anwar’s 1 hour special “No Business Like Show Business” makes me laugh more than any other stand-up I’ve seen online.
What is your pre-show ritual?
I rehearse my set all week leading up to the show. Then on show day I just relax and enjoy the other comedians until I go up. I’ve learned over the years that if I put the work in before show day then show day can just be a celebration rather than a panic attack.
What is your favourite place you have performed? Why?
Yuk Yuk’s in Calgary. It’s a real comedy club. The stage, sound, room, staff are legit and the crowd is there for comedy.
Dale Ward hosts a pro/amateur night there every Thursday night. Touring professionals and first-timers all on one show. It’s so fun and I try to get up there every week.
Tickets are like $5 and it’s one of the coolest nights happening in Calgary.
What is your favourite bit you have written and why were you proud of it?
I have a set about the differences between my family culture and my wife’s family culture. I’m a white boy. She’s Mexican.
It’s real, honest, and people keep laughing at it.
What is your favourite medium for listening or finding new comics/comedians?
Probably podcasts. Whiskey Ginger and We Might Be Drunk are a couple gooders.
Tell us a joke about your city.
Land Acknowledgments at the Stampede.
Do you have anything to promote right now?
Troo Knot – SPICY! My annual theatre show. I have a dream team of local dancers throwing down to my original music and I’ll be doing stand-up throughout the night and filming all of it.
It’s the one show of the year where I invite everyone I know and put everything I have into it. Please come 🙂
Saturday – July 16th – Arts Commons – Big Secret Theatre – 8 pm
Where can we follow you?
PAY IT FORWARD: Who is another local comic/comedian we should know about?
Todd Ness and Chris Gordon consistently crush the hardest.
Conner Christmas blew Broken City away with his Just for Laughs set.
